Roof replacement cost in Nebraska
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $5,400 – $11,200
- Per sq ft of roof
- $2.65 – $5.35
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $9,300
- Metros covered
- 2
Nebraska prices for roof: $5,400 to $11,200 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $2.65 to $5.35 per sq ft of roof without the permit. The state midpoint is 11% below the national one. Local wages for roofers are $22.34 an hour.
Inside Nebraska, the metros we cover range from $8,300 (Omaha) to $8,350 (Lincoln) at the midpoint.
Estimate your roof replacement cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Nebraska (statewide), standard level
$7,150 to $9,450
About $3.45 to $4.55 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,450 | $3,750 |
| Labor | $4,450 | $5,350 |
| Permits and fees | $200 | $340 |
| Total | $7,150 | $9,450 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Nebraska
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $3,100 | $4,700 | 37% |
| Labor | $3,800 | $4,900 | $6,050 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $270 | $450 | 3% |
| Total | $5,400 | $8,300 | $11,200 | 100% |
Nebraska labor market for roof
Nebraska's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.86 times the national level.
Roofers (47-2181), 85% of the weighting: a median of $22.34 an hour, 16% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $19.03 and $26.75 an hour. About 1,730 work in the state. That is 16.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $22.72 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.38 and $26.71 an hour. BLS counts 8,530 of them working in the state, 83.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($26.75 an hour) would add about $800 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.03) would take off about $600. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,024,370 jobs across Nebraska (May 2025), which is 0.7% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $19.03 | $22.34 | $26.75 | $26.65 | 0.84 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $19.38 | $22.72 | $26.71 | $22.66 | 1.00 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Nebraska
Each project weights the trades differently, so Nebraska's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, attic insulation is +10% and metal roof −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,200 – $29,800 | −9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $4,000 | −5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,750 – $23,200 | −8% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,150 – $4,350 | +10% |
How Nebraska compares with nearby states
Nebraska ranks 42 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for roof, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is New Jersey at $11,700 and the cheapest Oklahoma at $7,900, both for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint. Nebraska sits at $8,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 190 miles away | $5,550 – $11,400 | $8,500 | +2% |
| South Dakota | 220 miles away | $5,500 – $11,400 | $8,400 | +1% |
| Kansas | 220 miles away | $5,400 – $11,200 | $8,300 | level |
| Missouri | 270 miles away | $5,700 – $11,700 | $8,700 | +5% |
| Minnesota | 320 miles away | $7,600 – $14,900 | $11,200 | +35% |
Basic, standard or premium: Nebraska prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small (1,200 sq ft of roof) to very large (3,600 sq ft of roof).
Basic
$5,400 to $7,700
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$7,150 to $9,450
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$8,850 to $11,200
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $3,250 – $4,700 | $4,350 – $5,800 | $5,450 – $6,900 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $5,400 – $7,700 | $7,150 – $9,450 | $8,850 – $11,200 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $7,500 – $10,700 | $9,900 – $13,100 | $12,300 – $15,500 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $9,650 – $13,700 | $12,700 – $16,700 | $15,700 – $19,800 |
Which Nebraska city is cheapest for roof?
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $8,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 1%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (2,000 sq ft of roof) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | $5,450 – $11,300 | $8,350 | +1% |
| Omaha, NE | $5,400 – $11,200 | $8,300 | level |
Weather windows across Nebraska
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Nebraska is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Every Nebraska metro on the list has 9 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 29 inches a year in Lincoln to 32 in Omaha.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 15 | 88 | 32 | 9: March through November |
| Lincoln | 14 | 89 | 29 | 9: March through November |
Why two Nebraska quotes can differ
Shingle type
3-tab asphalt is $3-$5 per sq ft installed; architectural is $4-$6 (HomeGuide). Metal, tile and slate are separate projects with much higher ranges.
Roof area, not floor area
Pitch and complexity mean roof surface is larger than the house's footprint. A 1,500 sq ft ranch can have 1,800-2,200 sq ft of roof.
Tear-off and layers
Removing a second layer or rotted decking adds cost, and the contractor can only see decking damage after tear-off.
Tear-off
Removing the old roof is $1-$5 per sq ft depending on the material and number of layers (HomeGuide). Check that your quote includes it.
Permit
Roof replacement permits run $100-$500 depending on the location.
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $7,150 to $9,450 for Nebraska is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the roof replacement numbers for Nebraska line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Roof replacement in Nebraska: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Nebraska?
$5,400 to $11,200 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Nebraska can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Nebraska is cheapest for roof?
Omaha at about $8,300 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Lincoln at $8,350.
+Is roof cheaper in Nebraska than the US average?
It is 11% cheaper: $8,300 against $9,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Nebraska?
About 59% ($4,900). Materials are 37%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.86x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in Nebraska?
The BLS statewide median is $22.34 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.03 to $26.75.
+Where does Nebraska rank for roof costs?
42nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $8,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Nebraska?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $5,400 to $7,700 and premium work $8,850 to $11,200. Basic means: 3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof. Premium means: heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs.
+Does the season matter for roof in Nebraska?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Nebraska metros we cover, Omaha has the most comfortable months (9 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Roof replacement by city in Nebraska
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Roof Replacement Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = HomeGuide's asphalt shingle price of $80-$250 per roofing square (100 sq ft), i.e. $0.80-$2.50 per sq ft. The rest of the installed price covers roofer labor ($1.50-$3.00/sq ft), tear-off, disposal, underlayment and contractor overhead.