GAF Roofing Academy
- Students must be logged in to their district account to submit an application
- Applications take 15-20 minutes to complete
- Students will be asked to provide contact information for themselves and a parent/guardian
- Programs have age requirements, please review details before applying
The GAF Roofing Academy is designed to help students build the necessary skills for entry-level positions. The program combines classroom and on-the-roof training with access to job opportunities from GAF’s national network of thousands of independent, certified contractors seeking talent. Safeguarding, maintaining, and repairing properties—ranging from homes to stadiums—is crucial for long-term sustainability in any building project.
Last summer (2023), 15 out of 28 participants received job offers, with starting wages ranging between $20 and $26 per hour, depending on the company they joined.
Summer 2024 Program Details
-
Application deadline: May 17 is the priority deadline. Applications received after the deadline may be considered if there is space.
-
Program dates: June 17-28 (M-F) from 3:30-7:00 p.m.; no class June 19 in celebration of Juneteenth
-
Meeting location: 10111 S. Tacoma Way, Ste D-3, Tacoma 98499
-
Notification of selected applicants: early June
-
Approximate hours to complete: 40
-
Certification(s) offered: GAF Roofing Academy graduate
-
Completion stipend: $500 (upon successful completion of all program components)
-
Credits toward graduation: 0.5 Skilled and Technical Sciences
-
Total spots available: 20
-
Special considerations for this program:
-
Open only to graduating seniors (can be 17 years old)
-
Snacks/beverages provided,
-
Guaranteed interviews
-
Tools provided once placed in employment
-
-
For additional information, please contact Jeff Klancke: jklanck@tacoma.k12.wa.us
Roof Installer Careers by the Numbers
-
Average Salary (as of Mar. 2024): $53,762 source
-
Required Education: on-the-job training; certification courses (like this one)
-
Job Outlook: estimated 2% growth in jobs from 2022 to 2032 source
-
Current Job Postings: indeed
-
What it's like to be a roofer: Day in the life of a roofer: This is geared toward people applying to this company, but it gives a good general overview
-
See statistics for roofers across the U.S.: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Roofing positions as your career progresses
Installation is just the beginning.
If you think installation is your only career option in roofing, think again. There are a lot of different ways to make a living in the industry. Best of all, your path is wide open to grow into positions at all levels.
Entry Level Careers | Manager Roles | Executive Roles |
---|---|---|
Laborer: Assist roofing teams under the direction of a foreman or contractor Responsibilities: remove old roofing material, unload and stage equipment and materials |
Foreman: Oversee roofing crews and projects Responsibilities: managing crew members, crew safety, communicating with clients |
Owner: Oversee a roofing company Responsibilities: managing workers, speaking to clients, marketing, high-level project management |
Delivery driver: Transport roofing materials Responsibilities: loading, transporting and unloading materials |
Supervisor: Manage a larger roofing team Responsibilities: scheduling, assigning, and demonstrating roofing work, inspecting work-in-progress and finished projects |
Salesperson: Selling roofing materials and products Responsibilities: communicate with homeowners or facility managers, roofing businesses, and construction companies |
Warehouse Worker: Help maintain a warehouse facility Responsibilities: cleaning in and outside the facility, operating a forklift or other machinery, painting |
Project Manager: Manage each stage of roofing installation and repairs to finish projects on-time and within budget Responsibilities: project planning and cost analysis |
Estimator: Provide/lead estimating for larger-scale, commercial projects Responsibilities: taking measurements, inspecting existing roof material, investigating local codes |
Installer: Install roofs on residential homes and/or commercial buildings Responsibilities: product installation, maintenance and repair work |
Service Tech: A highly skilled roofing mechanic Responsibilities: inspections and identifying leak sources |
Estimator: Provide/lead estimating for larger-scale, commercial projects Responsibilities: taking measurements, inspecting existing roof material, investigating local codes |