How Much Do Insulation Workers Make?
Insulation Workers install and replace the materials that insulate buildings against heat, cold, and noise. Official pay data from the BLS May 2025 wage survey.
Median pay
$49,120
per year
Average (mean)
$54,740
per year
Range · 10th–90th
$37,030 – $78,190
bottom to top earners
The median insulation worker salary is $49,120 per year — 4% below the $50,980 median for all U.S. occupations. About 44,440 people work in this trade nationwide.
Pay by percentile
| Percentile | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,030 | Entry level / lowest-paid areas |
| 25th | $43,200 | Early career |
| 50th — median | $49,120 | The typical worker |
| 75th | $60,980 | Experienced |
| 90th | $78,190 | Top earners / highest-paid areas |
Lifetime earnings potential
At today's median wage, here is what a career as a insulation worker adds up to (in constant 2025 dollars, before raises or promotions — a conservative floor, not a projection):
| Career length | At the median ($49,120/yr) | In the top 10% ($78,190/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years | $491,200 | $781,900 |
| 20 years | $982,400 | $1,563,800 |
| 30 years | $1,473,600 | $2,345,700 |
Reaching the top 10% instead of the median is worth $872,100 over a 30-year career — usually the gap between entry-level work and specialization, licenses, or high-paying states. Compare this trade against any other with the trade comparison tool.
Frequently asked questions
- How much do insulation workers make?
- The median annual wage for insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall is $49,120 (BLS OES, May 2025). The middle 50% earn between $43,200 and $60,980.
- What do the top insulation workers earn?
- The top 10% of insulation workers earn $78,190 or more per year, while the bottom 10% earn $37,030 or less.
- Is $49,120 good pay?
- It is 4% below the median for all U.S. occupations ($50,980, BLS May 2025).