Roof replacement cost in State College, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $6,200 – $12,700
- Per sq ft of roof
- $3.05 – $6.10
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #101
- 1 = most expensive
A new roof in State College, PA usually costs $6,200 to $12,700 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. That works out to about $3.05 to $6.10 per sq ft of roof before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Roofers earn a median of $26.79 an hour in the State College area, 1% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in State College, PA, standard level
$8,150 to $10,700
About $3.95 to $5.20 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,650 | $4,000 |
| Labor | $5,300 | $6,350 |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $370 |
| Total | $8,150 | $10,700 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in State College, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $3,300 | $5,050 | 35% |
| Labor | $4,500 | $5,850 | $7,150 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $290 | $480 | 3% |
| Total | $6,200 | $9,450 | $12,700 | 100% |
What is behind the State College number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: roofers at 85%, construction laborers at 15%. Weighted together, State College wages are 1.02 times the national level. Labor makes up about 62% of the midpoint estimate (61% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. State College is at 100.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,300 nationally becomes $3,300 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.8: $95 to $480.
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 State College. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in State College
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to State College. 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
$6,200 to $8,800
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$8,150 to $10,700
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$10,100 to $12,700
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $3,750 – $5,400 | $5,000 – $6,600 | $6,200 – $7,800 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $6,200 – $8,800 | $8,150 – $10,700 | $10,100 – $12,700 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $8,650 – $12,200 | $11,300 – $14,900 | $14,000 – $17,600 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $11,100 – $15,600 | $14,500 – $19,100 | $17,900 – $22,500 |
State College weather and the roof replacement calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, State College (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in State College are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February 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.
State College gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 44 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.2 inches in August). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 34 | 21 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 22 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 28 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 59 | 39 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 50 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 59 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 63 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 62 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 54 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 43 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 34 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 26 | 3.2 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for State College
Jobs that often go together with roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same State College wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (+2%) and vinyl siding lowest (level); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,300 – $32,800 | +1% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,250 | +2% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,400 – $25,200 | level |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,100 | +2% |
State College against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than State College. Altoona is the lowest at about $8,300 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof), 35 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PAthis page | $6,200 – $12,700 | $9,450 | |
| Altoona, PA35 miles | $5,350 – $11,300 | $8,300 | −12% |
| Harrisburg, PA60 miles | $5,850 – $12,100 | $8,950 | −5% |
| Chambersburg, PA70 miles | $6,700 – $13,500 | $10,100 | +7% |
| York, PA90 miles | $6,000 – $12,400 | $9,200 | −3% |
| Hagerstown, MD95 miles | $6,300 – $12,700 | $9,500 | level |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $6,150 – $12,500 | $9,350 | −1% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | −2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, State College ranks #101 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, State College is 1% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $6,450 – $13,000 | $9,700 | +3% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $5,950 – $12,300 | $9,100 | −4% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $6,300 – $12,900 | $9,600 | +2% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $5,850 – $12,100 | $8,950 | −5% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $5,750 – $11,900 | $8,800 | −7% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $5,950 – $12,300 | $9,100 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is State College against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $5,450 – $11,300 | $8,400 | −11% |
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $5,700 – $11,700 | $8,700 | −8% |
| Wausau, WI | 69,530 jobs | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,500 | +1% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $6,200 – $12,600 | $9,400 | −1% |
Why two State College quotes can differ
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.
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.
What local crews earn in State College
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 State College the blend is 1.02.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the State College metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median: $26.79 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.75 and $29.98 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $25.68 an hour, which is 13% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.13 and $30.00 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 90.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $580 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $730. That is a swing of roughly 7.8% to 6.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
State College has 68,840 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 263rd 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% | $22.75 | $26.79 | $29.98 | $26.65 | 1.01 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $22.13 | $25.68 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.13 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
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Roof replacement in State College: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in State College?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $6,200 to $12,700 in the State College area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,150 to $10,700. 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 State College?
About $3.05 to $6.10 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $95 to $480 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in State College or Altoona?
Altoona is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $8,300, which is 12% less than State College ($9,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in State College?
About 62% at the midpoint, or $5,850 out of $9,450. Materials are 35% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in State College?
$8,650 to $17,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in State College?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $95 to $480 for fees in the State College area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is State College expensive for roof compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
State College is 1% above the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($9,350 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in State College?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $26.79 an hour, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.75 to $29.98.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in State College?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $6,200 to $8,800 and premium work $10,100 to $12,700. 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 State College?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March 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 State College
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.