Metal roof cost in Traverse City, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $9,650 – $30,800
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.75 – $15
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #144
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a metal roof in Traverse City, plan on $9,650 to $30,800 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, all in. Per sq ft of roof, that is $4.75 to $15 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 5% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Traverse City, MI, standard level
$16,000 to $24,400
About $7.90 to $12 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,800 | $11,100 |
| Labor | $9,950 | $13,000 |
| Permits and fees | $240 | $370 |
| Total | $16,000 | $24,400 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Traverse City, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $8,450 | $15,000 | 42% |
| Labor | $7,650 | $11,500 | $15,300 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $470 | 2% |
| Total | $9,650 | $20,200 | $30,800 | 100% |
Why Traverse City prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: roofers at 70%, sheet metal workers at 20%, construction laborers at 10%. Weighted together, Traverse City wages are 0.96 times the national level. Labor makes up about 57% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Traverse City metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $8,450, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.4) and land at $140 to $470.
Metal roof: what moves the price in Traverse City
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).
Traverse City 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 Traverse City is 0.96 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $24.38 an hour, which is 9% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $21.68 and $28.45 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 8.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is about average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $31.70 an hour, which is 7% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $23.12 and $36.45 an hour. BLS counts 70 of them working in the area, 10.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.27 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.03 and $28.66 an hour. About 740 work in the metro. That is 108.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.45 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,300. At the 25th percentile ($21.68) it shrinks by about $850. The total moves by 6.3% or 4.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 68,440 jobs in the Traverse City area. That makes it the 264th 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% | $21.68 | $24.38 | $28.45 | $26.65 | 0.91 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $23.12 | $31.70 | $36.45 | $29.71 | 1.07 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $21.03 | $23.27 | $28.66 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.96 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Traverse City
Because every project leans on different trades, Traverse City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl siding runs −3% and roof replacement −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,700 – $11,700 | −7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,050 | −4% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $950 – $3,800 | −5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,150 – $24,400 | −3% |
Climate in Traverse City: timing your metal roof job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Traverse City Cherry Cptl Ap (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Traverse City (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March 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.
Traverse City gets about 29 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are August, September and October (3.6 inches in October). Inside the workable window, June and November are the driest, at 2.6 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 29 | 17 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 16 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 23 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 33 | 2.8 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 43 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 54 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 59 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 59 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 52 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 32 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 35 | 24 | 1.8 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Traverse City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Traverse City 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
$9,650 to $18,100
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$16,000 to $24,400
Standing seam steel
Premium
$22,300 to $30,800
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,850 – $11,000 | $9,700 – $14,800 | $13,500 – $18,600 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $9,650 – $18,100 | $16,000 – $24,400 | $22,300 – $30,800 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $13,500 – $25,200 | $22,300 – $34,100 | $31,100 – $42,900 |
Is Traverse City cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $19,600 to $22,800 across Traverse City and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MIthis page | $9,650 – $30,800 | $20,200 | |
| Green Bay, WI110 miles | $10,900 – $33,300 | $22,100 | +9% |
| Muskegon, MI110 miles | $10,900 – $33,300 | $22,100 | +9% |
| Sheboygan, WI125 miles | $11,000 – $33,500 | $22,200 | +10% |
| Appleton, WI130 miles | $11,400 – $34,200 | $22,800 | +13% |
| Grand Rapids, MI135 miles | $9,200 – $29,900 | $19,600 | −3% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $10,600 – $32,900 | $21,700 | +8% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Traverse City comes in at #144 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, Traverse City is 7% below the Michigan figure.
Other Michigan metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $11,500 – $35,000 | $23,200 | +15% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $9,200 – $29,900 | $19,600 | −3% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $11,100 – $33,600 | $22,300 | +11% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $9,950 – $31,300 | $20,600 | +2% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $12,300 – $35,900 | $24,100 | +19% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $11,000 – $33,400 | $22,200 | +10% |
Cities with a workforce like Traverse City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Traverse City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $10,300 – $32,800 | $21,600 | +7% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $10,300 – $32,400 | $21,400 | +6% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $8,900 – $29,500 | $19,200 | −5% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $8,950 – $29,700 | $19,300 | −4% |
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 $16,000 to $24,400 for Traverse City, MI is attached.
Detailed metal roof report for Traverse City, MI, $9
Multi-page report for Traverse City, MI: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Traverse City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Traverse City?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $9,650 to $30,800 in the Traverse City area. A standard-spec job lands at $16,000 to $24,400. 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 Traverse City?
About $4.75 to $15 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $140 to $470 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Traverse City or Green Bay?
Green Bay is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $22,100, which is 9% more than Traverse City ($20,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Traverse City?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $11,500 out of $20,200. Materials are 42% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Traverse City?
$9,650 to $30,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Traverse City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $140 to $470 for fees in the Traverse City area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Traverse City expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Michigan?
Traverse City is 7% below the Michigan statewide estimate ($21,700 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Michigan; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Traverse City?
The BLS median is $24.38 an hour in the Traverse City area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.68 to $28.45.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Traverse City?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $9,650 to $18,100 and premium work $22,300 to $30,800. 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 Traverse City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. June 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 Traverse City
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.