ROOFER
Installs and repairs roofs — shingle, metal, single-ply, built-up. Hot work, fast money in storm season, high injury rate. Delaware is not a right-to-work state — union density is higher than average and prevailing wage rules cover most public projects.
The License.
Most states issue a journeyman license (allows you to work under a licensed contractor) and a separate master or contractor license (allows you to pull permits and run your own business). The journeyman license typically requires completing your apprenticeship and passing a written exam; the master/contractor license requires additional field hours — usually 2 years as a journeyman — and a separate exam.
Requirements in Delaware: confirm current hour and exam requirements directly with Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — DELPROS. Rules update frequently and our data reflects published standards as of early 2025.
The Money.
Pay data for this trade in Delaware. BLS metro-level data was not available for this combination. National medians shown below.
| Stage | Hourly range | Approx. annual |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 apprentice | $16–$24/hr | $32,000 – $48,000 |
| Journeyman scale | $25–$42/hr | $50,000 – $84,000 |
| BLS national median | — | $50,030 |
| BLS top 10% | — | $79,100 |
Delaware is NOT a right-to-work state. Union scale in Delaware's major metros typically runs 20–40% above the national median. Prevailing wage laws apply to most public-sector projects.
The Path.
Delaware is a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) state — it administers its own apprenticeship programs separately from the federal RAPIDS system. Contact the state labor department directly or visit apprenticeship.gov and filter by state.
- · United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers
The Exam.
Most construction trade licenses at the contractor level require a business and law exam in addition to the trade exam. Delaware may have this structure. Pass rates are not published uniformly — ask the licensing board directly for current data. Prevailing wage requirements in Delaware apply to most public-sector projects, which ties exam and licensure to wage scale compliance for contractors.
Be honest about pass rates. Many licensing boards do not publish them. When they do, first-time pass rates for journeyman exams in the trades typically run 50–75%. Preparation time varies — most serious candidates spend 60–120 hours on exam prep. Use code books from the correct edition, not what's currently in print.
What recruiters won't tell you.
- 01Highest fall-fatality rate in the trades. PPE is not optional.
- 02Storm-chase work pays well but the contractors are often fly-by-night. Get paid weekly.
- 03Residential shingle work in summer heat is genuinely punishing. Try a summer first.