Best Cities to Start a Roofer Business (2026)

Where a solo roofer business has the most room Our calculation

Charleston, SC ranks first. One-person foundation, framing & exterior work businesses there average $110,531 a year in revenue, with 12.0 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses for every 10,000 residents (typical metro: 11.8). We scored all 263 metros where the Census publishes foundation, framing & exterior work business counts.

1
CharlestonSOUTH CAROLINA · SC · $110,531 avg solo revenue · 12.0 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
79
2
Myrtle BeachSOUTH CAROLINA · SC · $120,634 avg solo revenue · 15.9 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
77
3
SavannahGEORGIA · GA · $89,736 avg solo revenue · 8.5 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fewer competitors per resident and fast population growth
75
4
MadisonWISCONSIN · WI · $109,527 avg solo revenue · 10.3 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
75
5
KnoxvilleTENNESSEE · TN · $107,012 avg solo revenue · 13.6 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
74
6
ColumbusOHIO · OH · $110,188 avg solo revenue · 12.6 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
74
7
SpartanburgSOUTH CAROLINA · SC · $114,434 avg solo revenue · 16.4 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
74
8
NashvilleTENNESSEE · TN · $123,621 avg solo revenue · 16.5 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
74
9
DoverDELAWARE · DE · $182,651 avg solo revenue · 15.7 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
73
10
WilmingtonNORTH CAROLINA · NC · $107,318 avg solo revenue · 15.4 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
73
11
Hilton Head IslandSOUTH CAROLINA · SC · $132,808 avg solo revenue · 21.3 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
73
12
ColumbiaSOUTH CAROLINA · SC · $97,212 avg solo revenue · 10.9 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fast population growth and lots of new building
72
13
LafayetteINDIANA · IN · $87,609 avg solo revenue · 8.6 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fewer competitors per resident and lots of new building
72
14
GreeleyCOLORADO · CO · $124,312 avg solo revenue · 25.9 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
70
15
SebringFLORIDA · FL · $91,303 avg solo revenue · 10.6 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fast population growth and lots of new building
70

Weights: average solo revenue 3, fewer competitors per resident 3, revenue compared with the local employee wage 2, new home permits 2, population growth 1. Each factor is a percentile among these metros.

Top 5 by each factor Government data

Highest solo revenue

Dover, DE: $182,651
Bridgeport, CT: $137,233
Hilton Head Island, SC: $132,808
Peoria, IL: $126,413
Greeley, CO: $124,312

Least competition

Honolulu, HI: 4.8 per 10k residents
San Jose, CA: 4.9 per 10k residents
San Francisco, CA: 5.0 per 10k residents
Las Vegas, NV: 5.4 per 10k residents
Visalia, CA: 5.6 per 10k residents

Most new building

North Port, FL: 19.8 home permits per 1k
Lafayette, IN: 17.9 home permits per 1k
Myrtle Beach, SC: 17.0 home permits per 1k
Wilmington, NC: 16.8 home permits per 1k
Cape Coral, FL: 16.6 home permits per 1k

Fastest-growing population

Every metro Government data

Click a column to sort. “Rate to match it” is the hourly rate you'd need to bill to replace the local employee median, at our default assumptions (25% for tax and benefits, $30,000 overhead, 1,400 billable hours). Try your own numbers in the rate calculator.

#	Metro	Score	Solo revenue	Businesses / 10k people	Employee median	Rate to match it	Permits / 1k
1	Charleston, SC	79	$110,531	12.0	$48,040	$64/hr	8.7
2	Myrtle Beach, SC	77	$120,634	15.9	$46,590	$63/hr	17.0
3	Savannah, GA	75	$89,736	8.5	$48,740	$65/hr	12.8
4	Madison, WI	75	$109,527	10.3	$60,820	$76/hr	10.0
5	Knoxville, TN	74	$107,012	13.6	$45,030	$62/hr	8.4
6	Columbus, OH	74	$110,188	12.6	$49,420	$66/hr	7.2
7	Spartanburg, SC	74	$114,434	16.4	$43,060	$60/hr	11.6
8	Nashville, TN	74	$123,621	16.5	$48,120	$64/hr	9.2
9	Dover, DE	73	$182,651	15.7	$58,310	$73/hr	6.7
10	Wilmington, NC	73	$107,318	15.4	$48,740	$65/hr	16.8
11	Hilton Head Island, SC	73	$132,808	21.3	$46,760	$63/hr	13.5
12	Columbia, SC	72	$97,212	10.9	$44,660	$61/hr	7.1
13	Lafayette, IN	72	$87,609	8.6	$44,140	$61/hr	17.9
14	Greeley, CO	70	$124,312	25.9	$49,940	$66/hr	8.5
15	Sebring, FL	70	$91,303	10.6	$44,740	$61/hr	7.3
16	Raleigh, NC	70	$106,500	15.8	$50,720	$67/hr	11.8
17	New Haven, CT	70	$123,935	8.6	$60,800	$76/hr	1.8
18	Chattanooga, TN	69	$105,074	13.3	$45,530	$62/hr	5.1
19	Dayton, OH	69	$115,528	9.9	$51,410	$67/hr	2.4
20	Oshkosh, WI	69	$120,745	11.6	$58,880	$74/hr	4.0
21	Fort Collins, CO	69	$118,193	16.2	$48,610	$65/hr	6.6
22	Des Moines, IA	69	$112,798	17.6	$49,510	$66/hr	8.5
23	Kansas City, MO	69	$116,814	12.1	$58,420	$74/hr	4.5
24	Cincinnati, OH	68	$109,654	11.0	$49,210	$65/hr	3.2
25	Greenville, SC	68	$101,317	14.9	$46,530	$63/hr	8.6
26	Jacksonville, NC	68	$87,315	8.6	$47,530	$64/hr	6.6
27	Sioux Falls, SD	68	$108,177	17.0	$48,880	$65/hr	7.8
28	Greenville, NC	68	$91,195	10.3	$47,830	$64/hr	7.3
29	Roanoke, VA	67	$109,991	10.6	$46,280	$63/hr	2.8
30	Austin, TX	67	$105,805	18.8	$47,340	$64/hr	11.3
31	Crestview, FL	67	$102,149	16.0	$47,110	$63/hr	11.5
32	Colorado Springs, CO	67	$115,993	17.8	$49,830	$66/hr	7.6
33	Rocky Mount, NC	67	$101,244	11.2	$40,100	$57/hr	3.7
34	Allentown, PA	66	$106,352	8.6	$58,140	$73/hr	2.3
35	Richmond, VA	66	$92,944	11.3	$48,050	$64/hr	6.8
36	Portland, ME	66	$108,117	14.9	$51,190	$67/hr	6.2
37	Medford, OR	66	$105,363	10.4	$49,930	$66/hr	4.2
38	Charlotte, NC	66	$104,051	16.3	$48,410	$65/hr	8.0
39	Omaha, NE	66	$117,659	18.6	$46,460	$63/hr	6.5
40	York, PA	66	$98,636	9.1	$53,540	$69/hr	3.4
41	Dallas, TX	65	$106,925	21.8	$46,990	$63/hr	8.3
42	Morristown, TN	65	$103,200	13.9	$47,950	$64/hr	4.8
43	Pensacola, FL	65	$97,877	13.6	$45,980	$62/hr	6.3
44	Appleton, WI	64	$120,082	14.5	$61,880	$77/hr	5.1
45	Bozeman, MT	64	$119,111	32.0	$63,570	$78/hr	12.4
46	Lubbock, TX	64	$107,685	23.3	$36,650	$54/hr	8.0
47	Topeka, KS	64	$117,433	12.3	$47,400	$64/hr	2.7
48	Panama City, FL	64	$95,868	17.0	$45,690	$62/hr	10.8
49	Birmingham, AL	63	$101,567	11.8	$46,600	$63/hr	3.6
50	North Port, FL	63	$87,992	13.8	$48,860	$65/hr	19.8
51	Fargo, ND	63	$97,402	10.9	$61,610	$76/hr	5.8
52	Oklahoma City, OK	62	$106,634	20.1	$43,680	$60/hr	5.9
53	Bridgeport, CT	62	$137,233	13.3	$81,310	$94/hr	3.6
54	Atlantic City, NJ	62	$113,452	10.2	$77,990	$91/hr	4.3
55	Lincoln, NE	62	$99,733	15.4	$47,360	$64/hr	7.0
56	Harrisburg, PA	62	$90,657	7.3	$50,950	$67/hr	2.0
57	Chambersburg, PA	62	$100,400	10.9	$64,480	$79/hr	6.6
58	Columbia, MO	62	$93,062	11.2	$46,530	$63/hr	3.8
59	Peoria, IL	61	$126,413	7.8	$76,610	$90/hr	0.6
60	Asheville, NC	61	$101,408	16.6	$49,680	$66/hr	7.8
61	Hartford, CT	61	$112,178	9.2	$65,710	$80/hr	1.3
62	San Luis Obispo, CA	61	$115,933	10.4	$63,030	$78/hr	2.4
63	St. Louis, MO	61	$108,539	9.8	$58,750	$74/hr	2.2
64	Indianapolis, IN	61	$94,382	12.3	$51,580	$67/hr	5.4
65	Boston, MA	61	$109,844	9.3	$66,350	$81/hr	2.0
66	Manchester, NH	60	$119,778	12.3	$57,570	$73/hr	1.5
67	Rapid City, SD	60	$100,898	18.4	$46,510	$63/hr	6.3
68	Columbus, GA	60	$95,152	8.5	$43,290	$60/hr	1.9
69	Milwaukee, WI	60	$102,399	8.3	$60,140	$75/hr	2.0
70	St. George, UT	60	$97,442	22.3	$49,620	$66/hr	14.5
71	Memphis, TN	59	$104,538	12.0	$46,480	$63/hr	2.5
72	Tulsa, OK	59	$103,977	17.7	$49,350	$65/hr	5.0
73	Phoenix, AZ	59	$79,476	10.5	$47,760	$64/hr	7.9
74	Denver, CO	59	$112,158	19.3	$55,830	$71/hr	5.3
75	Bismarck, ND	59	$101,385	13.5	$50,340	$66/hr	3.0
76	Fayetteville, AR	59	$95,315	25.4	$47,220	$64/hr	15.5
77	Grand Junction, CO	58	$105,343	18.5	$50,140	$66/hr	5.1
78	Green Bay, WI	58	$104,812	13.2	$59,320	$74/hr	4.3
79	Jacksonville, FL	58	$78,718	11.1	$47,520	$64/hr	8.0
80	Wenatchee, WA	58	$90,655	12.4	$59,230	$74/hr	8.7
81	Champaign, IL	58	$85,678	6.5	$60,150	$75/hr	3.8
82	Ogden, UT	58	$89,241	12.0	$51,700	$68/hr	5.5
83	Boulder, CO	58	$92,829	9.9	$56,140	$72/hr	6.1
84	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY	58	$96,163	13.5	$49,160	$65/hr	4.4
85	Augusta, GA	57	$79,000	11.5	$41,430	$58/hr	6.6
86	Fort Wayne, IN	57	$97,172	13.9	$48,830	$65/hr	3.6
87	Eugene, OR	57	$79,672	6.7	$47,830	$64/hr	4.0
88	Sioux City, IA	57	$102,186	15.0	$47,050	$63/hr	3.9
89	Bloomington, IN	57	$78,373	9.2	$49,530	$66/hr	7.8
90	Bangor, ME	57	$93,839	12.2	$48,130	$64/hr	3.1
91	Traverse City, MI	57	$105,511	17.2	$50,720	$67/hr	5.2
92	Binghamton, NY	56	$95,948	7.0	$59,810	$75/hr	1.9
93	Oxnard, CA	56	$100,737	8.3	$62,840	$78/hr	1.9
94	Seattle, WA	56	$88,227	9.0	$64,090	$79/hr	3.9
95	Santa Cruz, CA	56	$98,779	7.0	$61,640	$76/hr	1.8
96	Lexington, KY	56	$86,644	11.7	$46,630	$63/hr	4.5
97	Reading, PA	56	$98,985	10.4	$50,060	$66/hr	1.3
98	Grand Forks, ND	56	$98,014	10.8	$50,750	$67/hr	2.2
99	Atlanta, GA	55	$97,082	18.3	$49,100	$65/hr	5.4
100	Sacramento, CA	55	$79,736	7.5	$63,320	$78/hr	4.4
101	Eau Claire, WI	55	$93,516	13.7	$51,380	$67/hr	5.4
102	Winchester, VA	55	$87,977	15.4	$45,690	$62/hr	6.2
103	Wichita, KS	55	$92,304	14.2	$45,760	$62/hr	4.8
104	Lansing, MI	55	$91,160	8.8	$50,440	$66/hr	1.8
105	Tyler, TX	54	$108,869	28.9	$45,700	$62/hr	2.2
106	Billings, MT	54	$99,409	18.6	$51,980	$68/hr	5.4
107	Spokane, WA	54	$86,631	11.0	$58,720	$74/hr	5.3
108	Pittsfield, MA	54	$112,087	12.0	$56,270	$72/hr	1.2
109	Gainesville, FL	54	$61,590	8.5	$46,660	$63/hr	10.5
110	Janesville, WI	54	$113,399	14.2	$63,310	$78/hr	2.4
111	Salisbury, MD	54	$89,753	9.9	$47,320	$64/hr	1.6
112	Salt Lake City, UT	53	$85,369	13.6	$48,220	$64/hr	6.0
113	Harrisonburg, VA	53	$86,472	14.7	$46,020	$63/hr	6.2
114	Santa Maria, CA	53	$87,983	7.6	$61,390	$76/hr	3.1
115	Racine, WI	53	$90,935	9.8	$60,680	$76/hr	3.4
116	Portland, OR	53	$86,436	8.3	$61,210	$76/hr	3.3
117	Lewiston, ME	53	$95,568	16.0	$51,350	$67/hr	4.0
118	Philadelphia, PA	53	$89,596	8.1	$59,730	$75/hr	2.1
119	Boise City, ID	52	$92,382	20.0	$60,100	$75/hr	11.6
120	Waco, TX	52	$98,104	24.2	$49,000	$65/hr	4.8
121	Houston, TX	52	$84,840	20.0	$45,500	$62/hr	8.7
122	Virginia Beach, VA	51	$79,124	8.1	$46,480	$63/hr	2.2
123	Terre Haute, IN	51	$84,558	8.2	$49,700	$66/hr	1.7
124	Bellingham, WA	51	$77,610	9.5	$59,730	$75/hr	5.3
125	Bremerton, WA	51	$67,457	6.5	$59,470	$75/hr	6.4
126	Decatur, AL	51	$101,805	18.3	$46,280	$63/hr	2.6
127	Scranton, PA	51	$87,400	8.7	$49,620	$66/hr	1.1
128	Tucson, AZ	51	$79,261	11.3	$44,040	$61/hr	4.4
129	Davenport, IA	50	$89,494	9.8	$48,250	$65/hr	1.6
130	Hickory, NC	50	$82,034	15.6	$46,810	$63/hr	8.5
131	Palm Bay, FL	50	$66,070	10.3	$47,770	$64/hr	7.3
132	Minneapolis, MN	50	$99,158	13.1	$75,400	$89/hr	3.9
133	Reno, NV	50	$62,497	7.1	$52,000	$68/hr	5.2
134	Bowling Green, KY	50	$84,348	17.9	$48,680	$65/hr	7.9
135	Olympia, WA	50	$67,297	6.9	$57,920	$73/hr	5.6
136	Bend, OR	49	$83,955	15.5	$59,990	$75/hr	12.1
137	Logan, UT	49	$80,842	17.5	$46,260	$63/hr	7.6
138	Pocatello, ID	49	$88,465	16.0	$58,480	$74/hr	6.6
139	Prescott Valley, AZ	49	$80,441	16.4	$46,030	$63/hr	7.0
140	Salem, OR	49	$85,879	11.3	$52,690	$68/hr	3.2
141	Tampa, FL	48	$73,207	12.6	$47,170	$64/hr	6.9
142	Lafayette, LA	48	$81,661	14.2	$47,890	$64/hr	5.0
143	Pittsburgh, PA	48	$86,665	9.6	$52,350	$68/hr	2.4
144	Provo, UT	48	$71,194	14.1	$46,600	$63/hr	10.2
145	Las Vegas, NV	48	$40,216	5.4	$49,800	$66/hr	6.2
146	Idaho Falls, ID	48	$86,906	21.8	$55,690	$71/hr	9.3
147	Yuba City, CA	48	$70,698	8.1	$61,230	$76/hr	4.5
148	Macon, GA	47	$85,550	11.8	$46,030	$63/hr	2.2
149	Trenton, NJ	47	$99,656	12.8	$82,100	$95/hr	3.0
150	Honolulu, HI	47	$81,683	4.8	$59,220	$74/hr	1.4
151	Winston, NC	47	$81,556	16.0	$49,280	$65/hr	6.8
152	Greensboro, NC	47	$82,144	14.6	$49,110	$65/hr	4.9
153	San Antonio, TX	47	$86,688	23.3	$43,720	$60/hr	4.0
154	Longview, WA	47	$74,643	7.8	$58,830	$74/hr	2.7
155	Youngstown, OH	46	$113,496	19.0	$47,820	$64/hr	0.7
156	Kingsport, TN	46	$72,714	11.4	$39,720	$57/hr	3.7
157	Grand Island, NE	46	$92,269	25.8	$39,700	$57/hr	3.5
158	Port St. Lucie, FL	46	$73,990	16.0	$47,590	$64/hr	9.3
159	San Jose, CA	46	$77,415	4.9	$76,650	$90/hr	2.8
160	Canton, OH	46	$117,832	20.7	$59,430	$74/hr	1.6
161	Ann Arbor, MI	45	$80,000	8.8	$61,730	$77/hr	2.9
162	Deltona, FL	45	$65,057	12.5	$46,940	$63/hr	7.7
163	Missoula, MT	45	$81,119	14.8	$62,310	$77/hr	7.1
164	Lancaster, PA	45	$103,283	21.7	$52,640	$68/hr	2.3
165	Kennewick, WA	45	$69,504	11.3	$59,760	$75/hr	7.8
166	Merced, CA	44	$62,664	6.4	$60,800	$76/hr	2.7
167	Santa Rosa, CA	44	$79,137	9.3	$64,020	$79/hr	3.5
168	Great Falls, MT	44	$81,100	11.8	$49,920	$66/hr	3.0
169	Grand Rapids, MI	44	$77,868	12.0	$49,630	$66/hr	3.7
170	Lakeland, FL	44	$67,589	14.8	$46,730	$63/hr	10.4
171	Kiryas Joel, NY	44	$73,378	8.5	$63,750	$78/hr	3.1
172	Walla Walla, WA	44	$72,273	8.2	$49,380	$66/hr	2.6
173	Albany, NY	43	$74,668	7.9	$63,920	$78/hr	2.3
174	Redding, CA	43	$89,725	10.3	$61,690	$77/hr	1.4
175	Pueblo, CO	43	$97,151	16.5	$46,490	$63/hr	1.3
176	Lynchburg, VA	43	$68,929	10.6	$46,160	$63/hr	4.2
177	Syracuse, NY	43	$72,363	7.4	$61,480	$76/hr	3.1
178	Stockton, CA	43	$53,320	5.9	$61,950	$77/hr	3.2
179	Springfield, MA	43	$87,678	8.2	$76,300	$90/hr	0.7
180	Visalia, CA	42	$52,112	5.6	$59,160	$74/hr	3.7
181	Worcester, MA	42	$106,994	14.2	$105,270	$115/hr	1.9
182	Springfield, MO	42	$84,940	19.5	$47,220	$64/hr	3.6
183	Mankato, MN	42	$79,722	12.8	$50,250	$66/hr	3.4
184	Kahului, HI	42	$77,959	10.8	$61,410	$76/hr	5.5
185	Ocala, FL	42	$59,933	14.5	$45,130	$62/hr	15.0
186	Glens Falls, NY	42	$86,939	11.1	$60,700	$76/hr	2.6
187	Orlando, FL	42	$66,704	15.2	$47,300	$64/hr	10.0
188	Mount Vernon, WA	42	$77,018	9.7	$61,410	$76/hr	2.8
189	Kalamazoo, MI	41	$71,591	6.9	$59,280	$74/hr	1.9
190	Lima, OH	41	$76,079	9.2	$44,980	$62/hr	1.5
191	Evansville, IN	41	$74,580	9.3	$59,990	$75/hr	3.0
192	Joplin, MO	41	$76,958	15.6	$39,170	$56/hr	3.0
193	San Diego, CA	41	$64,453	7.0	$62,180	$77/hr	3.6
194	Longview, TX	41	$87,549	17.8	$39,460	$57/hr	1.0
195	Cape Coral, FL	40	$69,088	20.2	$46,890	$63/hr	16.6
196	Yakima, WA	40	$61,097	6.9	$56,660	$72/hr	2.8
197	Baltimore, MD	40	$71,786	7.9	$56,390	$72/hr	2.0
198	Anchorage, AK	40	$85,524	10.0	$65,750	$80/hr	0.7
199	Altoona, PA	40	$76,111	8.6	$44,410	$61/hr	0.7
200	Elmira, NY	40	$77,244	7.4	$58,730	$74/hr	1.2
201	Cleveland, OH	40	$93,458	14.7	$55,690	$71/hr	1.9
202	Riverside, CA	40	$66,763	9.2	$62,050	$77/hr	3.4
203	Rochester, MN	40	$84,021	13.4	$61,940	$77/hr	3.2
204	Mobile, AL	40	$79,497	12.7	$45,540	$62/hr	2.7
205	Erie, PA	40	$77,252	8.5	$50,440	$66/hr	0.9
206	Grants Pass, OR	39	$72,371	10.3	$51,400	$67/hr	3.3
207	Akron, OH	39	$91,304	13.8	$54,660	$70/hr	1.1
208	Albuquerque, NM	39	$63,466	9.2	$45,780	$62/hr	3.1
209	Fresno, CA	39	$49,640	6.6	$62,400	$77/hr	3.0
210	Bakersfield, CA	39	$50,471	6.7	$60,640	$76/hr	3.5
211	Washington, DC	38	$77,259	12.1	$58,340	$74/hr	2.8
212	San Francisco, CA	38	$73,688	5.0	$74,340	$88/hr	1.7
213	Santa Fe, NM	38	$67,943	11.3	$45,090	$62/hr	3.2
214	Chico, CA	38	$62,465	8.9	$61,110	$76/hr	4.8
215	Duluth, MN	38	$79,902	10.0	$72,860	$86/hr	2.3
216	Rockford, IL	38	$95,068	13.6	$65,100	$80/hr	1.1
217	Jackson, MS	38	$83,894	15.4	$44,850	$61/hr	2.6
218	Sheboygan, WI	37	$69,712	9.6	$58,230	$73/hr	3.1
219	Hattiesburg, MS	37	$79,077	13.4	$43,680	$60/hr	0.8
220	Providence, RI	37	$76,675	9.9	$61,560	$76/hr	1.7
221	Sebastian, FL	37	$74,855	12.6	$49,200	$65/hr	1.5
222	Chicago, IL	37	$81,058	9.3	$82,090	$95/hr	1.7
223	Cedar Rapids, IA	36	$71,904	12.9	$47,840	$64/hr	3.6
224	Los Angeles, CA	36	$65,460	6.6	$63,560	$78/hr	2.1
225	Baton Rouge, LA	36	$70,564	13.9	$49,300	$65/hr	4.9
226	Cheyenne, WY	36	$64,747	13.9	$44,510	$61/hr	5.5
227	Columbus, IN	36	$57,580	8.4	$59,400	$74/hr	2.2
228	Jackson, MI	36	$72,052	8.9	$58,320	$74/hr	1.9
229	Rochester, NY	36	$73,693	8.9	$60,880	$76/hr	1.7
230	Utica, NY	35	$78,508	9.5	$61,070	$76/hr	1.1
231	Buffalo, NY	35	$65,685	6.5	$62,590	$77/hr	1.3
232	New York, NY	35	$63,590	7.9	$76,400	$90/hr	2.2
233	Detroit, MI	35	$77,664	10.7	$63,390	$78/hr	2.0
234	St. Cloud, MN	35	$78,825	13.9	$79,250	$92/hr	3.9
235	Shreveport, LA	35	$74,877	12.2	$48,540	$65/hr	2.7
236	South Bend, IN	35	$70,983	9.3	$62,400	$77/hr	2.3
237	Vallejo, CA	34	$49,682	6.1	$62,080	$77/hr	1.9
238	Jefferson City, MO	34	$93,695	18.7	$59,820	$75/hr	1.4
239	Naples, FL	34	$62,214	17.4	$49,410	$66/hr	6.9
240	Modesto, CA	34	$58,578	7.5	$62,940	$78/hr	2.2
241	Twin Falls, ID	33	$62,049	18.5	$42,770	$60/hr	5.6
242	Salinas, CA	33	$59,822	6.2	$61,530	$76/hr	1.8
243	Wheeling, WV	33	$67,544	6.6	$60,230	$75/hr	0.0
244	Bay City, MI	31	$60,182	7.9	$48,000	$64/hr	0.7
245	Albany, OR	31	$56,632	8.9	$50,490	$67/hr	1.4
246	Huntington, WV	30	$57,026	7.1	$48,960	$65/hr	0.8
247	Flint, MI	30	$79,235	11.0	$70,760	$85/hr	1.1
248	Fort Smith, AR	29	$73,352	23.3	$44,230	$61/hr	2.9
249	Toledo, OH	29	$70,234	9.9	$57,700	$73/hr	0.8
250	St. Joseph, MO	28	$74,796	11.8	$51,140	$67/hr	0.5
251	Corpus Christi, TX	28	$62,697	21.4	$37,600	$55/hr	4.7
252	Mansfield, OH	28	$77,159	14.5	$47,470	$64/hr	0.9
253	Springfield, IL	27	$61,091	8.4	$77,900	$91/hr	1.1
254	Decatur, IL	27	$34,030	5.8	$74,640	$88/hr	0.4
255	Las Cruces, NM	26	$49,973	15.9	$39,070	$56/hr	3.7
256	Saginaw, MI	26	$54,464	8.5	$57,300	$73/hr	1.1
257	Elkhart, IN	24	$61,977	14.9	$58,300	$73/hr	3.8
258	Monroe, LA	23	$52,615	11.8	$48,450	$65/hr	2.4
259	El Paso, TX	22	$56,954	17.9	$36,300	$54/hr	2.3
260	Miami, FL	22	$54,497	18.9	$48,030	$64/hr	3.8
261	Casper, WY	22	$60,193	13.8	$58,410	$74/hr	2.5
262	Farmington, NM	21	$39,820	10.3	$39,420	$57/hr	0.7
263	Minot, ND	17	$51,226	13.1	$49,410	$66/hr	1.8

How to read this

Revenue is what one-person businesses take in before expenses, not take-home pay. A high figure with lots of competitors per resident usually means a busy but crowded market; a lower figure with few competitors can mean room to grow. Business counts come from the Census Nonemployer Statistics (2024) and County Business Patterns (2023), grouped as “foundation, framing & exterior work”, so they include some firms outside the trade itself.

For pay as an employee in any of these cities, see the roofer salary overview or the best cities for roofers to work.

Census Nonemployer Statistics 2024; County Business Patterns 2023; Census Building Permits 2025; Census population estimates; BLS OEWS May 2025. Our data

Best cities to start a roofer business