Cost by profession
How Much Does Workers' Comp Insurance Cost for Roofers?
Honest look at typical workers' comp costs for roofers by payroll, why rates run high, and what actually lowers premium.
Roofing carries some of the highest workers' comp rates of any trade, and most roofing contractors pay somewhere between $8,000 and $35,000 a year, since the rate per $100 of payroll for roofing class codes is routinely several times higher than general carpentry or construction due to fall exposure alone.
It would be misleading to soften this: roofing sits near the top of the rate scale for workers' comp in almost every state, and that reflects real, well-documented claim severity rather than an arbitrary underwriting bias. Falls from height remain one of the most serious and most common sources of injury in construction, and roofing concentrates that exposure more than nearly any other trade.
Steep-slope residential roofing, low-slope commercial roofing, and hot tar or torch-applied systems each carry somewhat different risk profiles, with hot work adding fire exposure on top of the baseline fall risk. Contractors who do a mix of these should expect underwriters to ask detailed questions about the split, since a crew doing mostly low-slope commercial work with fall arrest systems can look meaningfully different than one doing steep residential tear-offs.
Because the base rate itself is so high, even modest swings in the experience mod translate into large dollar differences at renewal, which makes claims prevention and accurate payroll reporting more financially consequential for roofers than for almost any other construction trade.
Typical cost at three business sizes
| Business profile | Typical annual premium |
|---|---|
Small — residential roofing crew $250K annual payroll, steep-slope residential tear-offs and re-roofs Even small payrolls carry a high rate per $100 given fall exposure. | $8,000 - $14,000 / yr |
Typical — established roofing contractor $700K annual payroll, mixed residential and low-slope commercial work Blended exposure between steep residential and lower-pitch commercial roofs. | $16,000 - $26,000 / yr |
Larger — commercial roofing company $2M+ annual payroll, low-slope commercial and hot-applied systems Hot work adds fire exposure on top of an already high base rate. | $28,000 - $50,000+ / yr |
These are typical ranges for planning, not quotes. Your actual premium depends on your state, limits, payroll or revenue, loss history and each carrier's appetite for your class of business.
Run your own numbers
Enter your payroll to see an illustrative range for roofers, then start an application to get real carrier pricing.
$18,750 – $87,500
This is an estimate, not a quote. Real pricing depends on your exact class codes, loss history, experience mod and each carrier's appetite for your business.
What moves the price for roofers
Steep-slope versus low-slope work percentage
Steep residential roofs generally carry higher fall severity potential than low-slope commercial roofs, where fall protection systems and wider working surfaces can reduce risk somewhat. Contractors who track and report this split accurately sometimes see pricing that better reflects their actual mix of work.
Hot work and torch-applied systems
Hot tar kettles and torch-applied membrane systems introduce burn and fire exposure on top of the baseline fall risk inherent to all roofing work, and carriers typically price this separately from standard shingle or metal roofing installation.
Fall protection program documentation
Written fall protection plans, harness and anchor point inspection records, and documented training are among the most heavily weighted factors underwriters review for roofing accounts, given how directly they relate to the trade's dominant loss driver.
Claims history and frequency of fall-related injuries
Given how costly fall injuries typically are, even a single serious claim can meaningfully affect a roofing contractor's experience mod for several years, making loss history review especially important at renewal.
New construction versus repair and replacement mix
Full roof replacements and new construction installs often involve more total time at height per job than smaller repair calls, which can factor into how a contractor's overall exposure is assessed relative to payroll.
Three ways roofers lower their premium
Implement and document a formal fall protection program
Written procedures covering harness use, anchor points, and guardrail systems, backed by regular training records, are one of the most direct ways to demonstrate reduced risk in a trade where fall claims dominate the loss picture.
Separate hot work payroll where applicable
If only part of the crew performs torch-applied or hot tar work, reporting that payroll distinctly rather than blending it across the whole crew can help ensure the added fire exposure is priced accurately rather than spread unnecessarily.
Review experience mod calculations closely each year
Given how high the base rate already is, even small errors in reported payroll or loss data can have an outsized dollar effect, so an annual review with your agent is worth the time for this trade specifically.
Worth quoting at the same time
- General Liability Insurance — Covers property damage from a roofing job, such as a leak after installation, that workers' comp does not address.
- Commercial Auto Insurance — Trucks hauling materials and equipment between job sites typically need coverage separate from workers' comp.
- Commercial Umbrella Insurance — Adds extra liability limits often required by general contractors or property owners on larger roofing contracts.
Frequently asked questions
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