Roofer

A roofer fits, repairs and maintains roofs on homes and buildings, keeping them weatherproof and sound. It is skilled, physical outdoor work that suits practical, head-for-heights people who like working with their hands and seeing a solid result.

Roofer

4

Construction & Trades

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO4%moving to49%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSD
STARTING PAYnot published
MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIEDA real score, but the moat is not yet classified. No claim either way.
AI can do very little of this work today
Hands-on work, caring for people and dealing with the real world are among the hardest things to automate, and this job leans on them. We have not yet formally classified its moat, so we make no claim either way, but the exposure score speaks for itself.

The role

The work is measuring and preparing roofs, laying tiles, slates or felt, fitting flashing and guttering, and repairing leaks and damage. Physical fitness, a head for heights and care with safety matter enormously, since you work high up in all weathers and a careless moment can be dangerous.

You may work for a firm or be self-employed, travelling between jobs, doing demanding outdoor work that is weather-dependent and busier in better seasons, with pay that grows well with skill. Working at height is a real hazard, so safety equipment and good practice are essential every day.

Most people learn through a roofing apprenticeship or on the job alongside experienced roofers. A CSCS card is usually needed for sites, training in working safely at height is essential, and a driving licence helps you reach jobs.

Daily responsibilities

  • Measure and prepare roofs
  • Lay tiles, slates or felt
  • Fit flashing, guttering and trims
  • Repair leaks and storm damage
  • Work safely at height with the right gear
  • Clear away old materials and waste
  • Quote jobs and manage work if self-employed
Careermash

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AI EXPOSURE = the share of a job's day-to-day tasks AI can already do today, from the same exposure engine used across this site (Anthropic labour market research, 2026, observed real-world AI usage by occupation). Higher means more exposed. It is a measurement of now, not a prediction. THE DOOR = how hard the job is to get into, grade A (easy) to E (extremely hard), from each career's published forecast (OpenAI, "The AI Jobs Transition Framework", Richmond 2026, CC BY 4.0). A card marked MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIED has a real exposure score but no entry yet in our moat register, so we make no claim about what structurally protects it. Scorecard grades and verdicts are Careermash editorial judgment: we show forecasts as forecasts and own our conclusions. Salary and pathway figures are each career's own published profile. Careermash is a service provided by What School Ltd.

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