Metal roof cost in Wilmington, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $9,000 – $29,800
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.45 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #190
- 1 = most expensive
A metal roof in Wilmington, NC usually costs $9,000 to $29,800 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. That works out to about $4.45 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,900 less. Roofers earn a median of $23.43 an hour in the Wilmington area, 12% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Wilmington, NC, standard level
$15,200 to $23,600
About $7.50 to $11.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,000 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $9,000 | $11,800 |
| Permits and fees | $250 | $380 |
| Total | $15,200 | $23,600 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Wilmington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,700 | $15,500 | 45% |
| Labor | $6,950 | $10,400 | $13,900 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $310 | $480 | 2% |
| Total | $9,000 | $19,400 | $29,800 | 100% |
Why Wilmington 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 $23.43 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Wilmington is 0.87 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 54% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Wilmington is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $9,000 nationally becomes $8,700 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.4: $140 to $480.
Wilmington against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Raleigh is the priciest of the group at $19,800. Myrtle Beach is the cheapest at $18,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NCthis page | $9,000 – $29,800 | $19,400 | |
| Myrtle Beach, SC60 miles | $8,650 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −3% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $8,950 – $29,700 | $19,300 | level |
| Greenville, NC100 miles | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | −1% |
| Florence, SC100 miles | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | −3% |
| Raleigh, NC105 miles | $9,300 – $30,400 | $19,800 | +2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $9,100 – $30,000 | $19,500 | +1% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Wilmington ranks #190 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Wilmington is 1% below the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $9,050 – $29,900 | $19,500 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $9,300 – $30,400 | $19,800 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $9,150 – $30,100 | $19,600 | +1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $9,000 – $29,800 | $19,400 | level |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $9,000 – $29,700 | $19,400 | level |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $9,250 – $30,300 | $19,800 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wilmington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $10,000 – $31,700 | $20,900 | +8% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | −3% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $8,050 – $27,600 | $17,800 | −8% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $10,100 – $33,000 | $21,500 | +11% |
Metal roof: what moves the price in Wilmington
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).
Wilmington 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, Wilmington Intl Ap (5 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 Wilmington are August through June: 11 of 12. Outside them, July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Wilmington gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (8.7 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 45 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 | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 44 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 53 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 61 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 69 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 73 | 6.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 72 | 8.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 84 | 67 | 8.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 56 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 45 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 39 | 3.7 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Wilmington
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 Wilmington the blend is 0.87.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $23.43 an hour, 12% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.76 and $24.20 an hour. About 170 work in the metro. That is 8.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 20% of the weighting: a median of $22.78 an hour, 23% below the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $19.77 and $27.47 an hour. About 90 work in the metro. That is 4.7 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 $22.16 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.02 and $26.94 an hour. BLS counts 1,870 of them working in the area, 97.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $240 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,450. That is a swing of roughly 7.6% to 1.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Wilmington has 191,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 120th 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% | $18.76 | $23.43 | $24.20 | $26.65 | 0.88 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $19.77 | $22.78 | $27.47 | $29.71 | 0.77 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $18.02 | $22.16 | $26.94 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: metal roof pricing in Wilmington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Wilmington. 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
$9,000 to $17,300
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$15,200 to $23,600
Standing seam steel
Premium
$21,500 to $29,800
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,450 – $10,500 | $9,250 – $14,300 | $13,000 – $18,100 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $9,000 – $17,300 | $15,200 – $23,600 | $21,500 – $29,800 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,600 – $24,100 | $21,200 – $32,800 | $29,900 – $41,500 |
What nearby projects cost in Wilmington
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Wilmington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gutters comes out highest (−7%) and attic insulation lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,600 – $11,600 | −8% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,900 | −7% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $890 – $3,650 | −9% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,750 – $23,200 | −8% |
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 $15,200 to $23,600 for Wilmington, NC is attached.
Detailed metal roof report for Wilmington, NC, $9
The report lays out the metal roof numbers for Wilmington, NC 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 Wilmington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Wilmington?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $9,000 to $29,800 in the Wilmington area. A standard-spec job lands at $15,200 to $23,600. 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 Wilmington?
About $4.45 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $140 to $480 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $18,800, which is 3% less than Wilmington ($19,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wilmington?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $10,400 out of $19,400. Materials are 45% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Wilmington?
$9,000 to $29,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Wilmington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $140 to $480 for fees in the Wilmington area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wilmington expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Wilmington is 1% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($19,500 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Wilmington?
The BLS median is $23.43 an hour in the Wilmington area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.76 to $24.20.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Wilmington?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $9,000 to $17,300 and premium work $21,500 to $29,800. 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 Wilmington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February and April 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 Wilmington
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.