How to Become a Roofer in Ontario
Install and repair the roofs that keep everything else dry — flat, sloped, shingle and membrane.
To become a roofer in Ontario, find an employer to sponsor you and register your Roofer (449A) apprenticeship with Skilled Trades Ontario. You need Grade 10 to start. The apprenticeship is 4,000 hours — about 2 years — mostly paid work on the job, with 2 in-school levels. It is a voluntary trade, so certification is optional, and a Red Seal trade. Job Bank puts the median wage in Ontario at $29.14 an hour (2023–2024).
Facts checked against the official sources listed at the bottom of this page. Rules and fees change — confirm with the organization before you rely on them.
What the work involves
- Installs, repairs and replaces flat and sloped roof systems.
- Works with membrane roofing systems.
- Installs and repairs shingles, slate, shakes and roofing tiles — and roofs that carry green roofs or solar panels.
- Waterproofs and damp-proofs roof systems.
Summarized from Skilled Trades Ontario’s description of the trade(opens in a new tab).
A day as an apprentice
- Start with a safety check: harnesses, anchors and ladders before anyone goes up.
- Tear off old material or lay down new — physical work, outdoors, as a team.
- Seal the edges and flashings so the roof stays watertight.
- Clean the site, lower the tools and log the skills you practised.
A typical picture — every employer and every job site is different.
The facts: Roofer (449A)
Each line links to the official page it came from.
| Trade name and code | Roofer (449A) source (opens in a new tab) |
|---|---|
| Compulsory or voluntary | Voluntary — certification is available, not required source (opens in a new tab) |
| Apprenticeship hours | 4,000 hours (about 2 years): 3,520 on the job + 480 in school source (opens in a new tab) |
| In-school levels | |
| Red Seal | Yes — Red Seal title: Roofer source (opens in a new tab) |
| Certificate of Qualification exam | Yes source (opens in a new tab)A voluntary trade: the exam and certificate are available but not required to work. |
| Minimum schooling to start | Grade 10 source (opens in a new tab) |
| Certificates of Qualification issued in 2025 | |
| Wages in Ontario (Job Bank) | Median $29.14/hour · low $22.00 · high $40.00 source (opens in a new tab)Job Bank “Roofer”, NOC 73110 (Roofers and shinglers). Reference period 2023–2024; source: Employment Insurance Survey Data; updated 2025-11-19. |
| Job outlook in Ontario (Job Bank) | Moderate (2025–2027) source (opens in a new tab)Job Bank’s 3-year outlook; updated 2025-12-10. |
| Apprentice pay | No legal pay scale — see what apprentices earn Ontario law sets no apprentice pay scale — the old government percentage schedules ended in 2013. Apprentices must be paid at least the general minimum wage ($17.95 an hour since October 1, 2026; any yearly change takes effect October 1). Above that, the employer sets the rate — or, for union members, the collective agreement. |
What apprentices earn in Ontario
The law first, then what people in the trade earn where you live, then what one real agreement pays.
The rule
Ontario law sets no apprentice pay scale. The floor is the general minimum wage — $17.95 an hour since October 1, 2026 — and it applies to apprentices like anyone else. Above that, your employer sets your pay, or, if you are a union member, the collective agreement does.
- The old government schedules that set apprentice pay as a percentage of a journeyperson’s rate ended in 2013 (revoked April 8, 2013 by O. Reg. 426/12). The current law, the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021, has no apprentice pay provision. e-Laws(opens in a new tab)
- The minimum wage was $17.60 before October 1, 2026. Any yearly change is published by April 1 and takes effect October 1. Ontario’s minimum wage page(opens in a new tab)
- The lower $16.90 student rate applies only to students under 18 working 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or during school breaks — not to an adult apprentice. Ontario’s minimum-wage rules have no apprentice exemption.
- Ask what you will be paid — and how it goes up as you progress — before you sign your training agreement.
What roofers earn, by region
Hourly wages from Job Bank (Government of Canada) for “Roofer” (NOC 73110), updated November 19, 2025. Job Bank publishes one set of figures for the whole occupation, apprentices included — so the low end is not an apprentice rate, and the median is not a pure journeyperson rate. Regions use different survey data; each row says which.
| Region | Low | Median | High | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $22.00 | $29.14 | $40.00 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
| Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula | $23.00 | $30.00 | $39.00 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
| Kingston–Pembroke | $22.00 | $29.00 | $40.00 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
| Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie | $22.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
| London | $21.00 | $27.08 | $36.00 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
| Muskoka–Kawarthas | $21.00 | $28.00 | $36.00 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
| Northeast | $20.00 | $27.00 | $36.00 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
| Northwest | $22.00 | $27.50 | $41.99 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
| Ottawa | $22.50 | $30.00 | $40.00 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
| Stratford–Bruce Peninsula | $22.00 | $26.50 | $33.00 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
| Toronto | $23.00 | $33.00 | $47.70 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
| Windsor-Sarnia | $20.00 | $25.00 | $32.00 | 2023–2024 · Employment Insurance Survey Data |
Source: Job Bank — Roofer wages in Ontario (opens in a new tab). The minimum wage ($17.95 since October 1, 2026) is the same everywhere in Ontario.
The minimum wage is 61.6% of this median (calculated: $17.95 divided by the median). Hourly, before deductions. Both figures are in the table.
A real example: union apprentice pay
We found no current union agreement for Roofer (449A) in Ontario’s Collective Agreements e-Library(opens in a new tab). The newest one on file expired April 30, 2025, so we do not show its rates as current.
How to start
- Find a sponsor. An employer (or union, or group) agrees to train you. This is the step that starts everything.
- Register as an apprentice. Sign a Training Agreement with your sponsor and register it with Skilled Trades Ontario.
- Do the training. Log your on-the-job hours and complete each in-school level.
- Get certified. Write the Certificate of Qualification exam; in a Red Seal trade you can earn the Red Seal too.
The exam costs $150 + HST; the first attempt is free when you complete an Ontario apprenticeship.
Where to train
Colleges and training providers (1)
In-school training is delivered by colleges and other approved training providers. A few with a 449A program:
Running your own business later
Roofer is a voluntary trade, so certification is not required to do the work. We have not researched business licensing for roofing companies: check with your municipality, and look at WSIB coverage before you hire anyone.
Trade associations
Looking for a sponsor?
Contractors who may hire apprentices
Apprentices are sponsored by employers in the trade. Browse local roofers by city on ProScore and contact them directly — not every business sponsors apprentices, so ask.
Roofers on ProScoreUpcoming events to meet the trade
Career fairs and industry events in Ontario where you can meet people in the trade. Dates checked against each organizer.
- Career fairLevel Up! Skilled Trades Career Fair – Windsor Nov 11–12, 2026 LaSalle (Windsor)
- Career fairLevel Up! Skilled Trades Career Fair – London Nov 17–19, 2026 London
- Career fairLevel Up! Skilled Trades Career Fair – Ottawa Nov 24–26, 2026 Ottawa
- Trade showThe Buildings Show Dec 2–4, 2026 Toronto
- Trade showCanadian Roofing Expo Jan 19–20, 2027 Mississauga
- Career fairLevel Up! Skilled Trades Career Fair – Oshawa Dec 1–3, 2026 Oshawa
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a roofer in Ontario?
Find a sponsor (usually an employer) and register an apprenticeship in Roofer (449A) with Skilled Trades Ontario. The entry requirement is Grade 10. You then log on-the-job hours, complete the in-school levels, and can write the Certificate of Qualification exam.
How long does it take to become a roofer in Ontario?
Skilled Trades Ontario sets the apprenticeship at 4,000 hours, about 2 years: 3,520 hours on the job and 480 hours of in-school training over 2 levels.
Do you need a certificate to work as a roofer in Ontario?
No. Roofer is a voluntary trade in Ontario: you can work in it without a certificate, but an apprenticeship and a Certificate of Qualification are available.
How much do roofers make in Ontario?
Job Bank puts the median wage for roofers in Ontario (NOC 73110) at $29.14 an hour, with a low of $22.00 and a high of $40.00 (2023–2024). Job Bank publishes one figure for the whole occupation, apprentices included, so it is not an apprentice rate.
How much do apprentice roofers earn in Ontario?
Ontario law sets no apprentice pay scale — the old government percentage schedules ended in 2013. Apprentices must be paid at least the general minimum wage ($17.95 an hour since October 1, 2026; any yearly change takes effect October 1). Above that, the employer sets the rate — or, for union members, the collective agreement. We found no current union agreement for Roofer (449A) in Ontario’s Collective Agreements e-Library; the newest on file expired April 30, 2025.
Is Roofer a Red Seal trade?
Yes — its Red Seal title is Roofer. Passing the Red Seal exam adds a Red Seal endorsement to your provincial certificate.
Compare other trades
Each page covers the work, the apprenticeship, the pay, where to train and what to do first.
- ElectricianWire, power and light homes and buildings — and find out why something isn’t working.309ACompulsoryabout 5 yearsRed Seal
- PlumberBring clean water in and take waste water away — in homes, businesses and industry.306ACompulsoryabout 5 yearsRed Seal
- HVAC TechnicianKeep homes and buildings cool, warm and comfortable — refrigeration, air conditioning and heating.313ACompulsoryabout 5 yearsRed Seal
- CarpenterBuild the frame of a house, the forms for a foundation, the stairs and the finishing touches.403AVoluntaryabout 4 yearsRed Seal
- RooferInstall and repair the roofs that keep everything else dry — flat, sloped, shingle and membrane.449AVoluntaryabout 2 yearsRed Seal
- Horticultural TechnicianGrow plants, build landscapes and care for lawns, gardens, golf courses and irrigation.441CVoluntaryabout 3 yearsRed Seal
Facts checked
Every number on this page comes from one of these official pages, read on that date. Where two official sources disagree, we show both. Where nothing official is published, we say so instead of estimating. ProScore is not affiliated with these organizations.
The 15 official sources
- Skilled Trades Ontario — 2025 trade report, 449A(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — Roofer (449A)(opens in a new tab)
- Job Bank — Roofer wages in Ontario(opens in a new tab)
- Job Bank — Roofer job outlook in Ontario(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — Starting your apprenticeship(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — Finishing an apprenticeship(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — Exam scheduling(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — Certificate of Qualification(opens in a new tab)
- Red Seal Program — About the program(opens in a new tab)
- Government of Ontario — Your guide to the Employment Standards Act: Minimum wage(opens in a new tab)
- Ontario e-Laws — O. Reg. 285/01, Exemptions, special rules and establishment of minimum wage(opens in a new tab)
- Ontario e-Laws — Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021(opens in a new tab)
- Ontario e-Laws — O. Reg. 426/12, Revoking various regulations(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — Sponsor an apprentice(opens in a new tab)
- Government of Ontario — Collective Agreements e-Library(opens in a new tab)