Metal roof cost in Missoula, MT

Missoula 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 Missoula is 1.09 times the national level.

For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $29.96 an hour, which is 12% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.78 and $32.14 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 8.9 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 $29.53 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $27.68 and $40.49 an hour. BLS counts 120 of them working in the area, 17.9 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 $24.00 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.41 and $26.36 an hour. About 510 work in the metro. That is 76.0 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 ($32.14 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $690. At the 25th percentile ($22.78) it shrinks by about $2,250. The total moves by 3.1% or 10.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.

For context on the local economy, BLS counts 67,070 jobs in the Missoula area. That makes it the 270th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.

Missoula against nearby metros and the rest of Montana

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 $20,400 to $24,000 across Missoula and its five closest metros.

Across 300 US metros, Missoula comes in at #94 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, Missoula is 2% above the Montana figure.

Other Montana metros

Cities with a workforce like Missoula's

Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Missoula against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.

Planning more than one job in Missoula?

Because every project leans on different trades, Missoula's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, roof replacement runs +5% and vinyl siding −3%.

Specs and site conditions that change a Missoula bid

• 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).

Missoula: what basic, standard and premium work costs

Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Missoula 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.

Climate in Missoula: timing your metal roof job

We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Missoula Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.

March through October is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Missoula (8 of 12 months). January, February, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.

In January, February, 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.

Missoula gets about 14 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 43 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (2.1 inches in June). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 0.8 and 0.8 inches. The station averages about 27 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.