An increasing number of people are avoiding the “traditional” route of college after high school and entering the trades instead. NPR found that trade school enrollment is booming while college enrollment is simultaneously declining and thinks the pandemic may have played in large part to that.
Add to that the uptick in community colleges advertising about their trade programs and you’ll see why this trend is only going to continue.
Trade schools generally take less, focus on a specific skill, and are typically more “hands on” than a traditional college. So to address the original question, is Commercial Roofing a Good Career?
Better Pay Upfront
One of the biggest draws to a commercial roofing career is the competitive pay. Workers can make anywhere from $20-$25+ an hour plus bonuses (depending on the company) which comes out to an annual salary of $41,600-$52,000.
In contrast, the starting pay for a new college grad is $55,260 according to Bankrate.com. Keep in mind this doesn’t account for the average student debt of $27,800.
Opportunities for Growth
Depending on the roofing company you’re at, there may be opportunities to advance within your career. Roofers know that employees can come and go so in order to keep the good ones around, you have to outline a career path that makes them want to stay.
As a company grows, the team members will also want to grow with it accordingly. Investing in your people will help them see that you value them and further incentivize them to stay. As a commercial roofer, you will want to state your expectations within the job on a regular bases so your boss knows.
Working With Your Hands
Many trade employees have expressed that they would rather be “doing” than be working inside at a desk all day. We get it. There are several benefits to working with your hands including:
- Better physical shape
- Less strained eyes from working on a computer
- Seeing the tangible results of your work
- Better Sleep because of physical exercise
Always in Demand
The best part about entering the Commercial roofing space? Job security.
There will always be a demand for skilled laborers and especially in the commercial roofing space. Compared to other industries that were impacted by the pandemic, interest rates, government policies, etc. the construction and skilled labor jobs were virtually unaffected in demand.
Roofs will always wear over time and buildings will always need roof repair. Your job will always be in demand 🙂
Summary
To answer the original question, is commercial roofing a good career? We think so. It meets all the marks that many workers are looking for- good pay, opportunity for growth, hands on work, and job security.
Looking for a career in commercial roofing? We’re always looking for good, reliable people.
