Roof Plumber

A roof plumber installs, maintains, and repairs water drainage systems on residential and commercial buildings, including gutters, downpipes, and flashing. They work at heights on roofs and building facades, using specialised tools and materials to ensure weathertightness and compliance with building codes. The role combines metalworking, plumbing principles, and roof safety to prevent water ingress and structural damage.

Measure and cut metal sheets (aluminium, copper, zinc, steel) to specification using shears, nibblers, and guillotines. Form and shape gutters, downpipes, and flashings using hand tools, bending machines, and crimping equipment. Install gutters and downpipes using fasteners, brackets, and sealants, ensuring correct fall and alignment for water drainage. Apply flashing materials around roof penetrations, chimneys, valleys, and wall junctions to prevent water leakage. Seal joints and seams using polyurethane sealants, bitumen, or silicone compounds to achieve weathertight integrity. Inspect roof drainage systems for blockages, corrosion, and damage, and clear debris from gutters and downpipes. Connect roof drainage systems to stormwater downpipes and underground drainage in compliance with local plumbing codes. Inspect roof structure and subfloor framing for rot, decay, or structural issues before commencing drainage work.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll be working at heights on roofs and building facades regularly, which carries real injury risk even with safety gear. The work is physically demanding and repetitive, especially metal cutting and forming. Pay is modest compared to other trades, and earnings depend heavily on picking up enough jobs. Weather can shut down work for weeks.

In practice, work concentrates in metropolitan areas where residential and commercial building density is highest. Regional areas have fewer jobs but less competition. Most work is tied to local building activity and requires travel to job sites, so remote work is not an option.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3341, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Check water pressurecore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Ensure regulatory compliance in pipeline infrastructurescore
• Follow health and safety procedures in constructioncore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Inspect pipelinescore
• Interpret 2D planscore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Use measurement instrumentscore
• Use safety equipment in constructioncore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Inspect construction supplies
• Invoicing and Billing Administration
• Keep records of work progress
• Process Documentation
• Supplier Communication
• Use personal protection equipment
• Work ergonomically
• Work in a construction team
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What Roof Plumber workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026