Insulation Worker
PrintWork Tasks
INSULATION WORKERS insulate buildings to keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They also insulate cold storage rooms, vats, boilers, tanks, vessels, and steam and hot water pipes to stop loss of cold or heat. Insulation can also be used for sound-deadening purposes. In making major renovations to old buildings or when putting new insulation around pipes and industrial machinery, insulation workers often must first remove the old insulation.
Salary, Size & Growth
- $40,000 average per year ($19.25 per hour)
- A medium occupation (79,600 workers in 2010)
- Expected to grow moderately (1.7% per year)
Entry Requirements
INSULATION WORKERS learn their skills on the job from experienced workers. This can take up to two years. Employers prefer to hire high school graduates who have a driver's license for entry-level jobs. High school courses in blueprint reading, shop math, science, sheet-metal layout, woodworking, and general construction provide a good background. Some insulation workers learn their trade through formal apprenticeship programs, which take about four years. Applicants for apprenticeships must have a high school diploma or equivalent, and be at least eighteen years old.