Metal roof cost in Omaha, NE
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $9,500 – $30,400
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.65 – $15
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #153
- 1 = most expensive
A metal roof in Omaha, NE usually costs $9,500 to $30,400 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. That works out to about $4.65 to $15 per sq ft of roof before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,350 less. Roofers earn a median of $22.34 an hour in the Omaha area, 16% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Omaha, NE, standard level
$15,800 to $24,200
About $7.75 to $12 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,850 | $11,100 |
| Labor | $9,700 | $12,700 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $360 |
| Total | $15,800 | $24,200 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Omaha, NE
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $8,450 | $15,100 | 42% |
| Labor | $7,450 | $11,200 | $14,900 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $460 | 1% |
| Total | $9,500 | $20,000 | $30,400 | 100% |
What is behind the Omaha number
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, Omaha wages are 0.93 times the national level. Labor makes up about 56% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Omaha is at 94.1 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $9,000 nationally becomes $8,450 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.9: $140 to $460.
What local crews earn in Omaha
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 Omaha the blend is 0.93.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $22.34 an hour, 16% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $21.11 and $27.33 an hour. About 870 work in the metro. That is 17.5 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 $36.27 an hour, 22% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $26.08 and $42.46 an hour. About 300 work in the metro. That is 6.0 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 $23.22 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.00 and $27.58 an hour. BLS counts 3,990 of them working in the area, 80.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,550 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $390. That is a swing of roughly 1.9% to 7.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Omaha has 498,100 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 51st 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% | $21.11 | $22.34 | $27.33 | $26.65 | 0.84 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $26.08 | $36.27 | $42.46 | $29.71 | 1.22 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $20.00 | $23.22 | $27.58 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Omaha
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Omaha wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (+16%) and roof replacement lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,400 – $11,200 | −11% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | −2% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,550 | +16% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,950 – $23,900 | −5% |
How Omaha compares
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Des Moines is the priciest of the group at $20,100. Lincoln is the cheapest at $19,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NEthis page | $9,500 – $30,400 | $20,000 | |
| Lincoln, NE55 miles | $8,950 – $29,400 | $19,200 | −4% |
| Sioux City, IA85 miles | $9,350 – $30,100 | $19,700 | −1% |
| Des Moines, IA120 miles | $9,550 – $30,600 | $20,100 | +1% |
| Topeka, KS155 miles | $9,250 – $29,900 | $19,600 | −2% |
| Sioux Falls, SD160 miles | $9,050 – $29,700 | $19,400 | −3% |
| Nebraska (statewide) | $9,200 – $29,800 | $19,500 | −2% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Omaha ranks #153 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Omaha is 2% above the Nebraska figure.
Elsewhere in Nebraska
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | 182,620 jobs | $8,950 – $29,400 | $19,200 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Omaha against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $8,650 – $29,100 | $18,900 | −5% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $10,800 – $33,700 | $22,200 | +11% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $11,200 – $34,600 | $22,900 | +15% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $11,400 – $35,600 | $23,500 | +18% |
Cost by quality level and size in Omaha
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Omaha. 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
$9,500 to $17,900
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$15,800 to $24,200
Standing seam steel
Premium
$22,100 to $30,400
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,750 – $10,800 | $9,550 – $14,600 | $13,400 – $18,500 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $9,500 – $17,900 | $15,800 – $24,200 | $22,100 – $30,400 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $13,200 – $24,900 | $22,000 – $33,700 | $30,800 – $42,400 |
Omaha weather and the metal roof calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Omaha Eppley Airfield (10 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 Omaha are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, 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.
Omaha gets about 32 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 27 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 1.8 and 1.4 inches. The station averages about 33 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 | 34 | 15 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 19 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 30 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 64 | 41 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 53 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 66 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 56 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 43 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 50 | 30 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 20 | 1.2 | Cold |
Specs and site conditions that change a Omaha bid
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.
Labor
Metal roof labor is $4-$8 per sq ft, or $400-$800 per roofing square, and standing seam needs specialist crews.
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Metal roof in Omaha: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Omaha?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $9,500 to $30,400 in the Omaha area. A standard-spec job lands at $15,800 to $24,200. 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 Omaha?
About $4.65 to $15 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $140 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Omaha or Lincoln?
Lincoln is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $19,200, which is 4% less than Omaha ($20,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Omaha?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $11,200 out of $20,000. Materials are 42% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Omaha?
$9,500 to $30,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Omaha?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $140 to $460 for fees in the Omaha area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Omaha expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Nebraska?
Omaha is 2% above the Nebraska statewide estimate ($19,500 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Nebraska; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Omaha?
The BLS median is $22.34 an hour in the Omaha area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.11 to $27.33.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Omaha?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $9,500 to $17,900 and premium work $22,100 to $30,400. 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 Omaha?
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 Omaha
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.