Insulators/Insulation Workers
Overview
Introduction
Insulation workers cover pipes, boilers, ducts, and other equipment and structures with insulating materials to ensure that either heat or cold will be retained. Thus, less fuel is used, less heat or cold is released, and the equipment works more efficiently. Approximately 62,600 insulation workers are employed in the United States. Insulation workers are also known as insulators.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Apprentices begin at about 50 percent of the rate paid to experienced workers and receive periodic pay increases throughout their training.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the mean annual earnings for insulation workers–floor, ceiling, and wall were $47,450 in May 2023. Salaries ranged from less than $33,210 to $78,000 or more. Mechanical insulation workers earned median yearl...
Work Environment
Insulators usually work indoors, but the surrounding areas are often dirty and dusty, and workers must take care not to inhale tiny fibers and other particles. These particles often irritate the eyes, lungs, and skin. Insulation workers generally wear masks and other protective gear. In new construction and in such places as oil refineries and oil and gas pipeline construction sites, insulation...
Outlook
Employment for insulation workers-mechanical is expected to grow by 5 percent through 2033 (faster than the average for all careers), according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL reports that "the continuing need to make new and existing buildings and systems more energy efficient will drive the demand for mechanical insulation workers."
Job opportunities for insulation worke...
