Metal roof cost in Rochester, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $11,200 – $34,100
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.55 – $17
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #67
- 1 = most expensive
Rochester homeowners pay roughly $11,200 to $34,100 to install a metal roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $5.55 to $17 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Rochester is 6% higher. Roofers earn a median of $29.78 an hour in the Rochester area, 12% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Rochester, MN, standard level
$18,100 to $27,200
About $8.90 to $13.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,900 | $11,300 |
| Labor | $11,900 | $15,600 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $360 |
| Total | $18,100 | $27,200 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Rochester, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $8,600 | $15,300 | 38% |
| Labor | $9,150 | $13,800 | $18,300 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $450 | 1% |
| Total | $11,200 | $22,600 | $34,100 | 100% |
Why Rochester 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 $29.78 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Rochester is 1.15 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 61% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Rochester metro is 95.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $8,600, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (90.8) and land at $140 to $450.
Why two Rochester quotes can differ
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.
Other metals
Tin runs $600-$1,800 per roofing square (100 sq ft) installed and aluminum $700-$1,700 per square (HomeGuide).
Pick a size, pick a tier: metal roof pricing in Rochester
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Rochester 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
$11,200 to $20,400
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$18,100 to $27,200
Standing seam steel
Premium
$24,900 to $34,100
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,800 – $12,300 | $10,900 – $16,500 | $15,100 – $20,600 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $11,200 – $20,400 | $18,100 – $27,200 | $24,900 – $34,100 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $15,700 – $28,400 | $25,200 – $38,000 | $34,800 – $47,500 |
Planning more than one job in Rochester?
Because every project leans on different trades, Rochester's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, roof replacement runs +7% and attic insulation +2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,650 – $13,200 | +7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,350 | +4% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,050 | +2% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,750 – $26,200 | +4% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Rochester is 1.15 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $29.78 an hour, which is 12% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.82 and $41.27 an hour. BLS counts 90 of them working in the area, 7.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $35.42 an hour, which is 19% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $32.29 and $35.42 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 4.9 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 $28.55 an hour, 26% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.36 and $43.11 an hour. About 990 work in the metro. That is 80.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($41.27 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $3,600. At the 25th percentile ($22.82) it shrinks by about $2,200. The total moves by 16.0% or 9.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 122,980 jobs in the Rochester area. That makes it the 176th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $22.82 | $29.78 | $41.27 | $26.65 | 1.12 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $32.29 | $35.42 | $35.42 | $29.71 | 1.19 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $22.36 | $28.55 | $43.11 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.15 | |||||
When to schedule metal roof in Rochester
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Rochester Intl Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Rochester (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March, November 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.
Rochester gets about 35 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 53 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 2.4 inches. The station averages about 5 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 | 23 | 7 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 27 | 11 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 40 | 23 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 35 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 47 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 58 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 58 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 50 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 38 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 42 | 26 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Dec | 28 | 14 | 1.3 | Cold |
Rochester against nearby metros and the rest of Minnesota
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 $19,800 to $25,500 across Rochester and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MNthis page | $11,200 – $34,100 | $22,600 | |
| La Crosse, WI65 miles | $11,000 – $33,400 | $22,200 | −2% |
| Eau Claire, WI85 miles | $10,200 – $31,800 | $21,000 | −7% |
| Minneapolis, MN90 miles | $12,800 – $38,100 | $25,500 | +12% |
| Waterloo, IA100 miles | $9,400 – $30,200 | $19,800 | −12% |
| Dubuque, IA125 miles | $9,450 – $30,400 | $19,900 | −12% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $12,600 – $37,400 | $25,000 | +11% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −6% |
Across 300 US metros, Rochester comes in at #67 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, Rochester is 10% below the Minnesota figure.
Other Minnesota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $12,800 – $38,100 | $25,500 | +12% |
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $12,700 – $37,000 | $24,800 | +10% |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $12,900 – $37,500 | $25,200 | +11% |
Cities with a workforce like Rochester's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Rochester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $8,650 – $28,700 | $18,700 | −17% |
| Midland, TX | 122,180 jobs | $8,750 – $28,900 | $18,800 | −17% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $11,400 – $34,200 | $22,800 | +1% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 122,020 jobs | $11,600 – $36,100 | $23,900 | +5% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed metal roof report for Rochester, MN, $9
The report lays out the metal roof numbers for Rochester, MN 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 Rochester: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Rochester?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $11,200 to $34,100 in the Rochester area. A standard-spec job lands at $18,100 to $27,200. 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 Rochester?
About $5.55 to $17 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $140 to $450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Rochester or La Crosse?
La Crosse is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $22,200, which is 2% less than Rochester ($22,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rochester?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $13,800 out of $22,600. Materials are 38% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Rochester?
$11,200 to $34,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Rochester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $140 to $450 for fees in the Rochester area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Rochester expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Rochester is 10% below the Minnesota statewide estimate ($25,000 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Minnesota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Rochester?
The BLS median is $29.78 an hour in the Rochester area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.82 to $41.27.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Rochester?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $11,200 to $20,400 and premium work $24,900 to $34,100. 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 Rochester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April 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 Rochester
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.