Roofing labor costs about $150 to $350 per square for asphalt shingles, which works out to $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot. Steep or complex roofs push that to $350 to $500 per square. Metal, tile, and slate cost more to install because the work is slower and needs specialized crews. Labor is usually 40–60% of the total price of a roof replacement.
Those are labor-only numbers. Materials, tear-off, disposal, and permits are on top. This guide covers how roofing labor is quoted, what contractors charge per square by material, what the labor line looks like on a full job, how rates run in Missouri and Illinois, and how to tell whether the labor number on your estimate is fair. For the whole picture, see our roof replacement cost guide.
How Roofing Labor Is Quoted: Per Square vs. Per Square Foot
Roofers price labor two ways, and it helps to know how to convert between them.
- Per square: One roofing square is 100 square feet of roof surface. Most contractors think and quote in squares. A typical 2,000 sq ft home has 22–26 squares of roof once pitch, overhangs, and waste are counted.
- Per square foot: The same rate divided by 100. $250 per square is $2.50 per square foot.
When you compare quotes, convert everything to one unit. And check what the number includes. One contractor's labor line may cover tear-off, installation, flashing, and cleanup. Another's may cover installation only, with tear-off and disposal listed separately.
Roofing Labor Cost Per Square by Material
Labor tracks how long a square takes to install and how skilled the crew has to be. Asphalt shingles go on fast. Standing-seam metal, tile, and slate go on slowly and unforgivingly. These are labor-only planning ranges for a full replacement on a walkable roof.
| Roofing Material | Labor Per Square | Labor Per Sq Ft | What Changes It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles (3-tab or architectural) | $150–$350 | $1.50–$3.50 | Fastest install. Pitch and complexity matter more than the shingle. |
| Asphalt, steep or complex roof | $350–$500 | $3.50–$5.00 | Harnesses, toe boards, more cuts at valleys and dormers. |
| Metal (standing seam) | $300–$700 | $3.00–$7.00 | Panels are cut and seamed on site. Crew must be metal-trained. |
| Clay or concrete tile | $500–$1,000 | $5.00–$10.00 | Heavy, fragile, and slow. Often needs structural review first. |
| Slate | $700–$1,200+ | $7.00–$12.00+ | Specialty crews. Few contractors in the St. Louis area do it. |
| Tear-off and disposal (any material) | $100–$150 | $1.00–$1.50 | Per layer removed. Two old layers cost roughly double. |
Impact-resistant shingles do not change the labor rate much; the crew installs them the same way. What they change is the material cost and, often, your insurance premium. See what a Class 4 roof costs.
What Labor Looks Like on a Full Roof Replacement
Here is how labor fits into the total for an asphalt shingle replacement. Squares assume a moderate pitch and about 10% waste. Totals match the ranges in our roof replacement cost guide.
| Home Size (footprint) | Roof Squares (approx.) | Labor Only | Total Installed (asphalt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 12–14 | $1,800–$4,900 | $4,000–$8,500 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 17–20 | $2,600–$7,000 | $6,000–$12,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 22–26 | $3,300–$9,100 | $8,000–$17,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 28–32 | $4,200–$11,200 | $10,000–$21,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 33–38 | $5,000–$13,300 | $12,000–$26,000+ |
The low end of each labor range is a simple gable roof with one layer to remove. The high end is a cut-up roof with dormers, valleys, a couple of skylights, and two layers coming off. Most homes in the St. Louis area land somewhere in the middle.
Roofing Labor Costs in Missouri and Illinois
Labor rates in the St. Louis metro run near the national middle. They are lower than the coasts and a bit higher than rural Missouri and southern Illinois. A few local things move the number.
- Hail season demand: After a big hail event in St. Charles County or the Metro East, every crew in the region is booked. Labor rates rise and lead times stretch. If your roof is not leaking, waiting a few months can save money.
- Winter: Cold shortens the roofing season. Crews can install in winter, but sealing takes longer and some days are lost, so late-fall scheduling gets tight.
- Permits and inspections: Clayton, Ladue, Town and Country, and many HOA neighborhoods have detailed permit and inspection rules. That adds paperwork and sometimes a day on the job. Most Metro East towns like Troy, Worden, and Freeburg keep it simpler.
- Older homes: Belleville and the older parts of St. Louis have more decking surprises, more layers, and more flashing to rebuild. Budget for it.
Gorilla Roofing works across West County, St. Charles County, and the Illinois Metro East, so an estimate from us already reflects local labor rates, permit rules, and the season.
What Drives Roofing Labor Cost Up or Down
- Pitch: Anything steeper than about 7/12 needs fall protection and slows the crew down. Expect 25–50% more labor on a steep roof.
- Complexity: Dormers, valleys, hips, chimneys, and skylights all mean cuts, flashing, and time. A simple gable is the cheapest roof to labor.
- Tear-off layers: Removing one layer is standard. Two layers roughly doubles the tear-off line. Going over the old roof saves that labor but is rarely worth it; see roof-over vs. tear-off.
- Decking repairs: Rotten or soft plywood is replaced by the sheet and billed as an extra. See what decking replacement costs.
- Flashing: Reusing old flashing is a shortcut. New flashing at chimneys, walls, and valleys adds labor and is worth every dollar.
- Access: A tight lot, no driveway for the dumpster, or a three-story roof all add handling time.
- Material: Metal, tile, and slate need trained crews and more hours per square, as the table above shows.
How to Read the Labor Line on a Roofing Estimate
A good estimate breaks the job into parts you can check. Ask for these lines separately: tear-off and disposal, installation labor, flashing and ventilation, materials, permits, and any allowance for decking. If labor and materials are lumped into one number, ask for the split. Labor at 40–60% of the total is normal. Labor at 20% is a sign something is missing or the crew is not being paid properly.
Be careful with a labor-only bid that is far below everyone else's. It usually means a subcontracted crew with no insurance, skipped flashing, or a roof-over instead of a tear-off. Our guides on roofing contractor fees and contractor red flags cover what to look for.
How to Estimate Labor Costs for Your Own Roof
- Measure the roof, not the house. Roof area is bigger than the footprint because of pitch and overhangs. A rough rule: multiply the footprint by 1.1 for a low pitch, 1.3 for a moderate pitch, and 1.4 or more for a steep one. Divide by 100 to get squares.
- Pick the labor rate for your material from the table above. Use the low end for a simple roof and the high end for a complex one.
- Add tear-off at $100–$150 per square for each layer coming off.
- Add 25–50% if the roof is steep or cut up.
- Get two or three itemized quotes and compare the labor lines in the same unit.
If the number you land on is scary, remember that it is only part of the total and that most homeowners do not pay it all at once. See our cash vs. financing comparison and real monthly payment examples.
Ways to Keep Roofing Labor Costs Down
- Schedule outside hail season and the fall rush when crews have open weeks.
- Choose asphalt shingles unless you have a specific reason not to. They install fastest.
- Do the tear-off. It costs labor now and saves a bigger bill later.
- Clear the driveway and yard so the crew and dumpster can get close.
- Fix decking and flashing while the roof is open. Coming back later costs far more.
- Compare itemized quotes, not totals, and ask what each labor line includes.
Price is one part of the decision. Our checklist on what to research when choosing a roofing contractor covers the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is roofing labor per square?
For asphalt shingles, roofing labor runs about $150 to $350 per square on a walkable roof and $350 to $500 per square on a steep or complex one. Metal is $300 to $700 per square, tile $500 to $1,000, and slate $700 to $1,200 or more. Tear-off adds $100 to $150 per square per layer.
How much is roofing labor per square foot?
Divide the per-square rate by 100. Asphalt shingle labor is about $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot, steep or complex roofs $3.50 to $5.00, metal $3 to $7, and tile or slate $5 to $12.
What percentage of a roof replacement is labor?
Labor is usually 40 to 60 percent of the total. The more complex the roof, the bigger the labor share. On a simple asphalt roof, materials and labor are close to even. On a steep, cut-up roof, labor can be well over half.
How much does it cost to tear off a roof?
Tear-off and disposal cost about $100 to $150 per square, or $1 to $1.50 per square foot, per layer. On a 25-square roof with one layer, that is roughly $2,500 to $3,750, including the dumpster and hauling.
How much does a roofer charge per hour?
Most roofers do not bill hourly. When they do, expect $50 to $100 per hour per worker in the St. Louis area, more for specialty work like slate or copper. A typical asphalt replacement crew of four to six people finishes an average home in one to two days.
Is roofing labor more expensive in Missouri or Illinois?
In the St. Louis metro, rates are similar on both sides of the river. Missouri suburbs with strict permit rules, like Clayton and Ladue, can run a little higher. Rural areas in either state run a little lower. The bigger swing is the season: rates rise after major hail events anywhere in the region.
Get a Free, Itemized Estimate
The best way to know your labor cost is to have someone measure your roof and put the numbers on paper. Gorilla Roofing estimates are itemized, so you can see tear-off, installation, flashing, and materials as separate lines and compare them against anyone else's. Not sure you need a full replacement yet? Start with how contractors decide between repair and replacement.
Call (636) 295-1212 or request a free estimate and we'll walk you through the numbers, no guesswork and no surprises.
