Roofer Apprenticeship in California

Wages, programs & career outlook

Roofers install and repair the systems that keep buildings watertight — asphalt shingles on homes, single-ply membranes on commercial flat roofs, metal panels on industrial structures. It's physical work, often in heat, with real fall-protection discipline required.

CA Median Salary
$63,040/yr
+24% vs. national
National Median
$50,970/yr
CA Employment
21,110
Roofers employed
CA Sponsors
9
Registered programs
Training Term
3.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
5.9%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
12,700
Nationally, per yr

Roofer Apprenticeship in California: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered roofer apprenticeship in California combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 3.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

California pay vs. national

Median roofer wages in California are $63,040/year, +24% above the national median of $50,970. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

California has 9 registered apprenticeship sponsors for roofer listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.9% job growth for roofers nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 12,700 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — California-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

California Wage Spread

Annual wages for Roofers in California across all experience levels.

10th pct
$47,090
Median
$63,040
90th pct
$95,080
Middle 50% of workers earn $58,650$76,520

Current Roofer Apprenticeship Openings in California

No roofer apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for California. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Roofer Apprenticeship Sponsors in California

9 roofer-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for California. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current roofer apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Central Valley Roofers & Waterproofers JATC Fresno Fresno County
East & North Bay Roofers & Waterproofers JATC Livermore Alameda County
SANTA CLARA VALLEY AREA ROOFERS JATC Livermore Alameda County
West Bay Counties Roofers & Waterproofers JATC Livermore Alameda County
Southern California Roofers & Waterproofers JATC Pomona Los Angeles County
Independent Roofing Contractors of California, Inc Ripon San Joaquin County
Sacramento Valley Roofers & Waterproofers JATC Sacramento Sacramento County
San Diego & Imperial Counties Roofers and Waterproofers JAC San Diego San Diego County
Quaglino Roofing San Luis Obispo
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Roofer openings

Filter by occupation code 47-2181 and state CA for the most relevant results.

Roofer Apprenticeship in California

With 9 trade-specific sponsors in our directory, California's Roofer apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Roofers make in California?
Roofers in California earn a median salary of $63,040/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $50,970 for the trade.
How long is a Roofer apprenticeship?
Most Roofer apprenticeships run 3 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Roofers?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Roofers, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
Where can I apply for a Roofer apprenticeship in California?
Contact one of the 9 Roofer-adjacent registered sponsors in California (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Roofer apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In California, a first-year Roofer apprentice might earn around $31,520/yr (roughly half the $63,040 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 3-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Roofers also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection programs in California →
Or see all 43 programs nationwide.

Roofer in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in California

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.