# Insulation Workers, Mechanical

> Apply insulating materials to pipes or ductwork, or other mechanical systems in order to help control and maintain temperature.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/insulation-workers-mechanical
- SOC code: 47-2132.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $58,340 (10th percentile $42,470, 90th percentile $100,220)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.1%
- Openings a year: 1,800
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 99 |
| Investigative (I) | 24 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 4 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 54 |

## What you'd do

- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 87/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 86/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 77/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 77/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 75/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 72/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 71/100)
- Getting Information (importance 66/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 64/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 64/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Coordination, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Speaking, Active Learning, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis

## Knowledge

Building and Construction, Customer and Personal Service, Mechanical, Administration and Management, Education and Training, Mathematics, Production and Processing, Public Safety and Security, English Language, Design

## Also called

AC Insulation Installer (Air Conditioning Insulation Installer), Blanket Maker, Boiler Coverer, Commercial Insulator, Duct Insulator, Firestopper Installer, Firestopper Technician (Firestopper Tech), Heat and Frost Insulator, Industrial Insulator, Industrial Pipe Insulator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4604) (CIP 4604, 319 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Utah Valley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-valley-university-3103) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $82,443 | $97,793 | $11,042 |
| [The University of Texas at San Antonio](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio-2767) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $74,627 | $90,691 | $17,750 |
| [Tuskegee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tuskegee-university-2832) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $74,054 | $87,107 | not reported |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $69,819 | $74,310 | $27,000 |

## Related careers

- [Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/insulation-workers-floor-ceiling-and-wall): $49,120 median pay
- [Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/drywall-and-ceiling-tile-installers): $58,930 median pay
- [Sheet Metal Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sheet-metal-workers): $61,800 median pay
- [Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/floor-layers-except-carpet-wood-and-hard-tiles): $56,460 median pay
- [Pipelayers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pipelayers): $49,000 median pay
- [Roofers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/roofers): $55,440 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.