Roof replacement · NE · West North Central
Roof replacement cost in Nebraska
Nebraska pays its roofers less than almost every other state, yet its hail score is one of the highest FEMA assigns.
Wages: BLS, May 2025 (released ) · figures checked · Built by Radif Partners · How prices are built
- Typical roof job, all house sizes
- $10,980
- Middle half of jobs
- $6,760 to $16,880
- Roofer mean wage
- $23.04/h
- Versus U.S. roofers
- −18%
Roof replacement in Nebraska, hired out
$12,660
Most jobs between $8,790 and $17,570 (middle half of reported prices)
| House size group | 1,500 to 1,999 sq ft |
| National median (homeowners’ reports) | $13,192 |
| Regional level (Census division) | +0.0% |
| State labor adjustment | −4.1% |
| Typical price in Nebraska | $12,660 |
Roofers in Nebraska: $23.04 an hour on average, 18% below the national mean. Range from homeowners who hired a professional (2021 to 2023, American Housing Survey 2023), in August 2026 dollars; permits, tear-off of unusual materials, structural repairs and local surcharges vary job to job. How this is calculated.
Nebraska homeowners pay roughly $10,980 for a professionally installed replacement roof, with most jobs between $6,760 and $16,880, about $470 under the national median. The discount comes almost entirely from labor. BLS put the mean hourly wage of Nebraska roofers at $23.04 in May 2025, 18% below the $27.95 national mean and lower than in Iowa or Kansas. The regional starting point is neutral: owners in the West North Central division reported prices at the national level in the 2023 American Housing Survey, and the estimate then swaps in Nebraska pay for the labor share. The weather side is less forgiving. On FEMA's National Risk Index, Nebraska's hail score for expected annual losses to buildings is the 3rd highest among all states, rated Relatively High, and tornado and strong wind losses are rated Relatively High as well. A cheap crew does not make a roof last longer in a hail corridor.
A hail score few states match
The National Risk Index from FEMA (December 2025) gives Nebraska a hail score of 96.2 out of 100, the 3rd highest score in the country, with about $97 million in expected yearly losses to buildings. Tornadoes add $126 million and strong wind $42 million. Winter weather and ice storms are both rated Relatively High, while hurricanes, unsurprisingly, show no expected annual losses.
So a Nebraska roof is often judged by how it handles a single storm rather than by its age. Bruised shingles lose granules and seal strength, and the damage may not leak until months later. Owners who replace on their own schedule pay the range shown above; owners who replace after a storm usually go through an insurer, whose estimate and deductible decide the out-of-pocket amount.
Why the Nebraska price stays low
Neighbors pay more for the same trade: Iowa roofers average $25.04, Kansas $25.66, and Colorado $27.01. Labor is only one slice of a roofing contractor's revenue, so Nebraska's lower pay shaves a modest sum rather than a dramatic one. Asphalt shingles, synthetic underlayment, drip edge and disposal fees are priced on national supply chains.
For a house of about 1,800 square feet, the Nebraska estimate is $12,660. Move up to 3,000 to 3,999 sq ft and it reaches $15,370, with the middle half of jobs between $10,980 and $21,090.
Before a storm crew knocks
After a widespread hailstorm, roofing outfits from other states tend to arrive. Ask for a written scope that names the shingle line, the number of decking sheets included, the starter and ridge products and the disposal method. If you are weighing impact-rated shingles, request a separate price for them so you can see the difference and raise it with your insurer.
Once the new roof is on, keep the invoice, the shingle wrapper or product sheet and a few dated photos of every slope. In a state where hail returns, that file answers the first questions an adjuster will ask the next time, and it shows which product line went on in case the manufacturer's warranty comes into play. Gutters, siding and window screens dented in the same storm are usually priced on separate lines, so ask whether the roofer handles them or leaves them to another trade.
Roof replacement: change the labor rate
Same job at that labor rate
$10,990
| Labor part of your quote | $2,383 |
| Materials, equipment, overhead | $8,607 |
| Labor share used | 21.7% |
Labor share from the 2022 Economic Census for this contractor type, moved by the state wage index.
Nebraska roof prices by house size
| House size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 sq ft | $3,560 | $7,690 | $13,180 |
| 1,000 to 1,499 sq ft | $5,930 | $9,440 | $13,180 |
| 1,500 to 1,999 sq ft | $8,790 | $12,660 | $17,570 |
| 2,000 to 2,499 sq ft | $8,790 | $12,080 | $17,570 |
| 2,500 to 2,999 sq ft | $8,790 | $13,180 | $21,090 |
| 3,000 to 3,999 sq ft | $10,980 | $15,370 | $21,090 |
| 4,000 sq ft or more | $9,490 | $16,470 | $26,370 |
Other jobs in Nebraska
| Job | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water heater replacement | $840 | $1,310 | $1,920 |
| Central air conditioning | $3,370 | $5,620 | $8,020 |
| Furnace or other built-in heating | $3,370 | $5,620 | $8,420 |
| Fence | $2,360 | $4,720 | $8,240 |
| Deck, porch or patio | $3,560 | $7,780 | $16,080 |
| Driveway or walkway | $2,100 | $4,250 | $8,360 |
Trade wages in Nebraska
| Occupation | NE mean hourly wage | U.S. mean | NE jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers | $23.04 | $27.95 | 1,730 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters | $31.59 | $34.70 | 4,110 |
| Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $29.35 | $31.14 | 3,020 |
| Electricians | $30.75 | $34.37 | 6,440 |
| Carpenters | $26.43 | $31.55 | 5,710 |
| Painters, construction and maintenance | $22.40 | $26.64 | 1,590 |