Metal roof cost in Eau Claire, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $10,200 – $31,800
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5 – $15.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #117
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a metal roof in Eau Claire, plan on $10,200 to $31,800 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, all in. Per sq ft of roof, that is $5 to $15.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Eau Claire, WI, standard level
$16,600 to $25,300
About $8.20 to $12.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,800 | $11,100 |
| Labor | $10,600 | $13,900 |
| Permits and fees | $240 | $370 |
| Total | $16,600 | $25,300 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Eau Claire, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $8,450 | $15,000 | 40% |
| Labor | $8,150 | $12,200 | $16,300 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $460 | 1% |
| Total | $10,200 | $21,000 | $31,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Eau Claire 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, Eau Claire wages are 1.02 times the national level. Labor makes up about 58% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Eau Claire 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 (92.8) and land at $140 to $460.
What nearby projects cost in Eau Claire
Because every project leans on different trades, Eau Claire's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs +1% and roof replacement −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,900 – $12,000 | −4% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,250 | +1% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $3,900 | −2% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,450 – $25,400 | +1% |
How Eau Claire compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Eau Claire. Oshkosh comes closest at about $21,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WIthis page | $10,200 – $31,800 | $21,000 | |
| Wausau, WI75 miles | $10,900 – $33,300 | $22,100 | +5% |
| Rochester, MN85 miles | $11,200 – $34,100 | $22,600 | +8% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $11,000 – $33,400 | $22,200 | +6% |
| Minneapolis, MN100 miles | $12,800 – $38,100 | $25,500 | +21% |
| Oshkosh, WI140 miles | $10,500 – $32,300 | $21,400 | +2% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $11,000 – $33,500 | $22,200 | +6% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +2% |
Across 300 US metros, Eau Claire comes in at #117 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, Eau Claire is 6% below the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $11,100 – $33,700 | $22,400 | +7% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $11,100 – $33,600 | $22,300 | +6% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $10,900 – $33,300 | $22,100 | +5% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $11,400 – $34,200 | $22,800 | +9% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $10,500 – $32,300 | $21,400 | +2% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $11,000 – $33,400 | $22,200 | +6% |
Cities with a workforce like Eau Claire's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Eau Claire against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $8,600 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −10% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $9,050 – $29,900 | $19,500 | −7% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $7,850 – $27,200 | $17,500 | −16% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $11,000 – $33,400 | $22,200 | +6% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: metal roof pricing in Eau Claire
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Eau Claire 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
$10,200 to $18,800
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$16,600 to $25,300
Standing seam steel
Premium
$23,100 to $31,800
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,150 – $11,400 | $10,100 – $15,300 | $14,000 – $19,200 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $10,200 – $18,800 | $16,600 – $25,300 | $23,100 – $31,800 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $14,200 – $26,200 | $23,200 – $35,300 | $32,200 – $44,300 |
Why two Eau Claire quotes can differ
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.
Eau Claire 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 Eau Claire is 1.02 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $24.70 an hour, which is 7% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.01 and $30.28 an hour. BLS counts 70 of them working in the area, 8.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is about average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $36.56 an hour, which is 23% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $23.53 and $44.34 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 9.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.00 an hour, 24% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.33 and $36.35 an hour. About 640 work in the metro. That is 74.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.28 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,750. At the 25th percentile ($23.01) it shrinks by about $530. The total moves by 8.4% or 2.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 86,060 jobs in the Eau Claire area. That makes it the 226th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $23.01 | $24.70 | $30.28 | $26.65 | 0.93 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $23.53 | $36.56 | $44.34 | $29.71 | 1.23 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $22.33 | $28.00 | $36.35 | $22.66 | 1.24 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Climate in Eau Claire: timing your metal roof job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Eau Claire Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Eau Claire (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March, November 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.
Eau Claire gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 55 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 3.1 and 2.5 inches. The station averages about 10 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 | 23 | 6 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 28 | 9 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 21 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 33 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 45 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 56 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 58 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 49 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 37 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 42 | 25 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Dec | 29 | 13 | 1.4 | Cold |
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Metal roof in Eau Claire: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Eau Claire?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $10,200 to $31,800 in the Eau Claire area. A standard-spec job lands at $16,600 to $25,300. 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 Eau Claire?
About $5 to $15.50 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 Eau Claire or Wausau?
Wausau is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $22,100, which is 5% more than Eau Claire ($21,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Eau Claire?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $12,200 out of $21,000. Materials are 40% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Eau Claire?
$10,200 to $31,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Eau Claire?
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 Eau Claire area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Eau Claire expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Eau Claire is 6% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($22,200 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Eau Claire?
The BLS median is $24.70 an hour in the Eau Claire area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.01 to $30.28.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Eau Claire?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $10,200 to $18,800 and premium work $23,100 to $31,800. 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 Eau Claire?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April and October 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 Eau Claire
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.