Roof replacement cost in Merced, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $6,650 – $13,500
- Per sq ft of roof
- $3.25 – $6.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #52
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new roof in the Merced area: $6,650 to $13,500 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 8% higher than the US figure. Roofers earn a median of $29.23 an hour in the Merced area, 10% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Merced, CA, standard level
$8,700 to $11,400
About $4.25 to $5.55 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,750 | $4,200 |
| Labor | $5,750 | $6,900 |
| Permits and fees | $220 | $370 |
| Total | $8,700 | $11,400 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Merced, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,700 | $3,450 | $5,250 | 34% |
| Labor | $4,850 | $6,300 | $7,750 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $290 | $490 | 3% |
| Total | $6,650 | $10,100 | $13,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Merced number
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 85% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.23 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Merced is 1.11 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 63% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Merced is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,300 nationally becomes $3,450 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.3: $100 to $490.
The best months for roof in Merced
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Merced Muni 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 Merced are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Merced gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.4 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 100 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 | 56 | 37 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 42 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 45 | 1.1 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 58 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 57 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 49 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 36 | 1.9 | Workable |
Who does the work: Merced trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 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 Merced the blend is 1.11.
Roofers (47-2181), 85% of the weighting: a median of $29.23 an hour, 10% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.20 and $30.28 an hour. About 60 work in the metro. That is 7.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $26.17 an hour, which is 15% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.73 and $33.81 an hour. BLS counts 380 of them working in the area, 47.8 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 $190 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,100. That is a swing of roughly 10.9% to 1.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Merced has 79,510 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 240th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $23.20 | $29.23 | $30.28 | $26.65 | 1.10 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $21.73 | $26.17 | $33.81 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
Merced against nearby metros and the rest of California
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Merced. Fresno comes closest at about $10,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | $6,650 – $13,500 | $10,100 | |
| Modesto, CA30 miles | $6,900 – $13,900 | $10,400 | +3% |
| San Jose, CA40 miles | $7,900 – $15,600 | $11,700 | +17% |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $6,750 – $13,700 | $10,200 | +2% |
| Fresno, CA60 miles | $6,750 – $13,700 | $10,200 | +2% |
| Santa Cruz, CA70 miles | $6,750 – $13,700 | $10,300 | +2% |
| California (statewide) | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | +4% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | −8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Merced ranks #52 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Merced is 4% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | +4% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $7,900 – $15,600 | $11,700 | +17% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $6,750 – $13,600 | $10,200 | +1% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $6,850 – $13,900 | $10,400 | +3% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $7,900 – $15,600 | $11,700 | +17% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $6,900 – $13,900 | $10,400 | +4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Merced against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $6,150 – $12,400 | $9,250 | −8% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $6,650 – $13,500 | $10,100 | level |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $4,800 – $10,300 | $7,550 | −25% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $6,900 – $14,000 | $10,500 | +4% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: roof replacement pricing in Merced
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Merced. 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 very large (3,600 sq ft of roof).
Basic
$6,650 to $9,400
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$8,700 to $11,400
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$10,800 to $13,500
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $4,050 – $5,750 | $5,300 – $7,000 | $6,600 – $8,300 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $6,650 – $9,400 | $8,700 – $11,400 | $10,800 – $13,500 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $9,250 – $13,000 | $12,100 – $15,900 | $14,900 – $18,700 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $11,900 – $16,700 | $15,500 – $20,300 | $19,100 – $23,900 |
Why two Merced quotes can differ
Roof area, not floor area
Pitch and complexity mean roof surface is larger than the house's footprint. A 1,500 sq ft ranch can have 1,800-2,200 sq ft of roof.
Tear-off and layers
Removing a second layer or rotted decking adds cost, and the contractor can only see decking damage after tear-off.
Tear-off
Removing the old roof is $1-$5 per sq ft depending on the material and number of layers (HomeGuide). Check that your quote includes it.
Related projects, priced for Merced
Jobs that often go together with roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Merced wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+13%) and attic insulation lowest (+4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,300 – $35,400 | +10% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,400 – $4,600 | +9% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,500 – $28,500 | +13% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,150 | +4% |
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 $8,700 to $11,400 for Merced, CA is attached.
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Multi-page report for Merced, CA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Roof replacement in Merced: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Merced?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $6,650 to $13,500 in the Merced area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,700 to $11,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of roof and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of roof for roof in Merced?
About $3.25 to $6.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $100 to $490 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Merced or Modesto?
Modesto is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $10,400, which is 3% more than Merced ($10,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Merced?
About 63% at the midpoint, or $6,300 out of $10,100. Materials are 34% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Merced?
$9,250 to $18,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Merced?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $100 to $490 for fees in the Merced area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Merced expensive for roof compared with the rest of California?
Merced is 4% below the California statewide estimate ($10,500 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Merced?
The BLS median is $29.23 an hour in the Merced area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.20 to $30.28.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Merced?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $6,650 to $9,400 and premium work $10,800 to $13,500. Basic means: 3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof. Premium means: heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs.
+When is the best time to replace a roof in Merced?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. May 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.
Roof replacement near Merced
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 Roof Replacement Cost? (2026) (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 = HomeGuide's asphalt shingle price of $80-$250 per roofing square (100 sq ft), i.e. $0.80-$2.50 per sq ft. The rest of the installed price covers roofer labor ($1.50-$3.00/sq ft), tear-off, disposal, underlayment and contractor overhead.