Get Into a TradeUpdated October 2026

Roofer salary in Australia

Quick answer

There is no official median wage for roof tilers or roof plumbers on their own, because the ABS sample is too small. The closest official figure is the Plumbers group, which includes roof plumbers: a median of $1,990 a week for full-time workers as at May 2025, against $1,852 for all occupations.

Ask ten roofers what they earn and you will get ten answers, because pay swings with the award, EBAs, weather, overtime and whether you work for yourself. Here is what the official data says, what it hides, and how apprentice pay works.

What the official data says

Jobs and Skills Australia shows N/A for median weekly earnings for both Roof Tilers (ANZSCO 3333) and Roof Plumbers (ANZSCO 334115). The source is the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, and JSA does not publish medians where the standard error is too high.

The nearest official benchmark is the Plumbers unit group (ANZSCO 3341), which includes roof plumbers along with general plumbers, gasfitters and drainers. Its median full-time earnings were $1,990 a week as at May 2025, compared with $1,852 for all occupations. There is no equivalent group figure for roof tilers, so treat any single number you see for tilers with caution.

What the median hides

•It counts full-time employees on adult rates only, so it leaves out apprentices, part timers and most self-employed roofers.
•Plumbers as a group includes gasfitters and commercial plumbers, so it is a guide for roof plumbers, not their exact pay.
•It does not show wet weather. Roofers lose days to rain and wind, so annual income can be lower than the weekly figure suggests.
•It does not show storm season, when repair work brings overtime and weekend work.

What pushes pay up

•Enterprise agreements (EBAs) on large commercial and industrial jobs, which can pay above award with site allowances
•Remote and mining work for qualified roof plumbers, often on fly in, fly out rosters
•Overtime and penalty rates, especially after storms and hail
•Self-employment or subcontracting, often priced per square metre or per job, which can pay well but carries insurance, licence, vehicle and quiet-week costs
•A full roof plumbing licence and the ability to quote, design box gutters and supervise

Awards that set the floor

Roof tilers are generally covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020). Roof plumbers are commonly covered by the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2020 (MA000036), which classifies roof plumbers at Tradesperson Level 1, although some metal roofing employers may fall under the Building and Construction award. Both awards include tool allowances, and both set minimums only. Your employer can pay more.

Apprentice pay

Apprentice rates under both awards are a percentage of the qualified rate that rises each year of the apprenticeship. Adult apprentices get higher rates than junior apprentices, and school-based apprentices have their own rules.

Rates change every July, so we do not quote them here. Use the Fair Work Pay Calculator with your award, year level and age to get your actual rate, and check that allowances like the tool allowance appear on your payslip.

Demand and job security

On the 2025 Occupation Shortage List, both Roof Tiler and Roof Plumber were rated in shortage nationally and in every state and territory. Shortage means employers struggle to fill roles, which tends to support pay and job security for good, reliable roofers. It does not guarantee higher wages on its own.

Check the live figures

Jobs and Skills Australia is moving its profiles to the new OSCA classification, and earnings data may change as that happens. Check the live Jobs and Skills Australia and Your Career pages before relying on any number, including the ones on this page.

Sources and official links

Straight from the source. These open in a new tab.

Roofing Apprentice Hub How much do tradies actually earn in Australia?

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General guidance only

Answers here are general guidance to point you in the right direction - always check official sources and ask your supervisor for your specific situation.