Roof replacement cost in Dubuque, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $5,550 – $11,400
- Per sq ft of roof
- $2.75 – $5.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #176
- 1 = most expensive
Dubuque homeowners pay roughly $5,550 to $11,400 to replace a roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $2.75 to $5.50 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dubuque is 9% lower. Roofers earn a median of $23.39 an hour in the Dubuque area, 12% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Dubuque, IA, standard level
$7,300 to $9,650
About $3.55 to $4.65 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,450 | $3,750 |
| Labor | $4,650 | $5,600 |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $330 |
| Total | $7,300 | $9,650 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Dubuque, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $3,100 | $4,700 | 36% |
| Labor | $3,950 | $5,150 | $6,300 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $260 | $440 | 3% |
| Total | $5,550 | $8,500 | $11,400 | 100% |
Where the Dubuque price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 85% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.39 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Dubuque is 0.90 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 60% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dubuque metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $3,100, compared with $3,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (87.3) and land at $85 to $440.
Data note: 85% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Dubuque. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: roof replacement pricing in Dubuque
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dubuque 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 4 common sizes.
Basic
$5,550 to $7,900
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$7,300 to $9,650
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$9,100 to $11,400
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $3,350 – $4,850 | $4,450 – $5,950 | $5,550 – $7,050 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $5,550 – $7,900 | $7,300 – $9,650 | $9,100 – $11,400 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $7,750 – $11,000 | $10,200 – $13,400 | $12,600 – $15,800 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $9,950 – $14,000 | $13,000 – $17,100 | $16,100 – $20,200 |
How Dubuque compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Dubuque. Cedar Rapids is the lowest at about $8,400 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IAthis page | $5,550 – $11,400 | $8,500 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA45 miles | $5,500 – $11,400 | $8,400 | −1% |
| Iowa City, IA75 miles | $5,550 – $11,400 | $8,500 | level |
| Davenport, IA75 miles | $5,600 – $11,500 | $8,600 | +1% |
| Madison, WI80 miles | $6,500 – $13,000 | $9,750 | +15% |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,500 | level |
| Iowa (statewide) | $5,550 – $11,400 | $8,500 | level |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, Dubuque comes in at #176 from the top. The priciest is Worcester, MA at $13,800; the cheapest is El Paso, TX at $7,200 (midpoints, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Statewide, Dubuque is 0% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $5,650 – $11,600 | $8,600 | +1% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $5,600 – $11,500 | $8,600 | +1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $5,500 – $11,400 | $8,400 | −1% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $5,550 – $11,400 | $8,500 | level |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,500 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $5,450 – $11,300 | $8,350 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Dubuque's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dubuque against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | 58,650 jobs | $5,350 – $11,300 | $8,300 | −2% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,200 | −4% |
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $6,850 – $13,700 | $10,300 | +21% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,550 | +12% |
When to schedule roof in Dubuque
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dubuque Rgnl 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 Dubuque (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.
Dubuque gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 43 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.2 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 27 | 11 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 15 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 26 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 58 | 37 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 59 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 52 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 28 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 32 | 17 | 1.8 | Cold |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Dubuque is 0.90 times the national level.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dubuque metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $23.39 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $29.50 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $23.46 an hour, 4% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.37 and $28.85 an hour. About 500 work in the metro. That is 85.5 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 ($29.50 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,100. At the 25th percentile ($22.31) it shrinks by about $200. The total moves by 13.1% or 2.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 58,470 jobs in the Dubuque area. That makes it the 292nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $22.31 | $23.39 | $29.50 | $26.65 | 0.88 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $22.37 | $23.46 | $28.85 | $22.66 | 1.04 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Why two Dubuque quotes can differ
Permit
Roof replacement permits run $100-$500 depending on the location.
Shingle type
3-tab asphalt is $3-$5 per sq ft installed; architectural is $4-$6 (HomeGuide). Metal, tile and slate are separate projects with much higher ranges.
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.
Related projects, priced for Dubuque
Because every project leans on different trades, Dubuque's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs level and metal roof −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,450 – $30,400 | −7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,000 | −4% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,200 – $24,600 | −2% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,000 | level |
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 $7,300 to $9,650 for Dubuque, IA is attached.
Detailed roof replacement report for Dubuque, IA, $9
Multi-page report for Dubuque, IA: 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 Dubuque: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Dubuque?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $5,550 to $11,400 in the Dubuque area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,300 to $9,650. 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 Dubuque?
About $2.75 to $5.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $85 to $440 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Dubuque or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $8,400, which is 1% less than Dubuque ($8,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dubuque?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $5,150 out of $8,500. Materials are 36% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Dubuque?
$7,750 to $15,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Dubuque?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $85 to $440 for fees in the Dubuque area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dubuque expensive for roof compared with the rest of Iowa?
Dubuque is 0% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($8,500 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Dubuque?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.39 an hour, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.31 to $29.50.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Dubuque?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $5,550 to $7,900 and premium work $9,100 to $11,400. 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 Dubuque?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October and November 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 Dubuque
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.