Metal roof cost in Amherst, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $12,400 – $36,600
- Per sq ft of roof
- $6.10 – $18
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +15%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #22
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a metal roof in Amherst, plan on $12,400 to $36,600 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, all in. Per sq ft of roof, that is $6.10 to $18 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 15% higher than the national one. Roofers earn a median of $34.98 an hour in the Amherst area, 31% above the US median of $26.65.
Estimate your metal roof cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Amherst, MA, standard level
$19,600 to $29,300
About $9.70 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,000 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $13,400 | $17,500 |
| Permits and fees | $260 | $400 |
| Total | $19,600 | $29,300 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Amherst, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,750 | $15,500 | 36% |
| Labor | $10,300 | $15,400 | $20,600 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $330 | $500 | 1% |
| Total | $12,400 | $24,500 | $36,600 | 100% |
Where the Amherst price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $34.98 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Amherst is 1.29 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 63% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Amherst metro is 97.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $8,750, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.2) and land at $150 to $500.
Data note: 70% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Amherst. The wage table below marks each row.
Climate in Amherst: timing your metal roof job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Westfield Barnes Muni Ap (15 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Amherst (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Amherst gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (4.7 inches in October). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 18 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 | 35 | 16 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 38 | 17 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 47 | 26 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 60 | 35 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 46 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 80 | 55 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 59 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 51 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 39 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 30 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 40 | 22 | 3.6 | Cold |
Planning more than one job in Amherst?
Because every project leans on different trades, Amherst's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, roof replacement runs +17% and attic insulation level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $7,400 – $14,500 | +17% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,400 – $4,500 | +8% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,000 | level |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,900 – $26,800 | +6% |
How Amherst compares
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 $21,200 to $29,600 across Amherst and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, MAthis page | $12,400 – $36,600 | $24,500 | |
| Springfield, MA15 miles | $12,800 – $37,500 | $25,200 | +3% |
| Pittsfield, MA30 miles | $10,200 – $32,300 | $21,200 | −13% |
| Worcester, MA35 miles | $15,800 – $43,400 | $29,600 | +21% |
| Hartford, CT45 miles | $11,700 – $35,300 | $23,500 | −4% |
| Waterbury, CT60 miles | $10,900 – $33,800 | $22,400 | −9% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $12,700 – $37,400 | $25,100 | +2% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −13% |
Across 300 US metros, Amherst comes in at #22 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, Amherst is 2% below the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $12,100 – $36,300 | $24,200 | −1% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $15,800 – $43,400 | $29,600 | +21% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $12,800 – $37,500 | $25,200 | +3% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $12,600 – $37,000 | $24,800 | +1% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $10,200 – $32,300 | $21,200 | −13% |
Cities with a workforce like Amherst's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Amherst against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | −21% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $8,800 – $29,400 | $19,100 | −22% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $9,150 – $30,100 | $19,600 | −20% |
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $11,600 – $35,900 | $23,800 | −3% |
Cost by quality level and size in Amherst
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Amherst 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
$12,400 to $22,100
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$19,600 to $29,300
Standing seam steel
Premium
$26,900 to $36,600
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $7,500 – $13,300 | $11,900 – $17,800 | $16,300 – $22,200 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $12,400 – $22,100 | $19,600 – $29,300 | $26,900 – $36,600 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $17,300 – $30,800 | $27,400 – $40,900 | $37,500 – $51,000 |
Metal roof: what moves the price in Amherst
Labor
Metal roof labor is $4-$8 per sq ft, or $400-$800 per roofing square, and standing seam needs specialist crews.
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).
Amherst 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 Amherst is 1.29 times the national level.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 70% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Amherst metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median: $34.98 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $28.78 and $39.95 an hour.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $36.07 an hour, which is 21% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $23.09 and $38.22 an hour. BLS counts 30 of them working in the area, 4.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $27.96 an hour, 23% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $36.52 an hour. About 280 work in the metro. That is 42.6 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 ($39.95 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,550. At the 25th percentile ($28.78) it shrinks by about $1,950. The total moves by 6.4% or 8.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 65,670 jobs in the Amherst Town-Northampton area. That makes it the 273rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $28.78 | $34.98 | $39.95 | $26.65 | 1.31 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $23.09 | $36.07 | $38.22 | $29.71 | 1.21 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $22.14 | $27.96 | $36.52 | $22.66 | 1.23 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.29 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $19,600 to $29,300 for Amherst, MA is attached.
Detailed metal roof report for Amherst, MA, $9
The report lays out the metal roof numbers for Amherst, MA 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 Amherst: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Amherst?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $12,400 to $36,600 in the Amherst area. A standard-spec job lands at $19,600 to $29,300. 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 Amherst?
About $6.10 to $18 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $150 to $500 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Amherst or Springfield?
Springfield is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $25,200, which is 3% more than Amherst ($24,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Amherst?
About 63% at the midpoint, or $15,400 out of $24,500. Materials are 36% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Amherst?
$12,400 to $36,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Amherst?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $150 to $500 for fees in the Amherst area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Amherst expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Amherst is 2% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($25,100 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Amherst?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $34.98 an hour, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.78 to $39.95.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Amherst?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $12,400 to $22,100 and premium work $26,900 to $36,600. 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 Amherst?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and November 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 Amherst
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.