Roof replacement · NJ · Middle Atlantic
Roof replacement cost in New Jersey
No state carries a higher FEMA score for strong wind losses than New Jersey, and its roofers are among the best paid in the country.
Wages: BLS, May 2025 (released ) · figures checked · Built by Radif Partners · How prices are built
- Typical roof job, all house sizes
- $12,960
- Middle half of jobs
- $7,980 to $19,910
- Roofer mean wage
- $35.76/h
- Versus U.S. roofers
- +28%
Roof replacement in New Jersey, hired out
$14,940
Most jobs between $10,370 and $20,730 (middle half of reported prices)
| House size group | 1,500 to 1,999 sq ft |
| National median (homeowners’ reports) | $13,192 |
| Regional level (Census division) | +9.5% |
| State labor adjustment | +3.4% |
| Typical price in New Jersey | $14,940 |
Roofers in New Jersey: $35.76 an hour on average, 28% above the national mean. Range from homeowners who hired a professional (2021 to 2023, American Housing Survey 2023), in August 2026 dollars; permits, tear-off of unusual materials, structural repairs and local surcharges vary job to job. How this is calculated.
A typical professional roof replacement in New Jersey costs about $12,960, and the middle half of jobs falls between $7,980 and $19,910, well above the $11,450 national median. Two numbers explain most of the gap. The Middle Atlantic division, which the Census Bureau defines as New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, reported prices above the national level in the 2023 American Housing Survey. On top of that, New Jersey roofers earned a mean of $35.76 an hour in May 2025, the 2nd highest roofer wage of any state in the BLS survey and 28% over the $27.95 national mean. Weather adds its own pressure. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the state's expected annual losses to buildings from strong wind as Very High, with a score of 100, the top mark nationwide, and hurricane losses as Relatively Moderate. Home improvement contractors must be registered with the state's Division of Consumer Affairs.
Strong wind tops New Jersey's loss estimates
Hurricanes get the headlines, but the FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) puts strong wind first for New Jersey buildings: about $204 million in expected annual losses, the largest strong wind figure in the country. Hurricanes follow at $172 million, rated Relatively Moderate, and tornadoes at $41 million. Winter weather is rated Very High and ice storms Relatively High, while hail stays Very Low. For roofs, wind damage usually starts at the edges: lifted tabs along the rakes and eaves, then missing shingles, then water under the field.
Asking a bidder how the starter course, drip edge and ridge cap are fastened is a fair question in a state with this profile. A roof that loses its edge in a gust needs repair long before its rated life.
Registration, code and who signs the contract
New Jersey regulates roofers through a general home improvement registration rather than a roofing license. The Division of Consumer Affairs reported on Dec 1, 2025 that undercover operations had found home improvement businesses bidding on roofing, siding and other projects without an active registration. Ask for the registration number and check it before you pay a deposit.
For one- and two-family homes, the state's current code list shows the International Residential Code 2024, New Jersey edition, with an adoption date of Aug 17, 2026. Your municipal construction office decides whether a reroof needs a permit at your address.
Where the New Jersey estimate lands by house size
New York roofers average $33.34 and Pennsylvania roofers $27.15, so a crew based across the Delaware may quote differently from one in Bergen County; Delaware, at $26.58, is cheaper still. For a home of 3,000 to 3,999 sq ft, the New Jersey figure is $18,140, with most jobs between $12,960 and $24,890. A house of 1,000 to 1,499 sq ft runs closer to $11,140.
Shore houses and inland suburbs share the same statewide estimate here, but they rarely get the same bid. Near the coast, ask whether the price assumes ring-shank nails, a high-wind nailing pattern and enhanced starter strips, and get the manufacturer's wind warranty terms in writing. Inland, the bigger swing often comes from how many layers of old shingles are stacked on the deck.
Roof replacement: change the labor rate
Same job at that labor rate
$12,960
| Labor part of your quote | $3,541 |
| Materials, equipment, overhead | $9,419 |
| Labor share used | 27.3% |
Labor share from the 2022 Economic Census for this contractor type, moved by the state wage index.
New Jersey roof prices by house size
| House size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 sq ft | $4,200 | $9,070 | $15,550 |
| 1,000 to 1,499 sq ft | $7,000 | $11,140 | $15,550 |
| 1,500 to 1,999 sq ft | $10,370 | $14,940 | $20,730 |
| 2,000 to 2,499 sq ft | $10,370 | $14,250 | $20,730 |
| 2,500 to 2,999 sq ft | $10,370 | $15,550 | $24,890 |
| 3,000 to 3,999 sq ft | $12,960 | $18,140 | $24,890 |
| 4,000 sq ft or more | $11,200 | $19,440 | $31,120 |
Other jobs in New Jersey
| Job | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water heater replacement | $1,150 | $1,800 | $2,630 |
| Central air conditioning | $5,330 | $8,890 | $12,690 |
| Furnace or other built-in heating | $3,180 | $5,300 | $7,960 |
| Fence | $2,780 | $5,550 | $9,680 |
| Deck, porch or patio | $3,280 | $7,180 | $14,840 |
| Driveway or walkway | $2,260 | $4,580 | $9,010 |
Trade wages in New Jersey
| Occupation | NJ mean hourly wage | U.S. mean | NJ jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers | $35.76 | $27.95 | 1,860 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters | $44.51 | $34.70 | 8,750 |
| Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $37.30 | $31.14 | 10,330 |
| Electricians | $41.68 | $34.37 | 13,520 |
| Carpenters | $34.61 | $31.55 | 14,230 |
| Painters, construction and maintenance | $29.33 | $26.64 | 4,110 |