Skilled Trades hiring managers spend under 10 seconds on each resume — the roofer example below shows what makes them stop and read.
Roofer Resume Example
The biggest resume mistake roofers make is listing job duties instead of measurable outcomes. Writing 'installed shingles on residential homes' tells a hiring manager nothing they don't already know. Every roofer installs shingles. What separates you is how many squares you average per day, how many crews you've led simultaneously, or what your callback rate looks like compared to company averages. The second major mistake is omitting system-specific experience. If you've worked with TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, or standing seam metal, name the systems explicitly — don't just write 'commercial roofing.' The third mistake is burying safety credentials or leaving them off entirely. OSHA 30, fall protection certifications, and your EMR-related track record belong near the top of your resume, not as an afterthought.
For 2026, ATS keywords have shifted significantly. Drone roof inspection, thermal imaging diagnostics, solar-ready roofing, cool roof systems, and green roofing installation are now filtering terms that large commercial contractors and national firms program into their applicant tracking systems. If you've touched any energy-efficient roofing technology, GAF Master Elite processes, or worked with roofing project management software like AccuLynx, JobNimbus, or Roofr, those terms need to appear verbatim on your resume.
Here's the counterintuitive truth about roofing resumes: a shorter resume with quantified results beats a long one packed with experience every time. A foreman with five years and hard numbers — 'completed 120+ tear-off-to-install projects averaging 2.3 days per job with zero safety incidents' — will get called before a 20-year veteran whose resume reads like a generic job description. Hiring managers in this trade are scanning for proof you can produce, not just that you showed up. Specificity is your competitive advantage.
Salary Snapshot
US National Average (BLS)
Salary Range
What Your Roofer Resume Will Look Like
Professional formatting that passes ATS systems and impresses hiring managers
John Smith
Roofer | San Francisco, CA
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Experienced Roofer with over 7 years in the Skilled Trades industry, specializing in residential and commercial roofing systems. Proven track record o...
TECHNICAL SKILLS
WORK EXPERIENCE
Roofer
Example Company | 2022 - Present
- Led a team of 5 roofers to complete a 15,000 square foot commercial roofing proj...
- Implemented a new safety training program that resulted in a 25% reduction in on...
✅ ATS-Optimized Features
- ✓Standard section headers
- ✓Keyword-rich content
- ✓Clean, simple formatting
- ✓Chronological work history
- ✓Quantified achievements
📊 Role Snapshot
What Hiring Managers Actually Look For
In the first six to ten seconds, roofing hiring managers look for three things: what roofing systems you know (TPO, EPDM, asphalt shingle, metal, tile), whether you hold OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification, and whether you've held any leadership role — crew lead, foreman, superintendent. If those aren't visible within a quick scan, your resume goes to the bottom of the pile. They're not reading your objective statement.
Small roofing companies screen resumes personally, usually the owner or a field supervisor, and they care most about versatility — can you do steep-slope and low-slope, residential and light commercial? Large contractors and national outfits like Tecta America or Baker Roofing run resumes through ATS first, so keyword matching for specific membrane systems, safety certifications, and project management tools determines whether a human ever sees your application.
The one thing strong candidates include that mediocre ones skip: quantified production metrics and warranty-related outcomes. Stating you maintained a less than 1% leak callback rate across 200 installations, or that your crew consistently hit project timelines within budget, signals reliability. That's what gets you the interview over someone who just lists 'roof repair' fifteen different ways.
Professional Summary
Experienced Roofer with over 7 years in the Skilled Trades industry, specializing in residential and commercial roofing systems. Proven track record of reducing material wastage by 15% through strategic project planning and precise execution. Adept at overseeing teams to ensure compliance with safety standards and delivering projects on time and within budget. Committed to delivering high-quality workmanship and enhancing client satisfaction.
💡 Pro Tip: Customize this summary to match the specific job description you're applying for.
Key Achievements
Led a team of 5 roofers to complete a 15,000 square foot commercial roofing project 10% under budget and 2 weeks ahead of schedule.
Implemented a new safety training program that resulted in a 25% reduction in on-site accidents over a 12-month period.
Successfully installed over 200 roofing systems annually, maintaining a customer satisfaction rate of 95% or higher.
Reduced material costs by 15% by negotiating with suppliers and leveraging bulk purchasing agreements.
Trained and mentored 10 apprentice roofers, enhancing team productivity by 20% and promoting 3 to lead positions.
Utilized advanced roofing technologies such as TPO and EPDM to improve energy efficiency by 30% in commercial buildings.
Conducted thorough inspections and repairs, extending the lifespan of roofing systems by an average of 5 years.
🎯 Bullet Point Formula: Start with a strong action verb, describe the task, and end with a measurable result. Example from this role: "Led a team of 5 roofers to complete a 15,000 square foot commercial roofing project 10% under budget..."
Essential Skills
📚 Complete Roofer Resume Guide
Your header should be clean and professional. Include your full name, phone number, professional email, and LinkedIn URL. For Roofer roles, also consider adding your GitHub profile or portfolio website.
Example:
John Smith | (555) 123-4567 | john.smith@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the biggest mistake roofers make on their resume?
Treating your resume like a job description instead of a performance record. Listing 'repaired and installed roofs' is meaningless because every roofer does that. The mistake is failing to quantify output — squares installed per day, number of projects completed per season, crew sizes managed, or safety incident rates. Hiring managers want proof of production speed, quality, and reliability. If your resume reads like it could belong to any roofer in the country, it's not working for you.
Can you show me a before and after example of a roofing resume bullet?
Weak: 'Responsible for installing roofing materials on commercial buildings.' Strong: 'Led 6-man crew in completing 45 TPO membrane installations (avg. 15,000 sq ft each) over one season with zero OSHA recordables and a 98% first-pass inspection rate.' The strong version names the system, quantifies the work, specifies team size, and proves quality through inspection data. That's the difference between getting a callback and getting ignored.
What certifications and keywords should roofers include on their resume in 2026?
OSHA 30 is becoming the baseline expectation for foreman-level roles — OSHA 10 alone won't differentiate you anymore. Include manufacturer certifications like GAF Master Elite, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, or Carlisle SynTec applicator status. For keywords, add drone roof inspection, thermal imaging, cool roof systems, solar-integrated roofing, and any estimating software you use (AccuLynx, JobNimbus, EagleView). Fall protection competent person certification is also a high-value keyword that many roofers forget to list.
Should I include residential work on my resume if I'm applying for commercial roofing jobs?
Only if you frame it strategically. Don't list residential shingle work as its own standalone section if you're targeting commercial roles — it can make you look like the wrong fit. Instead, mention it briefly to show range, then lead with any commercial or low-slope experience you have, even if it's limited. If you've done any TPO, EPDM, built-up, or modified bitumen work at all, put that front and center. Commercial hiring managers want to see membrane system experience first, everything else second.
How do I show career progression on a roofing resume if my titles didn't officially change?
This is extremely common in roofing — you went from laborer to the guy running a crew, but your paycheck still said 'roofer.' Use functional descriptions that reflect your actual responsibility growth. Break a long tenure at one company into phases: 'Roofing Laborer (2019–2020)' then 'Crew Lead (2020–2023)' then 'Field Foreman (2023–Present)' under the same employer header. Add context like 'promoted to oversee 3 concurrent crews across multiple job sites' or 'selected to train all new hires on fall protection protocols.' If you managed people, materials, or schedules, say so explicitly even if your official title never reflected it.
🔗Related Skilled Trades Roles
Career Path & Related Roles
Explore career progression and alternative paths for Roofer professionals
📈 Career Progression
Entry Level
Junior Roofer
Current Level
Roofer
Senior Level
Senior Roofer
Management Track
Engineering Manager
🔄 Alternative Paths
Considering a career switch? These roles share transferable skills:
Roofer Job Market Snapshot
Current U.S. labor market data for Roofer positions
Top skills employers look for in Roofer candidates
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