Metal roof cost in Brownsville, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $8,650 – $28,700
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.25 – $14
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #270
- 1 = most expensive
A metal roof in Brownsville, TX usually costs $8,650 to $28,700 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. That works out to about $4.25 to $14 per sq ft of roof before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $2,650 less. Roofers earn a median of $22.13 an hour in the Brownsville area, 17% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Brownsville, TX, standard level
$14,700 to $22,700
About $7.25 to $11 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,800 | $11,100 |
| Labor | $8,650 | $11,300 |
| Permits and fees | $220 | $340 |
| Total | $14,700 | $22,700 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Brownsville, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $8,450 | $15,000 | 45% |
| Labor | $6,650 | $10,000 | $13,300 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $280 | $430 | 1% |
| Total | $8,650 | $18,700 | $28,700 | 100% |
What is behind the Brownsville 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, Brownsville wages are 0.83 times the national level. Labor makes up about 53% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Texas statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Brownsville is at 93.8 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 86.0: $130 to $430.
Data note: 90% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Brownsville. The wage table below marks each row.
Brownsville against nearby metros and the rest of Texas
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 $17,800 to $19,500 across Brownsville and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TXthis page | $8,650 – $28,700 | $18,700 | |
| McAllen, TX50 miles | $8,400 – $28,300 | $18,300 | −2% |
| Corpus Christi, TX125 miles | $8,050 – $27,600 | $17,800 | −5% |
| Laredo, TX160 miles | $8,650 – $28,700 | $18,700 | level |
| San Antonio, TX240 miles | $8,600 – $28,600 | $18,600 | level |
| Austin, TX285 miles | $9,200 – $29,800 | $19,500 | +4% |
| Texas (statewide) | $8,850 – $29,700 | $19,300 | +3% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Brownsville ranks #270 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Brownsville is 3% below the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $9,150 – $30,900 | $20,000 | +7% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $8,800 – $29,900 | $19,300 | +3% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $9,200 – $29,800 | $19,500 | +4% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $8,600 – $28,600 | $18,600 | level |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $7,600 – $26,600 | $17,100 | −9% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $8,400 – $28,300 | $18,300 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Brownsville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $9,500 – $31,900 | $20,700 | +11% |
| Hickory, NC | 154,090 jobs | $8,750 – $29,300 | $19,000 | +2% |
| Gulfport, MS | 158,310 jobs | $8,900 – $29,500 | $19,200 | +3% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $8,600 – $29,000 | $18,800 | level |
Why two Brownsville 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).
Brownsville 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, Brownsville (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 Brownsville are October through April: 7 of 12. Outside them, May, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Brownsville gets about 27 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (5.7 inches in September). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 1.1 and 1.0 inches. The station averages about 140 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 | 73 | 53 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 76 | 57 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 81 | 62 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 86 | 68 | 1.5 | Workable |
| May | 90 | 74 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Jun | 94 | 77 | 2.9 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 78 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 96 | 78 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 92 | 75 | 5.7 | Hot |
| Oct | 87 | 69 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 80 | 61 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 74 | 55 | 1.2 | Workable |
What nearby projects cost in Brownsville
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Brownsville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (−6%) and vinyl siding lowest (−20%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,200 – $10,800 | −14% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,750 | −11% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $940 – $3,750 | −6% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $6,750 – $20,200 | −20% |
Brownsville: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Brownsville. 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
$8,650 to $16,700
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$14,700 to $22,700
Standing seam steel
Premium
$20,700 to $28,700
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,250 – $10,100 | $8,900 – $13,800 | $12,500 – $17,400 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $8,650 – $16,700 | $14,700 – $22,700 | $20,700 – $28,700 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,100 – $23,300 | $20,500 – $31,700 | $28,900 – $40,100 |
What local crews earn in Brownsville
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 Brownsville the blend is 0.83.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 70% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Brownsville metro, so we used the Texas statewide median: $22.13 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.00 and $25.78 an hour.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Brownsville metro, so we used the Texas statewide median: $26.08 an hour against $29.71 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.61 and $30.51 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 10%) the local median is $16.90 an hour, which is 25% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.33 and $18.88 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the area, 29.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,150 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,300. That is a swing of roughly 7.0% to 6.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Brownsville-Harlingen has 157,450 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 151st 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% | $18.00 | $22.13 | $25.78 | $26.65 | 0.83 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $21.61 | $26.08 | $30.51 | $29.71 | 0.88 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $14.33 | $16.90 | $18.88 | $22.66 | 0.75 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
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Metal roof in Brownsville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Brownsville?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $8,650 to $28,700 in the Brownsville area. A standard-spec job lands at $14,700 to $22,700. 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 Brownsville?
About $4.25 to $14 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $130 to $430 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Brownsville or McAllen?
McAllen is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $18,300, which is 2% less than Brownsville ($18,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Brownsville?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $10,000 out of $18,700. Materials are 45% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Brownsville?
$8,650 to $28,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Brownsville?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $130 to $430 for fees in the Brownsville area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Brownsville expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Texas?
Brownsville is 3% below the Texas statewide estimate ($19,300 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Brownsville?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $22.13 an hour, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.00 to $25.78.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Brownsville?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $8,650 to $16,700 and premium work $20,700 to $28,700. 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 Brownsville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through April. January and February 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 Brownsville
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.