Career Explorer Construction and trades
Human edge, growing
Roofers
Cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials. May spray roofs, sidings, and walls with material to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 94% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by +5.3% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on physical dexterity and ethical judgement.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $55,440
- Job growth to 2035
- +5.3%
- Openings a year
- 12,000
- People doing it (2025)
- 167,000
- Usual route in
- No formal credential, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Determine resource needs of projects or operations
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Build structures
- Apply protective solutions or coatings
- Perform general construction or extraction activities
What the work looks like
- Estimate materials and labor required to complete roofing jobs.
- Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
- 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.
- Cover exposed nailheads with roofing cement or caulking to prevent water leakage or rust.
- Apply reflective roof coatings, such as special paints or single-ply roofing sheets, to existing roofs to reduce solar heat absorption.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Roustabouts, oil and gasHuman edge, growing, Index 95, +3.6%
- Solar photovoltaic installersHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +36.5%
- Continuous mining machine operatorsHuman edge, steady, Index 95, +3.2%
- Tree trimmers and prunersHuman edge, growing, Index 98, +4.2%
Also known as: Commercial Roofer, Roof Mechanic, Roofing Technician (Roofing Tech), Single Ply Roofer, Flat Roofer, Journeyman Roofer, Metal Roofing Mechanic, Roof Service Technician (Roof Service Tech).
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.