How much does a insulation installer make?
Answer: A typical insulation installer in the United States makes $49,120 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 44,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Insulation installer pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $37,030 | $49,120 | $78,190 | about 44,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $67,750 | about 2,000 |
| Oregon | $60,210 | about 700 |
| New York | $59,100 | about 2,000 |
| Maryland | $58,420 | about 1,000 |
| Ohio | $58,400 | about 870 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can vary with experience, credentials, employer type, and location. More complex tasks and longer workweeks can also affect earnings.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a insulation installer do?
Line and cover structures with insulating materials. May work with batt, roll, or blown insulation materials.
What's a typical day like?
They may remove old insulation, then measure and cut new pieces to fit between wall studs or ceiling joists. They fasten it with staples or spray foam, often working in attics, under floors, or behind walls.
How to get this job
In the United States, floor, ceiling, and wall insulation installers usually learn their trade on the job. Mechanical insulators may enter an apprenticeship after earning a high school diploma or equivalent.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Asbestos was once widely used to insulate walls, ceilings, pipes, and industrial equipment, but it is now known to cause cancer.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Construction and Extraction jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/construction-and-extraction/insulation-workers.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2131.00
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY