What does a roofer earn?

The profession of roofer is one of the central trades in Germany - they make sure that everyone has a roof over their head! - At the latest when the rain comes into the living room from above, everyone appreciates the work of this profession. Whether new buildings, renovations or repairs - roofers ensure safety and stability on every roof. We can all agree - the profession of roofer is absolutely irreplaceable. But what is the salary like in this profession? Here you can find out everything about the average salary of a roofer, the differences between a trained roofer and a master craftsman - and how bright the future of this profession looks in terms of digitalization, climate change and a shortage of skilled workers!

What does a roofer do?

In a nutshell: a roofer is responsible for the roof of a building - obviously, you might think. But there is much more to the job description of a roofer: The main tasks include the construction, repair and maintenance of roofs - but also the sealing of wall surfaces, balconies and terraces. Roofers are very familiar with different materials and their properties, whether tiles, slate, metal, modern waterproofing membranes or the greening of your roof. The installation of skylights, green roofs, lightning protection systems, rain gutters, snow guard systems and solar systems - including all electrical systems - are also typical tasks. 

The work requires manual dexterity, technical understanding and physical fitness. In particular, this job requires you to be absolutely fit for heights, free from giddiness and sure-footed so that you can do your work on the roofs of Germany at all. As you mostly work on construction sites in the open air, you are exposed to the weather a lot and work in a team to complete the construction projects on time. 

If you are thinking about switching to a different trade: Is a job where you don't have to work at such lofty heights but still experience new challenges every day something for you? Then you might be interested in our article on the salary of a pest controller. Thanks to your technical training in particular, you have a very good chance of making a career straight away as a career changer! 

How much do you earn as a roofer?

The salary of a roofer can vary depending on the region / federal state, training and experience. In addition, there are differences in salary due to the collective bargaining agreements of some roofing companies , where the same wage is paid for roofers with the same experience throughout Germany or the entire country. From December 2024, a new collective agreement will apply, under which wages will gradually increase by 10% until 2027 (source: article in the Deutsche Handwerkszeitung dhz.de). It is therefore worth taking the latest figures into your salary negotiations - of course only if your company is not covered by a collective agreement! 

 As a guide to the salary of a roofer:

• Unskilled roofing assistant: Without completing a roofing apprenticeship, you can earn a monthly wage of around €2,450 gross to €2,995 as a roofing assistant.
• Starting salary: A trained roofer in their first year of work earns around €3,100 gross per month.
• With experience: After a few years of professional experience (3 to 5), the salary rises to an average of €3,415 gross per month - from the 11th year, your salary rises to around €3,695 gross per month.
• With specializations: Roofers who undergo further training as column leaders , for example, can earn between €2,505 and €3,320 gross per month .

Sources: Gehalt.de and Stepstone, 2024.

Roofers are one of the best-paid trades! Above all, it is worth completing an apprenticeship, as this will earn you extremely well in this industry. This is another reason why it is important to find out about collective agreements from official sources, as salaries can vary greatly depending on your employer's sector and federal state. To compare your salary with other sectors, take a look at our magazine article on the average salary in Germany!

Differences to the master roofer salary

Roofers who have passed the master craftsman's examination usually earn significantly more: they take on management positions on projects or set up their own business and become self-employed. The typical salary of a master roofer is between €3,519 and €4,990 gross per month (according to Stepstone 2024), which is a significant increase compared to the salary as a journeyman, but of course also involves some career changes: 

• More responsibility: With the master craftsman qualification, you are responsible for site management and employee management, which is reflected accordingly in your salary (assuming you are employed). 
• Own business: Master craftsmen who are also self-employed can earn significantly higher incomes depending on the order situation. In the roofing trade, there is only an insolvency rate of 1.5%, which indicates very secure working conditions as a roofer and as a self-employed person (according to selbständig.de). Unfortunately, exact figures on your salary as a self-employed roofer are not known. 

Roofer salary in the different federal states

As in many professions, the salary of a roofer varies greatly between East and West:

• Highest salaries in North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria: 3,690 euros and 3,626 euros gross per month
• Average salaries in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland: € 3,590 to € 3,310 gross
• Lower salaries in eastern Germany: €2,815 to €2,930 gross per month - with Saxony bringing up the rear. (Source: Remuneration atlas of the Federal Employment Agency, 2024). 

But good news: The new collective bargaining regulations from December 2024 plan to increase salaries in eastern Germany by 18 hourly wages by 2027 to bring salaries in the east in line with those in the west. According to the plan, all roofers with a collective agreement will earn the same wage in 2027 - regardless of the federal state! Source: Article in the Deutsche Handwerkszeitung dhz.de.

Future prospects and career opportunities as a roofer

The profession of roofer offers excellent prospects for the future: With the focus on sustainable construction, solar technology and climate protection, the demand for qualified specialists is increasing. The new regulations on building energy refurbishment will also keep companies' order books full in the future. As a roofer, you can not only earn very well, but also actively participate in forward-looking projects and look forward to a secure job in the coming decades . The profession also offers numerous opportunities for further training, such as becoming a technician or site manager or even studying to become a civil engineer.

More information on other professions with long-term, secure jobs? Then take a look at our article on professions with a future!

Start your career with WorkerHero

Whether as a roofer or in other skilled trades - WorkerHero is the perfect platform for finding jobs in Germany. We specialize in blue- and grey-collar professions and help you get off to a successful start even without perfect German language skills. 

Whether you're just starting out or already have experience, you'll find exciting vacancies and career opportunities with us. Find out more about your opportunities at WorkerHero and get started now!