Roofer
Installs, repairs and maintains roofs — mabati (iron sheets), tiles, shingles and waterproofing. In Kenya — with booming construction across residential and commercial sectors — roofers are essential construction tradespeople.
- AI exposure
- 10 of 100, low exposure
- Hiring trend
- Rising
- Hiring rate
- 30%
The role
What the work is, what it pays, and what it costs you.
At a glance
- Remote friendly
- No
- Freelance potential
- High
- Time to senior
- 5 years
A day in the role
Installs mabati roofing sheets on a new residential house. Measures and cuts sheets to fit around a chimney. Applies waterproofing membrane on a flat roof. Repairs a leaking roof — replacing damaged sheets and fixing flashing. Installs gutters and downpipes on a commercial building. Estimates materials for a roofing quote. Manages a crew of three helpers on a roofing project.
What it pays
Kenyan market, per month- Entry
- KES 15,000-30,000
- Mid
- KES 35,000-70,000
- Senior
- KES 80,000-180,000
Exposure
How much of this a machine can already do, and how that was worked out.
Where this rating sits
1,516 rated careersRated above 4% of the 1,516 careers in the catalogue, which averages 43. Inside trades & vocational the mean is 11, across 66 careers.
Named task by task
Already automated
- AI-powered roof area calculation from building plans
- Automated material quantity estimation
- AI-assisted roof inspection from drone imagery
- Generating roof repair quotes
Still human
- Installing roofs — fitting mabati (iron sheets), roofing tiles, shingles, flat roof systems
- Measuring and cutting roofing materials — measuring roof dimensions, cutting sheets to size, ensuring proper overlap
- Installing roof structures — trusses, purlins, rafters, battens
- Waterproofing — applying waterproofing membranes, sealants, flashing for flat roofs and joints
- Repairing roofs — replacing damaged sheets, fixing leaks, repairing flashing and gutters
- Installing gutters and downpipes — fitting rainwater drainage systems
- Working at heights — using ladders, scaffolding, safety harnesses safely
- Managing roofing projects — estimating materials, pricing jobs, managing crews
Task counts
- Displacing
- Minimal — roofing is physical, hands-on work requiring dexterity and safety awareness.
- Augmenting
- AI estimation and drone inspection assist but don't replace manual work.
Sources
Behind the rating- Kenya construction sector data
- Mabati Rolling Mills market data
- Kenya housing demand
Getting in
The routes into the role and what each one asks for.
What to study
8 courses- Certificate in Metal Processing TechnologyKsh 42,600a year
- Artisan in Building TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Carpentry and JoineryKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Front Office OperationsKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in HorticultureKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Land SurveyingKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in MasonryKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Refrigeration and Air ConditioningKsh 67,189a year
How people get in
Apprenticeship / on-site training
2-4 yearsLow cost
Learn roofing through apprenticeship with an experienced roofer or as a helper on construction sites
Who hires
- Construction Companies
- Roofing Contractors
- Self-Employed
- Mabati Manufacturers (Mabati Rolling Mills)
Common misconceptions
Roofing is unskilled labour
Professional roofing requires knowledge of materials, structural integrity, waterproofing, measurement precision and safety — a skilled trade.
What happens next
How the role changes from here, and where it leads.
Growth outlook
- Net demand change
- +10%
- Over
- 2026-2028
- Drivers
- Construction boom,New housing demand,Roof replacement and repair,Commercial construction
- Headwinds
- Seasonal work,Safety risks,Informal sector competition
What to learn
- Drone-based roof inspection
- Modern roofing materials (solar tiles, green roofs)
- Digital estimation and quoting tools
- Roof safety certification
Related careers
Kenyan market notes
Roofing is a core construction trade in Kenya. Booming construction sector — residential, commercial, and infrastructure. Key materials: mabati (iron sheets — Mabati Rolling Mills, Safal Group, Royal Mabati), roofing tiles (premium residential), flat roofs (commercial — concrete with waterproofing). Employers: construction companies, roofing contractors, mabati manufacturers, self-employed. Training: primarily on-site apprenticeship, NITA trade testing. Challenges: seasonal work (rainy seasons), safety risks (heights), informal sector, competition from unskilled workers. Salary: entry KES 15,000-30,000, mid KES 35,000-70,000, senior KES 80,000-180,000+. Self-employed roofers earn per project — KES 20,000-100,000+ per roof.
Further reading
This role is rated 10 out of 100 today. Save it and the app keeps that number, then tells you by how much it has moved when the record is next reviewed.