Metal roof cost in Modesto, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $11,500 – $35,800
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.65 – $17.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #38
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a metal roof in the Modesto area: $11,500 to $35,800 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 11% higher than the US figure. Roofers earn a median of $30.26 an hour in the Modesto area, 14% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Modesto, CA, standard level
$18,800 to $28,500
About $9.25 to $14 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,500 | $12,400 |
| Labor | $12,000 | $15,700 |
| Permits and fees | $270 | $410 |
| Total | $18,800 | $28,500 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Modesto, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,100 | $9,450 | $16,800 | 40% |
| Labor | $9,200 | $13,800 | $18,400 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $340 | $520 | 1% |
| Total | $11,500 | $23,600 | $35,800 | 100% |
Where the Modesto price comes from
Labor is 59% of the midpoint bill here, against 56% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is roofers (70%), sheet metal workers (20%), construction laborers (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Modesto the blended ratio comes out at 1.15.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Modesto is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $9,000 nationally becomes $9,450 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 104.1: $160 to $520.
Who does the work: Modesto trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Modesto the blend is 1.15.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $30.26 an hour, 14% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.54 and $35.26 an hour. About 290 work in the metro. That is 14.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 20% of the weighting: a median of $34.07 an hour, 15% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $28.03 and $46.21 an hour. About 80 work in the metro. That is 4.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.15 an hour, which is 29% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.89 and $38.02 an hour. BLS counts 1,070 of them working in the area, 54.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,600 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $540. That is a swing of roughly 2.3% to 6.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Modesto has 195,230 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 117th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $28.54 | $30.26 | $35.26 | $26.65 | 1.14 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $28.03 | $34.07 | $46.21 | $29.71 | 1.15 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $22.89 | $29.15 | $38.02 | $22.66 | 1.29 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.15 | |||||
Why two Modesto quotes can differ
Other metals
Tin runs $600-$1,800 per roofing square (100 sq ft) installed and aluminum $700-$1,700 per square (HomeGuide).
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: metal roof pricing in Modesto
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Modesto. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small (1,200 sq ft of roof) to large (2,800 sq ft of roof).
Basic
$11,500 to $21,200
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$18,800 to $28,500
Standing seam steel
Premium
$26,100 to $35,800
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,950 – $12,800 | $11,400 – $17,300 | $15,800 – $21,700 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $11,500 – $21,200 | $18,800 – $28,500 | $26,100 – $35,800 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $16,000 – $29,600 | $26,200 – $39,700 | $36,300 – $49,900 |
The best months for metal roof in Modesto
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Modesto City Co Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Modesto are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Modesto gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.6 inches in January). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 0.1 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 90 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 39 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 42 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 45 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 48 | 1.0 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 54 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 59 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 63 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 59 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 43 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
Related projects, priced for Modesto
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Modesto wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+14%) and attic insulation lowest (+5%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,900 – $13,900 | +12% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,450 – $4,600 | +10% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,200 | +5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,600 – $28,800 | +14% |
How Modesto compares
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. San Jose is the priciest of the group at $27,400. Stockton is the cheapest at $23,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CAthis page | $11,500 – $35,800 | $23,600 | |
| Stockton, CA30 miles | $11,300 – $35,400 | $23,300 | −1% |
| Merced, CA30 miles | $11,300 – $35,400 | $23,400 | −1% |
| San Jose, CA50 miles | $14,000 – $40,800 | $27,400 | +16% |
| Santa Cruz, CA65 miles | $11,500 – $35,800 | $23,600 | level |
| Vallejo, CA70 miles | $11,300 – $35,400 | $23,400 | −1% |
| California (statewide) | $11,700 – $36,400 | $24,100 | +2% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Modesto ranks #38 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Modesto is 2% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $11,600 – $36,200 | $23,900 | +1% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $13,700 – $40,700 | $27,200 | +15% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $11,200 – $34,900 | $23,100 | −2% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $11,700 – $36,500 | $24,100 | +2% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $14,000 – $40,800 | $27,400 | +16% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $11,600 – $36,100 | $23,900 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Modesto against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | −18% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $8,050 – $27,600 | $17,800 | −25% |
| Manchester, NH | 199,560 jobs | $10,300 – $32,500 | $21,400 | −9% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $10,000 – $31,700 | $20,900 | −12% |
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Metal roof in Modesto: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Modesto?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $11,500 to $35,800 in the Modesto area. A standard-spec job lands at $18,800 to $28,500. 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 Modesto?
About $5.65 to $17.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $160 to $520 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Modesto or Stockton?
Stockton is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $23,300, which is 1% less than Modesto ($23,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Modesto?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $13,800 out of $23,600. Materials are 40% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Modesto?
$11,500 to $35,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Modesto?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $160 to $520 for fees in the Modesto area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Modesto expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of California?
Modesto is 2% 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 Modesto?
The BLS median is $30.26 an hour in the Modesto area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.54 to $35.26.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Modesto?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $11,500 to $21,200 and premium work $26,100 to $35,800. 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 Modesto?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. September 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 Modesto
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.