Metal roof cost in Waco, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $9,000 – $29,500
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.45 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #210
- 1 = most expensive
Waco homeowners pay roughly $9,000 to $29,500 to install a metal roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $4.45 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Waco is 10% lower. Roofers earn a median of $23.56 an hour in the Waco area, 12% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Waco, TX, standard level
$15,100 to $23,300
About $7.45 to $11.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,800 | $11,100 |
| Labor | $9,100 | $11,900 |
| Permits and fees | $240 | $370 |
| Total | $15,100 | $23,300 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Waco, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $8,450 | $15,000 | 44% |
| Labor | $7,000 | $10,500 | $14,000 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $460 | 2% |
| Total | $9,000 | $19,200 | $29,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Waco 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, Waco wages are 0.87 times the national level. Labor makes up about 55% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Waco metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $8,450, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.5) and land at $140 to $460.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Waco. The wage table below marks each row.
Waco: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Waco 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
$9,000 to $17,200
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$15,100 to $23,300
Standing seam steel
Premium
$21,300 to $29,500
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,450 – $10,400 | $9,200 – $14,100 | $12,900 – $17,900 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $9,000 – $17,200 | $15,100 – $23,300 | $21,300 – $29,500 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,600 – $24,000 | $21,100 – $32,500 | $29,600 – $41,000 |
When to schedule metal roof in Waco
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Waco Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Waco (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Waco gets about 36 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and October (4.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 2.6 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 115 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 | 59 | 36 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 63 | 40 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 47 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 55 | 3.3 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 63 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 93 | 71 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Jul | 97 | 74 | 1.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 74 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 67 | 2.9 | Hot |
| Oct | 81 | 56 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 69 | 46 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 38 | 2.9 | Workable |
Why two Waco quotes can differ
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).
What nearby projects cost in Waco
Because every project leans on different trades, Waco's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs −6% and vinyl siding −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,450 – $11,200 | −10% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,800 | −9% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $950 – $3,750 | −6% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,300 – $21,800 | −13% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Waco is 0.87 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $23.56 an hour, which is 12% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.85 and $29.52 an hour. BLS counts 200 of them working in the area, 15.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Waco 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.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $18.08 an hour, 20% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.60 and $20.65 an hour. About 1,220 work in the metro. That is 93.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.52 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,900. At the 25th percentile ($22.85) it shrinks by about $220. The total moves by 9.8% or 1.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 129,860 jobs in the Waco area. That makes it the 168th 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% | $22.85 | $23.56 | $29.52 | $26.65 | 0.88 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $21.61 | $26.08 | $30.51 | $29.71 | 0.88 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $16.60 | $18.08 | $20.65 | $22.66 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
How Waco compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Waco. Tyler is the lowest at about $18,500 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof), 130 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco, TXthis page | $9,000 – $29,500 | $19,200 | |
| Killeen, TX40 miles | $8,600 – $28,600 | $18,600 | −3% |
| College Station, TX75 miles | $8,700 – $28,800 | $18,800 | −2% |
| Dallas, TX90 miles | $9,150 – $30,900 | $20,000 | +4% |
| Austin, TX95 miles | $9,200 – $29,800 | $19,500 | +1% |
| Tyler, TX130 miles | $8,550 – $28,500 | $18,500 | −4% |
| Texas (statewide) | $8,850 – $29,700 | $19,300 | level |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Waco comes in at #210 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, Waco is 0% below the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $9,150 – $30,900 | $20,000 | +4% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $8,800 – $29,900 | $19,300 | +1% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $9,200 – $29,800 | $19,500 | +1% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $8,600 – $28,600 | $18,600 | −3% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $7,600 – $26,600 | $17,100 | −11% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $8,400 – $28,300 | $18,300 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Waco's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Waco against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $11,600 – $36,000 | $23,800 | +24% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $11,700 – $36,200 | $24,000 | +25% |
| Fayetteville, NC | 131,430 jobs | $8,950 – $29,700 | $19,300 | level |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $10,300 – $32,100 | $21,200 | +10% |
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Metal roof in Waco: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Waco?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $9,000 to $29,500 in the Waco area. A standard-spec job lands at $15,100 to $23,300. 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 Waco?
About $4.45 to $14.50 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 Waco or Killeen?
Killeen is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $18,600, which is 3% less than Waco ($19,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Waco?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $10,500 out of $19,200. Materials are 44% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Waco?
$9,000 to $29,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Waco?
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 Waco area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Waco expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Texas?
Waco is 0% 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 Waco?
The BLS median is $23.56 an hour in the Waco area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.85 to $29.52.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Waco?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $9,000 to $17,200 and premium work $21,300 to $29,500. 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 Waco?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. 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 Waco
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.