Metal roof cost in Erie, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $9,750 – $31,700
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.80 – $15.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #126
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a metal roof in Erie, plan on $9,750 to $31,700 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, all in. Per sq ft of roof, that is $4.80 to $15.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Roofers earn a median of $24.25 an hour in the Erie area, 9% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Erie, PA, standard level
$16,300 to $25,100
About $8.05 to $12.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,250 | $11,900 |
| Labor | $9,850 | $12,900 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $360 |
| Total | $16,300 | $25,100 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Erie, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,000 | $9,050 | $16,100 | 44% |
| Labor | $7,600 | $11,400 | $15,200 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $450 | 1% |
| Total | $9,750 | $20,700 | $31,700 | 100% |
Where the Erie price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.25 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Erie is 0.95 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 55% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Erie metro is 100.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $9,050, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.0) and land at $140 to $450.
Is Erie 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 $22,900 across Erie and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PAthis page | $9,750 – $31,700 | $20,700 | |
| Youngstown, OH75 miles | $9,300 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −5% |
| Cleveland, OH75 miles | $10,600 – $32,700 | $21,600 | +4% |
| Buffalo, NY95 miles | $11,200 – $34,600 | $22,900 | +10% |
| Akron, OH95 miles | $10,500 – $32,400 | $21,500 | +4% |
| Pittsburgh, PA115 miles | $9,800 – $31,900 | $20,800 | +1% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +3% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Erie comes in at #126 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, Erie is 3% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $11,100 – $33,900 | $22,500 | +9% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $9,800 – $31,900 | $20,800 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $10,600 – $33,400 | $22,000 | +6% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $9,800 – $31,900 | $20,800 | level |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $9,700 – $31,600 | $20,600 | level |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $9,850 – $32,000 | $20,900 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Erie's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Erie against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocala, FL | 120,980 jobs | $8,550 – $28,900 | $18,700 | −10% |
| Burlington, VT | 120,150 jobs | $10,500 – $32,800 | $21,700 | +4% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $11,000 – $33,400 | $22,200 | +7% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $8,350 – $28,500 | $18,400 | −11% |
Climate in Erie: timing your metal roof job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Erie Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Erie (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.
Erie gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 104 inches of snow. The wettest months are September, October and December (4.4 inches in October). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.4 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 | 35 | 21 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 21 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 28 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 59 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 64 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 63 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 57 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 46 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 37 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 40 | 28 | 4.2 | Cold |
Erie 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 Erie is 0.95 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $24.25 an hour, which is 9% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $27.94 an hour. BLS counts 140 of them working in the area, 11.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $31.59 an hour, which is 6% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $23.11 and $42.30 an hour. BLS counts 70 of them working in the area, 5.8 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 $22.35 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.41 and $26.60 an hour. About 540 work in the metro. That is 44.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.94 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,150. At the 25th percentile ($22.31) it shrinks by about $610. The total moves by 5.6% or 2.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 120,480 jobs in the Erie area. That makes it the 181st 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% | $22.31 | $24.25 | $27.94 | $26.65 | 0.91 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $23.11 | $31.59 | $42.30 | $29.71 | 1.06 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $18.41 | $22.35 | $26.60 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.95 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: metal roof pricing in Erie
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Erie 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
$9,750 to $18,500
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$16,300 to $25,100
Standing seam steel
Premium
$22,900 to $31,700
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,900 – $11,200 | $9,900 – $15,200 | $13,900 – $19,200 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $9,750 – $18,500 | $16,300 – $25,100 | $22,900 – $31,700 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $13,600 – $25,800 | $22,800 – $35,000 | $32,000 – $44,200 |
Why two Erie quotes can differ
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).
Metal and gauge
Galvalume and galvanized steel are budget-friendly; copper and zinc are the top of the range.
What nearby projects cost in Erie
Because every project leans on different trades, Erie's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs +1% and roof replacement −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,750 – $11,900 | −5% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,200 | level |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,050 | +1% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,300 – $24,800 | −1% |
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 $16,300 to $25,100 for Erie, PA is attached.
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Metal roof in Erie: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Erie?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $9,750 to $31,700 in the Erie area. A standard-spec job lands at $16,300 to $25,100. 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 Erie?
About $4.80 to $15.50 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 Erie or Youngstown?
Youngstown is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $19,600, which is 5% less than Erie ($20,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Erie?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $11,400 out of $20,700. Materials are 44% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Erie?
$9,750 to $31,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Erie?
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 Erie area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Erie expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Erie is 3% below the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($21,300 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Erie?
The BLS median is $24.25 an hour in the Erie area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.31 to $27.94.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Erie?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $9,750 to $18,500 and premium work $22,900 to $31,700. 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 Erie?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. July and August 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 Erie
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.