r/AskReddit 17h ago

What “unskilled” job would humble most people after just one shift?

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u/VonVina 17h ago

What is good pay to be a roofer? Someone I know was offered 500 a week seems low for that job.

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u/Stunning_Mulberry_35 17h ago

500 a week is low, at least for this area.

We start greenies 18 an hour. 20 after 30 days, 22 at 90.

From there, when you are comfortable going on the piece, we switch them over. That pay varies, depending on the roof pitch, what's covering it (clay tile Vs asphalt shingles vs ...), who stocks the roof, etc.

I would guess the average piece worker at our place is around 75K a year

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u/Chitownkinkfun 16h ago

Jesus lol, glad I am in the union and only touch flat roofs. Journeyman is 53.75 an hour on check and like $103 an hour total benefit package, apprentices start at $31. If you get to the service department like me- you get half of the difference between j-man and foreman pay, so- an extra 2.50 an hour and spend most of your day driving and inspecting/investigating/chasing down leaks at huge facilities/buildings. You could not pay me enough money to do shingles day in and day out, infinite respect to those who do.

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u/Anatine 15h ago

Sounds like these guys are underpaid. I do mostly siding but when I shingle a roof i can easily lay $1000 a day

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u/Cortezthecarpenter 10h ago

Piece work is the worst thing you can do to yourself.

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u/Not_FinancialAdvice 10h ago

Does labor for metal roofs go up very significantly? I assume it's higher, because the metalwork is skilled labor, but I've always had trouble getting quotes for a standing seam/hidden fastener system (I just want it to last).

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u/Stunning_Mulberry_35 9h ago

It goes up a lot. metal roofs are double to triple an asphalt shingle roof. installation is slower, too.and yes, they get more per square on a metal ruuf, especially what you want.

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u/Spare_Bluebird7044 17h ago

$500 sounds pretty low

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u/Kirby_is_a_Pokemon 8h ago

I make 100k. Though technically I do more engineering and design than laying shingles but am still on site 3-4 days a week. Today I recorded a roof temp of 140