Drones and satellite images can now measure a roof and produce a material estimate without anyone climbing a ladder. The work itself still happens up on the roof: tearing off old layers, fixing damaged decking and sealing everything against weather.
The short answer: current evidence does not point to AI replacing roofers. The ILO's 2025 index rates roofers as not exposed to generative AI, with a score of 0.13. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 12,000 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed roofers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Roofers | Not exposed | 0.13 |
The ILO index measures generative AI, not drones or measuring software.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Roofers | Grow 5% | About 12,000 |
The BLS links demand to repairing and replacing existing roofs, new construction and possible rooftop solar panel work.
Where AI and software are helping
- Drone and satellite roof measurements.
- Material takeoffs and quotes from those measurements.
- Photo reports for customers and insurers.
- Scheduling crews around the weather.
What stays with the roofer
- Inspection: finding leaks and rot and deciding how to fix them.
- Installation: removing old roofs, replacing decking, and laying insulation, underlayment, shingles or metal.
- Safety: working at height safely in changing conditions.
- Checking AI help: automated measurements and estimates can be confidently wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The office side of roofing, measuring, quoting and reporting, is going digital. The physical work on the roof is not.
See also will AI replace carpenters?, will AI replace construction workers? and jobs safe from AI
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for roofers at $55,440 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: no formal educational credential. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace roofers?
Not on current evidence. The ILO rates roofers not exposed to generative AI, and the BLS projects 5 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
Can drones replace roof inspections?
Drones can measure and photograph a roof, but finding the cause of a leak and fixing it still needs a roofer.
How many roofer openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 12,000 openings a year, on average, over the decade.
What roofing work stays human?
Inspection, installation and repair, working safely at height and checking automated estimates.