Metal roof cost in Merced, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $11,300 – $35,400
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.60 – $17.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +10%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #46
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a metal roof in Merced, plan on $11,300 to $35,400 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, all in. Per sq ft of roof, that is $5.60 to $17.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% higher than the national one. Roofers earn a median of $29.23 an hour in the Merced area, 10% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Merced, CA, standard level
$18,500 to $28,200
About $9.15 to $14 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,500 | $12,400 |
| Labor | $11,800 | $15,400 |
| Permits and fees | $250 | $390 |
| Total | $18,500 | $28,200 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Merced, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,100 | $9,450 | $16,800 | 41% |
| Labor | $9,050 | $13,600 | $18,100 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $320 | $490 | 1% |
| Total | $11,300 | $23,400 | $35,400 | 100% |
Why Merced prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.23 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Merced is 1.13 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 58% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Merced metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $9,450, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.3) and land at $150 to $490.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Merced. The wage table below marks each row.
Merced labor market for metal roof
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Merced is 1.13 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $29.23 an hour, which is 10% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.20 and $30.28 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 7.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is about average.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Merced metro, so we used the California statewide median: $36.82 an hour against $29.71 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $28.47 and $51.62 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $26.17 an hour, 15% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.73 and $33.81 an hour. About 380 work in the metro. That is 47.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.28 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $330. At the 25th percentile ($23.20) it shrinks by about $1,900. The total moves by 1.4% or 8.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 79,510 jobs in the Merced area. That makes it the 240th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $23.20 | $29.23 | $30.28 | $26.65 | 1.10 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $28.47 | $36.82 | $51.62 | $29.71 | 1.24 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $21.73 | $26.17 | $33.81 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
Climate in Merced: timing your metal roof job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Merced Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Merced (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Merced gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.4 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 100 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 37 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 42 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 45 | 1.1 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 58 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 57 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 49 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 36 | 1.9 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Merced
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Merced wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$11,300 to $20,900
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$18,500 to $28,200
Standing seam steel
Premium
$25,800 to $35,400
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,850 – $12,700 | $11,200 – $17,100 | $15,600 – $21,400 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $11,300 – $20,900 | $18,500 – $28,200 | $25,800 – $35,400 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $15,800 – $29,200 | $25,800 – $39,300 | $35,900 – $49,400 |
Merced against nearby metros and the rest of California
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 2,000 sq ft of roof range from $23,300 to $27,400 across Merced and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | $11,300 – $35,400 | $23,400 | |
| Modesto, CA30 miles | $11,500 – $35,800 | $23,600 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA40 miles | $14,000 – $40,800 | $27,400 | +17% |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $11,300 – $35,400 | $23,300 | level |
| Fresno, CA60 miles | $11,400 – $35,600 | $23,500 | +1% |
| Santa Cruz, CA70 miles | $11,500 – $35,800 | $23,600 | +1% |
| California (statewide) | $11,700 – $36,400 | $24,100 | +3% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −9% |
Across 300 US metros, Merced comes in at #46 from the top. The priciest is Worcester, MA at $29,600; the cheapest is Lubbock, TX at $17,000 (midpoints, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Statewide, Merced is 3% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $11,600 – $36,200 | $23,900 | +2% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $13,700 – $40,700 | $27,200 | +17% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $11,200 – $34,900 | $23,100 | −1% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $11,700 – $36,500 | $24,100 | +3% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $14,000 – $40,800 | $27,400 | +17% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $11,600 – $36,100 | $23,900 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Merced's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Merced against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $10,300 – $32,000 | $21,200 | −9% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $11,300 – $35,500 | $23,400 | level |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $8,100 – $27,900 | $18,000 | −23% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $11,700 – $36,200 | $24,000 | +3% |
What nearby projects cost in Merced
Because every project leans on different trades, Merced's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl siding runs +13% and attic insulation +4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,650 – $13,500 | +8% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,400 – $4,600 | +9% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,150 | +4% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,500 – $28,500 | +13% |
Why two Merced quotes can differ
Panel type
Corrugated sheet metal is $5-$12 per sq ft installed; standing seam is $9-$16 (HomeGuide).
Metal and gauge
Galvalume and galvanized steel are budget-friendly; copper and zinc are the top of the range.
Labor
Metal roof labor is $4-$8 per sq ft, or $400-$800 per roofing square, and standing seam needs specialist crews.
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed metal roof report for Merced, CA, $9
The report lays out the metal roof numbers for Merced, CA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Metal roof in Merced: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Merced?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $11,300 to $35,400 in the Merced area. A standard-spec job lands at $18,500 to $28,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of roof and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of roof for metal roof in Merced?
About $5.60 to $17.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $150 to $490 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Merced or Modesto?
Modesto is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $23,600, which is 1% more than Merced ($23,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Merced?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $13,600 out of $23,400. Materials are 41% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Merced?
$11,300 to $35,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Merced?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $150 to $490 for fees in the Merced area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Merced expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of California?
Merced is 3% below the California statewide estimate ($24,100 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Merced?
The BLS median is $29.23 an hour in the Merced area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.20 to $30.28.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Merced?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $11,300 to $20,900 and premium work $25,800 to $35,400. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+When is the best time to install a metal roof in Merced?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. May and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Metal roof near Merced
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed range minus HomeGuide's $4-$8/sq ft labor range for metal roofs.