Roofer

O*NET: Roofers·47-2181.00

The Verdict:Every roof is unique—steep pitches, old structures, weather-beaten surfaces demand hands-on adaptation with tools and materials. No robot handles heights, slopes, or real-time fixes. AI aids planning but physical installation remains human craft. Steady construction demand secures the role long-term.

Resilience Score

/100

Highly Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$51k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

+5.9%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 0 of 27 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
26 of 27 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 4% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

0exposed

1AI leverage

26human-essential

View all 27 tasks

AI Can Handle This0 tasks

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

No exposed tasks identified

AI Leverage1 task

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Estimate materials and labor required to complete roofing jobs.

Human Advantage26 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.

Remove snow, water, or debris from roofs prior to applying roofing materials.

Set up scaffolding to provide safe access to roofs.

Cement or nail flashing strips of metal or shingle over joints to make them watertight.

Install partially overlapping layers of material over roof insulation surfaces, using chalk lines, gauges on shingling hatchets, or lines on shingles.

Cut felt, shingles, or strips of flashing to fit angles formed by walls, vents, or intersecting roof surfaces.

Apply plastic coatings, membranes, fiberglass, or felt over sloped roofs before applying shingles.

Install, repair, or replace single-ply roofing systems, using waterproof sheet materials such as modified plastics, elastomeric, or other asphaltic compositions.

Attach roofing paper to roofs in overlapping strips to form bases for other materials.

Cover roofs or exterior walls of structures with slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, gravel, gypsum, or related materials, using brushes, knives, punches, hammers, or other tools.

Waterproof or damp-proof walls, floors, roofs, foundations, or basements by painting or spraying surfaces with waterproof coatings or by attaching waterproofing membranes to surfaces.

Apply reflective roof coatings, such as special paints or single-ply roofing sheets, to existing roofs to reduce solar heat absorption.

Apply alternate layers of hot asphalt or tar and roofing paper to roofs.

Install vapor barriers or layers of insulation on flat roofs.

Cover exposed nailheads with roofing cement or caulking to prevent water leakage or rust.

Smooth rough spots to prepare surfaces for waterproofing, using hammers, chisels, or rubbing bricks.

Glaze top layers to make a smooth finish or embed gravel in the bitumen for rough surfaces.

Mop or pour hot asphalt or tar onto roof bases.

Install attic ventilation systems, such as turbine vents, gable or ridge vents, or conventional or solar-powered exhaust fans.

Install skylights on roofs to increase natural light inside structures or to reduce energy costs.

Apply gravel or pebbles over top layers of roofs, using rakes or stiff-bristled brooms.

Spray roofs, sidings, or walls to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures, using spray guns, air compressors, or heaters.

Attach solar panels to existing roofs, according to specifications and without damaging roofing materials or the structural integrity of buildings.

Punch holes in slate, tile, terra cotta, or wooden shingles, using punches and hammers.

Apply modular soil- and plant-containing grids over existing roof membranes to create green roofs.

Install layers of vegetation-based green roofs, including protective membranes, drainage, aeration, water retention and filter layers, soil substrates, irrigation materials, and plants.

Resilience Landscape

Roofer lands in Stable, Lower Pay

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