Roofer
Work at height keeping buildings watertight – slating, tiling, flat roofing, leadwork and even thatching.
- Salary£26,000 – £42,000
- Hours42 to 45 hours a week, usually Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm (National Careers Service)
- Working for yourselfSelf-employment is common
What the job is like
Roofers keep the weather out. They lay slates and tiles, cover flat roofs with waterproof membranes, fit leadwork and flashings, fit skylights and repair damaged slates and tiles. Some specialise in thatching, using straw or reed.
You will be outdoors and at height in most weathers, so a good head for heights, fitness and a strong focus on safety are essential. Roofers are needed across the country, and with experience you could become a roofing surveyor or site manager, work on heritage buildings or set up your own business.
What you'll do
- Measure roofs and work out how many slates or tiles are needed
- Strip, replace or repair broken slates and tiles
- Check roof timbers and seal joints
- Lay slates, tiles, sheeting or cladding
- Waterproof flat roofs
- Fit lead or plastic flashings around chimneys, windows and walls
- Fit roof windows and loft insulation
- As a thatcher, strip old thatch and fix new bundles of straw or reed
Where you'll work
- Outdoors
- Working at height
- Construction sites
- In customers' homes
- In a team
- On your own
Skills and hobbies that help
Weighted by how much they matter in this job, from the official job profile's skills and tasks. Tap one to see other careers that use it.
Key skills
Used a lot
Handy to have
Hobbies that give you a head start
How to become a roofer
Apprenticeship
Roofer – Level 2 apprenticeship (ST0270), typical duration 24 months, with options such as slating and tiling, waterproof membranes, or sheeting and cladding.
Thatcher – Level 2 apprenticeship (ST0821), typical duration 24 months, with a thatching company.
College
Roof slating and tiling, roofing occupations or built-up felt roofing courses; entry requirements vary.
Direct application
Possible with some GCSEs and practical experience from other construction work.
Other ways in
Start as a roofing labourer or roofer's mate and gain qualifications while you work.
Qualifications, licences and cards
- CSCS card (or equivalent) – most principal contractors expect one before you work on a construction site
- A driving licence helps for some jobs
Where it can lead
- Roofing surveyor, estimating costs and dealing with contracts
- Site manager or equipment sales
- Heritage roofing
- Installing solar panels on roofs (with extra training)
- Training apprentices or running your own business
Good to know
- You must be able to cope with working at height, often outdoors in all weathers and in dirty conditions.
- In England, roofers who join an authorised competent person scheme (such as CompetentRoofer or NAPIT) can self-certify re-roofing work under building regulations.
- Thatching skills are needed in particular areas, so a thatching career may mean relocating.
Courses and training
-
Apprenticeship search
Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
The official GOV.UK service for searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies in England.
-
Course search
Find a course – National Careers Service
The National Careers Service search for college and training provider courses in England, including Skills Bootcamps.
Official information
Sources
We checked these pages in September 2026. Rules, pay and courses change, so always confirm with the official source.
- National Careers Service: Roofer nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/roofer
- Roofer (Level 2, ST0270) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0270-v1-1
- Thatcher (Level 2, ST0821) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0821-v1-0
- Competent person schemes (GOV.UK) gov.uk/guidance/competent-person-scheme-current-schemes-and-how-schemes-are-authorised
- National Society of Master Thatchers: apprentice training nsmtltd.co.uk/apprentice-training/
- Go Construct: Roofer goconstruct.org/construction-careers/what-jobs-are-right-for-me/roofing-operative