Roofers Salary
Roofers in Illinois make a median of $77,900 a year, or about $37.45 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $83,005 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Illinois?
About roofers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for roofers, local pay runs about 41% higher than the U.S. median of $55K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level roofers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Roofers salary by metro in Illinois
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $82K | +5% | 3,900 |
| Springfield | $78K | +0% | 270 |
| Peoria | $77K | -2% | 160 |
| Decatur | $75K | -4% | 60 |
| Rockford | $65K | -16% | 180 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $60K | -23% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track roofers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a roofer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 28.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for roofers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new roofers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,796/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is roofer a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 41% above the national median — $78K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for roofers?
Illinois pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s +41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do roofers make in Illinois?
The median is $77,900 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,600, and experienced roofers can clear $106,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,944/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 28.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a roofers salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median roofers salary is worth about $83,005 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do roofers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.