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Become a roofer

Roofing apprenticeships in Metro Detroit

Membrane, shingle and metal roofs on schools, plants and homes. Roofers earn a median $30.48 an hour in the Detroit metro ($63,390 a year). The Department of Labor lists 3 registered sponsors for the trade in the six counties.

median an hour
$30.48
registered sponsors
3
registered term
About 2 years
working here
1,450

The pay ladder

Roofers in the Detroit metro

  1. Top of the trade 90th percentile, about $77,380 a year full time $38.69
  2. Senior hand 75th percentile, about $75,940 a year full time $37.97
  3. Journeyworker median, about $60,960 a year full time $30.48
  4. A few years in 25th percentile, about $47,200 a year full time $23.60
  5. Starting out 10th percentile, about $46,040 a year full time $23.02

BLS, May 2025. Apprentices start on their program's own scale and climb toward these rungs.

Numbers match the training centers listed on this page; centers a few miles apart share a number. County lines from the U.S. Census Bureau; center addresses from the Department of Labor's RAPIDS records.

Training centers

Where roofers train

1 Clio

2 Howell

3 Oak Park

County by county

Roofing apprenticeships in each county

Registered roofing programs by county

  1. Oakland County 2 programs
  2. Livingston County 1 program

U.S. Department of Labor RAPIDS sponsor records as listed on Apprenticeship.gov, read October 24, 2026.

How to apply

How to become a roofer apprentice

  1. Check the requirements

    Most programs ask for a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license and proof of age; federal rules set the minimum age at 16, and many trades ask for 18.

    Detroit Roofers JATC requirements
  2. Take the entry test

    Many programs ask for the ACT WorkKeys or another entrance test; Michigan's apprenticeship office tells applicants to brush up on math first.

    Michigan LEO advice
  3. Apply in the window

    Union programs take applications in set windows. Watch the training center's own site and apply early.

    Apply at Detroit Roofers JATC
  4. Get ready while you wait

    Your Michigan Works! agency helps with test prep, pre-apprenticeship classes and the work boots.

    Find your Michigan Works! agency
  5. Start work, earn raises

    The Department of Labor's registered roofer standards run 4,000 hours on the job, about 2 years, with a raise as each period is done.

    Roofing apprenticeships

Outlook

Jobs for roofers in the next ten years

Michigan expects 4,090 roofers by 2034 (up 3.4% from 2024), with about 290 openings a year as people retire and move on. Nationally, BLS projects up 5.3% from 2025 to 2035; it lists moderate-term on-the-job training as the usual training.

Sponsors

Registered roofing sponsors in Metro Detroit

  • Detroit Roofers Oak Park Union
  • Roofing Contractor'S JAC Howell Union
  • Bruttell Roofing, Inc. Oak Park

Other trades

Compare another trade

Electrical Plumbing and pipefitting HVAC and refrigeration Carpentry Millwrights Masonry and concrete Tile and terrazzo Painting and finishing Glazing Welding Ironwork Operating engineers Sheet metal Heat and frost insulation Elevator construction Construction laborers Power line work

Keep going

Careers, jobs and training

Questions

What people ask

How much do roofers make in Metro Detroit?

The median is $30.48 an hour ($63,390 a year) in the Detroit metro, from $23.02 at the 10th percentile to $38.69 at the 90th (BLS, May 2025).

How long is a roofer apprenticeship?

The Department of Labor's registered roofer standards run 4,000 hours of on-the-job learning, about 2 years, plus classes.

Where do roofers train near Detroit?

Detroit Roofers JATC (Roofers Local 149) in Oak Park, Roofing Contractors JAC (Roofers Local 70) in Howell, and Flint Roofers JAC (Flint area roofers) in Clio.

How many roofing apprenticeship programs are there?

RAPIDS lists 3 registered sponsors based in the six counties: Oakland County 2 and Livingston County 1.

What do I need to apply?

Most programs ask for a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license and proof of age; federal rules set the minimum age at 16, and many trades ask for 18.

Sources

Where these numbers come from

  • Programs and sponsors: U.S. Department of Labor RAPIDS sponsor records as listed on Apprenticeship.gov, read October 24, 2026. Michigan's registered apprenticeships are kept by the federal Michigan Apprenticeship Office, so RAPIDS is the official list.
  • Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area (Michigan where the metro figure is not published).
  • Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 and Michigan's long-term projections 2024 to 2034.
  • Length: the U.S. Department of Labor's approved apprenticeship occupations, in on-the-job hours.