Insulator Salary: United States
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The median annual wage for Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in the United States was $58,340 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers in this occupation and area earned between $48,100 and $77,360. This is the broader occupation used for Insulator, not a separately surveyed rate for that title or credential.
Broader occupation Our title "Insulator" is reported by BLS as SOC 47-2132 Insulation Workers, Mechanical. BLS groups Insulator within Insulation Workers, Mechanical; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.
Annual wages: Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132)
Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132), the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $42,470, half earned less than the median of $58,340, 90% earned less than $100,220 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,470 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $48,100 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $58,340 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $77,360 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $100,220 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $65,530 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages: Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132)
Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132), the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $20.42, half earned less than the median of $28.05, 90% earned less than $48.19 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $20.42 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $23.13 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $28.05 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $37.19 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $48.19 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $31.50 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Employment: BLS estimates 25,660 workers in this occupation nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 47-2132 Insulation Workers, Mechanical, National.
What BLS wages measure. OEWS estimates describe straight-time gross wages, not just base salary and not total compensation. They include commissions and production bonuses. They exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. Discuss travel, per diem, tool and truck allowances separately. Percentiles describe the occupation's wage distribution, not seniority, plant size, job complexity or credentials. Licensing, union agreements and prevailing-wage obligations depend on the work and assignment; these figures do not establish a premium for them.
Official BLS wage definitions | Source dates and methodology
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Target metros
New York City and Northern New Jersey share the New York-Newark-Jersey City BLS area and one estimate, shown once below.
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th percentile | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $49,660 | $40,420 to $59,800 | 210 | 0.44 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | Not published by BLS for this area. Florida annual median: $49,660. | |||
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Not published by BLS for this area. Florida annual median: $49,660. | |||
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | Not published by BLS for this area. North Carolina annual median: $48,430. | |||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $70,690 | $55,660 to $97,560 | 1,100 | 0.7 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $52,200 | $46,760 to $55,840 | 830 | 1.24 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,050 | $47,340 to $59,150 | 1,320 | 2.43 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,690 | $78,080 to $115,280 | 930 | 1.25 |
How does Insulator pay differ by industry?
These are national industry estimates for SOC 47-2132, not local offers or separate estimates for the niche title. Industry names are exactly as BLS publishes them.
| Industry | NAICS | Median | Basis | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 22 | $100,240 | Annual | 60 |
| Utilities | 221000 | $100,240 | Annual | 60 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | $115,430 | Annual | 30 |
| Construction | 23 | $57,600 | Annual | 23,330 |
| Construction of Buildings | 236000 | $60,950 | Annual | 510 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | $60,950 | Annual | 510 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237000 | $50,120 | Annual | 710 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | $50,110 | Annual | 620 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237900 | $50,440 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 238000 | $57,710 | Annual | 22,110 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | $57,920 | Annual | 17,400 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | 238300 | $56,700 | Annual | 3,860 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 238900 | $59,800 | Annual | 830 |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 | $62,180 | Annual | 810 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 333000 | $55,380 | Annual | 40 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3330A1 | $55,360 | Annual | 40 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 | $73,800 | Annual | 40 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541000 | $73,800 | Annual | 40 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | $69,210 | Annual | 30 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | 562000 | $87,700 | Annual | 310 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | 562900 | $87,700 | Annual | 310 |
Industry estimates are national. Do not combine an industry median with a local percentile to invent an industry-specific local rate.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
Roofing Foreman (47-1011)Masonry Foreman (47-1011)Glazing Foreman (47-1011)Painting Foreman (47-1011)Drywall Foreman (47-1011)Insulation Foreman (47-1011)Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?
This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Insulation Workers, Mechanical. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.
| Metro | Median | Employment | Location quotient | Trade median / all-occupations median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,460 | 210 | 0.54 | 1.84 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $126,750 | 120 | 0.59 | 2.09 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,090 | 530 | 0.51 | 2.22 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $121,870 | 190 | 1.03 | 2.61 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $112,280 | 100 | 0.4 | 1.91 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $109,360 | 90 | 0.28 | 1.84 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,690 | 930 | 1.25 | 1.89 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $100,520 | 80 | 4.65 | 1.98 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $93,960 | 90 | 0.49 | 1.57 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $92,680 | 60 | 2.78 | 1.62 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $47,830 | 70 | 2.23 | 1.05 |
| Lafayette, LA | $47,820 | 80 | 2.72 | 1.14 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $47,770 | 110 | 4.26 | 0.98 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $47,680 | 180 | 6.88 | 1.06 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $47,540 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | 0.98 |
| Columbia, SC | $46,970 | 90 | 1.44 | 1.01 |
| Knoxville, TN | $46,330 | 110 | 1.59 | 0.98 |
| Casper, WY | $46,190 | 140 | 20.97 | 0.94 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $45,900 | 120 | 1.21 | 0.98 |
| Wilmington, NC | $45,730 | 60 | 1.78 | 1.00 |
The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.
What do these published wages mean for an offer?
Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator), the published median for SOC 47-2132, Insulation Workers, Mechanical, is $58,340 per year. The middle half of the Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) wage distribution runs from $48,100 to $77,360, a width of $29,260 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.
For the national Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) comparison used for Insulator, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX reports $50,050 per year while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports $70,690 per year; these are the largest-employment metros with published medians for the occupation, rather than neighboring places to a national estimate. The United States Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) reference for Insulator pools markets with different work scopes and schedules, so use the area table before setting a local offer.
The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Insulation Workers, Mechanical, read alongside Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator), are Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution at $115,430 per year (NAICS 221100); Utilities at $100,240 per year (NAICS 22); Utilities at $100,240 per year (NAICS 221000). Those Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.
The Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) median was $57,250 per year in May 2024, compared with $58,340 in May 2025, a published difference of $1,090. That Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $57,250 and $58,340 Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.
Before using $58,340 per year from Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) to calibrate an offer, separate on-call duties, overtime, travel reimbursement, tool replacement and any truck allowance separately; prevailing wage and union requirements must be checked against the actual assignment. The Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) BLS comparison measures straight-time gross wages, including commissions and production bonuses, but excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.
The mapping for Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) is broader: BLS groups Insulator within Insulation Workers, Mechanical; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately. For a Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) opening, establish the equipment, license requirements and responsibility before deciding which people the pay range should attract. A broader occupation can combine jobs that a Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) buyer would screen separately, which is why the badge and SOC remain beside the figures.
Questions about this occupation and area
What does the middle-half band tell a Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) buyer?
Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) has a published middle-half band of $48,100 to $77,360, a width of $29,260 per year, with median $58,340. An offer inside that Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.
Which areas should I compare before hiring Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator)?
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ are the largest-employment comparison markets used for Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator). Comparing those Insulation Workers, Mechanical tables with the $58,340 Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.
Are the industry figures local to Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator)?
Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) uses national industry rows for SOC 47-2132, not local sector-specific wages. Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution leads the selected sortable rows at $115,430 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator).
What changed between the releases for Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator)?
Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) moved from $57,250 in May 2024 to $58,340 in May 2025. These Insulation Workers, Mechanical (SOC 47-2132) in National (reference for Insulator) published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.
What changed since May 2024
SOC 47-2132. Published annual median: $57,250 (May 2024) and $58,340 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.