Will roofer helpers be replaced by AI?
Updated
Roofer helpers score 7 of 100 for AI exposure. All of their task time still needs a person.
- 100% Needs a person
Low exposure
Lower than 99% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 18 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can't do any of them end to end yet. It speeds up 0 and leaves 18 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Locate worn or torn areas in roofs. Stated that roof visual checks require human eyes on site. | 12% Needs a person |
| Perform emergency leak repairs and general maintenance for a variety of roof types. Emergency leak repair needs on-site hands and diagnosis. | 10% Needs a person |
| Check to ensure that completed roofs are watertight. Physical roof inspection for leaks needs someone on site. | 8% Needs a person |
| Provide assistance to skilled roofers installing and repairing roofs, flashings, and surfaces. Physical helper work alongside skilled roofers on site. | 8% Needs a person |
| Unload materials and tools from work trucks, and unroll roofing as directed. Physical unloading and unrolling of materials at site. | 6% Needs a person |
| Chop tar into small pieces, and heat chopped tar in kettles. Hazardous hands-on tar chopping and kettle heating. | 6% Needs a person |
| Maintain tools and equipment. Hands-on tool and equipment upkeep. | 5% Needs a person |
| Set ladders, scaffolds, and hoists in place for taking supplies to roofs. Physical setup of ladders and scaffolds with safety risk. | 5% Needs a person |
| Hoist tar and roofing materials to roofs, using ropes and pulleys, or carry materials up ladders. Physical hoisting and carrying of heavy roofing materials. | 5% Needs a person |
| Clear drains and downspouts and clean gutters. Physical clearing of drains and gutters at height. | 5% Needs a person |
Show the other 8 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Remove old roofing materials. Physical tear-off of old roofing material. | 4% Needs a person |
| Sweep and clean roofs to prepare them for the application of new roofing materials. Physical sweeping and cleaning of roof surfaces. | 3% Needs a person |
| Clean work areas and equipment. Physical cleanup of work areas and equipment. | 3% Needs a person |
| Cover roofs with layers of roofing felt or asphalt strips before installing tile, slate, or composition materials. Physical laying of felt or asphalt strips on roofs. | 3% Needs a person |
| Place tiles, nail them to roof boards, and cover nailheads with roofing cement. Hands-on tile placement and nailing on roof. | 3% Needs a person |
| Attach roofing paper and composition shingles, using nails. Physical nailing of paper and shingles to roof. | 3% Needs a person |
| Attach sheets of metal to roof boards or building frameworks when installing metal roofs. Physical fastening of metal sheets to roof frames. | 3% Needs a person |
| Apply shingles, gravel, or asphalt over the top layer of tar to protect the roofing material. Physical application of shingles and gravel on roofs. | 3% Needs a person |
How roofer helpers compare
All occupations (923)
Construction and extraction (61)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $44,160 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 6,030 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- -0.1% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Log roof leak findings in Maintenance record software
- Read material takeoffs in Roof Pro Estimate Software
- Hold OSHA 10-Hour Construction completion card
- Stage felt, shingles and fasteners for roofers on site
- Handle hot tar safely at kettle heating stations
- Clean roof surfaces before new membrane application
Questions about roofer helpers and AI
Will AI replace roofer helpers?
Unlikely. About 1 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly locating worn roof areas and handling emergency leak repairs. Most of the job stays with people, because the work is physical and happens on a roof.
Which roofer helper tasks can AI already take over?
Diagnosis and records carry the highest exposure. Locating worn or torn roof areas scores 12 and emergency leak repair scores 10, because AI can read photos, moisture readings and job history in Maintenance record software. AI shifts the record keeping, while the physical access stays with the helper.
Which roofer helper tasks stay human?
Unloading materials and unrolling roofing score 6, because they need hands on heavy loads at the site. Chopping tar and heating kettles also score 6, since the work is hazardous and needs a person at the kettle. Cleaning work areas and equipment scores 3, because sweeping and cleanup happen on the roof itself.
How can roofer helpers stay valuable as AI spreads?
Learn the record side of leak work in Maintenance record software so you can log findings from the roof. Read material takeoffs in Roof Pro Estimate Software so you know what to stage before the crew arrives. Hold OSHA 10-Hour Construction training and move toward roofer work on tile, shingle and metal tasks.
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