Roof replacement cost in Pennsylvania
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $6,150 – $12,500
- Per sq ft of roof
- $3 – $6
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $9,300
- Metros covered
- 12
What does it cost to replace a roof in Pennsylvania? Plan on $6,150 to $12,500 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Wages (1.01x the US blend), materials (price index 99.4) and permit costs (97.6) put the state above the national midpoint by 0%.
Inside Pennsylvania, the metros we cover range from $8,300 (Altoona) to $10,100 (Chambersburg) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Pennsylvania (statewide), standard level
$8,050 to $10,600
About $3.90 to $5.10 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,600 | $3,950 |
| Labor | $5,250 | $6,300 |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $370 |
| Total | $8,050 | $10,600 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Pennsylvania
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $3,300 | $4,950 | 35% |
| Labor | $4,450 | $5,750 | $7,100 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $290 | $490 | 3% |
| Total | $6,150 | $9,350 | $12,500 | 100% |
Roof replacement: what moves the price in Pennsylvania
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.
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.
Permit
Roof replacement permits run $100-$500 depending on the location.
Quality levels and sizes in Pennsylvania
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Pennsylvania wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$6,150 to $8,700
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$8,050 to $10,600
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$10,000 to $12,500
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $3,700 – $5,300 | $4,900 – $6,500 | $6,100 – $7,700 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $6,150 – $8,700 | $8,050 – $10,600 | $10,000 – $12,500 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $8,550 – $12,100 | $11,200 – $14,700 | $13,800 – $17,400 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $11,000 – $15,500 | $14,300 – $18,800 | $17,700 – $22,200 |
Other Pennsylvania jobs that often go with roof
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Pennsylvania wages and prices. Against national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (+1%) and vinyl siding lowest (level), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,200 – $32,500 | level |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,200 | level |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,400 – $25,100 | level |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,050 | +1% |
Pennsylvania versus the states around it
Pennsylvania ranks 24 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for roof, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is New Jersey at $11,700 and the cheapest Oklahoma at $7,900, both for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint. Pennsylvania sits at $9,350. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 70 miles away | $6,450 – $13,100 | $9,800 | +5% |
| Delaware | 100 miles away | $6,300 – $12,700 | $9,500 | +2% |
| New Jersey | 100 miles away | $7,900 – $15,500 | $11,700 | +25% |
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $6,700 – $13,600 | $10,100 | +9% |
| New York | 140 miles away | $7,050 – $14,200 | $10,600 | +14% |
When Pennsylvania weather lets you replace
Season matters for roof. For each Pennsylvania metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Philadelphia has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Pennsylvania at 11 months (February through December); Erie has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 39 inches a year in Scranton to 47 inches in Allentown.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 27 | 88 | 45 | 11: February through December |
| Pittsburgh | 22 | 83 | 41 | 9: March through November |
| Allentown | 22 | 86 | 47 | 9: March through November |
| Harrisburg | 22 | 85 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Scranton | 20 | 85 | 39 | 9: March through November |
| Lancaster | 22 | 87 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| York | 21 | 88 | 46 | 11: February through December |
| Reading | 23 | 87 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Erie | 21 | 81 | 43 | 8: April through November |
| State College | 21 | 81 | 42 | 9: March through November |
| Chambersburg | 23 | 85 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| Altoona | 19 | 81 | 45 | 9: March through November |
Pennsylvania metro-by-metro prices
4 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $9,350, and the top-to-bottom gap is 22%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (2,000 sq ft of roof) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg, PA | $6,700 – $13,500 | $10,100 | +8% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $6,450 – $13,000 | $9,700 | +4% |
| Allentown, PA | $6,300 – $12,900 | $9,600 | +3% |
| State College, PA | $6,200 – $12,700 | $9,450 | +1% |
| York, PA | $6,000 – $12,400 | $9,200 | −2% |
| Lancaster, PA | $5,950 – $12,300 | $9,100 | −3% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $5,950 – $12,300 | $9,100 | −3% |
| Harrisburg, PA | $5,850 – $12,100 | $8,950 | −4% |
| Reading, PA | $5,750 – $12,000 | $8,850 | −5% |
| Erie, PA | $5,750 – $11,900 | $8,850 | −5% |
| Scranton, PA | $5,750 – $11,900 | $8,800 | −6% |
| Altoona, PA | $5,350 – $11,300 | $8,300 | −11% |
What roofers and the other trades earn in Pennsylvania
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.01 for Pennsylvania.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $26.79 an hour, which is in line with the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.75 and $29.98 an hour. BLS counts 3,830 of them working in the state, 6.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $23.75 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.69 and $29.72 an hour. About 35,920 work in the state. That is 59.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($29.98 an hour) would add about $580 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.75) would take off about $730. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,064,600 jobs across Pennsylvania (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $22.75 | $26.79 | $29.98 | $26.65 | 1.01 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $21.69 | $23.75 | $29.72 | $22.66 | 1.05 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
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Roof replacement in Pennsylvania: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Pennsylvania?
$6,150 to $12,500 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Pennsylvania can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Pennsylvania is cheapest for roof?
Altoona at about $8,300 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Chambersburg at $10,100.
+Is roof cheaper in Pennsylvania than the US average?
It is 0% more expensive: $9,350 against $9,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Pennsylvania?
About 62% ($5,750). Materials are 35%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.01x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in Pennsylvania?
The BLS statewide median is $26.79 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.75 to $29.98.
+Where does Pennsylvania rank for roof costs?
24th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $9,350 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Pennsylvania?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $6,150 to $8,700 and premium work $10,000 to $12,500. Basic means: 3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof. Premium means: heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs.
+Does the season matter for roof in Pennsylvania?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Pennsylvania metros we cover, Philadelphia has the most comfortable months (11 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Roof replacement by city in Pennsylvania
- Chambersburg, PA$10,100 midpoint
- Philadelphia, PA$9,700 midpoint
- Allentown, PA$9,600 midpoint
- State College, PA$9,450 midpoint
- York, PA$9,200 midpoint
- Lancaster, PA$9,100 midpoint
- Pittsburgh, PA$9,100 midpoint
- Harrisburg, PA$8,950 midpoint
- Reading, PA$8,850 midpoint
- Erie, PA$8,850 midpoint
- Scranton, PA$8,800 midpoint
- Altoona, PA$8,300 midpoint
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.