How much does a insulation workers, mechanical make?

The median pay is $28.05 per hour — roughly $58,500 a year, with the real range running from about $20.42/hr (10th percentile) to $48.19/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a insulation workers, mechanical?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a insulation workers, mechanical actually do all day?

Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, knives, and scissors. Apply, remove, and repair insulation on industrial equipment, pipes, ductwork, or other mechanical systems such as heat exchangers, tanks, and vessels, to help control noise and maintain temperatures. Select appropriate insulation, such as fiberglass, Styrofoam, or cork, based on the heat retaining or excluding characteristics of the material.

Construction & Trades

Insulation Workers, Mechanical

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

What it pays
Insulation Workers, Mechanical earn a median of $28.05/hr — about $58,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.42/hr; the top 10% earn $48.19/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, knives, and scissors.
Apply, remove, and repair insulation on industrial equipment, pipes, ductwork, or other mechanical systems such as heat exchangers, tanks, and vessels, to help control noise and maintain temperatures.
Select appropriate insulation, such as fiberglass, Styrofoam, or cork, based on the heat retaining or excluding characteristics of the material.
Fit insulation around obstructions, and shape insulating materials and protective coverings as required.
Determine the amounts and types of insulation needed, and methods of installation, based on factors such as location, surface shape, and equipment use.
Cover, seal, or finish insulated surfaces or access holes with plastic covers, canvas strips, sealants, tape, cement, or asphalt mastic.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors; much of the day is spent working solo; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 3.3% of insulation workers, mechanical are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.

Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a insulation workers, mechanical make?: The median pay is $28.05 per hour — roughly $58,500 a year, with the real range running from about $20.42/hr (10th percentile) to $48.19/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a insulation workers, mechanical?: The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
What does a insulation workers, mechanical actually do all day?: Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, knives, and scissors. Apply, remove, and repair insulation on industrial equipment, pipes, ductwork, or other mechanical systems such as heat exchangers, tanks, and vessels, to help control noise and maintain temperatures. Select appropriate insulation, such as fiberglass, Styrofoam, or cork, based on the heat retaining or excluding characteristics of the material.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.