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Insulators/Insulation Workers


Overview

Insulators/Insulation Workers

Introduction

Insulation workers cover pipes, boilers, ducts, and other equipment and structures with insulating materials to ensure that either heat or cold will be retained. Thus, less fuel is used, less heat or cold is released, and the equipment works more efficiently. Approximately 33,300insulation workers are employed in the United States. Insulation workers are also known as insulators.

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$44,000

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

Apprenticeship


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Experience

On-the-job training
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Skills

Building/Trades
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Personality Traits

Hands On
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Earnings

Apprentices begin at about 50 percent of the rate paid to experienced workers and receive periodic pay increases throughout their training.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the mean annual earnings for insulation workers–floor, ceiling, and wall were $40,380 in May 2019. Salaries ranged from less than $25,860 to $68,860 or more. Insulation workers–mechanical earned...

Work Environment

Insulators usually work indoors, but the surrounding areas are often dirty and dusty, and workers must take care not to inhale tiny fibers and other particles. These particles often irritate the eyes, lungs, and skin. Insulation workers generally wear masks and other protective gear. In new construction and in such places as oil refineries and oil and gas pipeline construction sites, insulation...

Outlook

Employment for insulation workers-mechanical is expected to grow by 9 percent through 2028 (faster than the average for all careers), according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL reports that "overall opportunities for mechanical insulators should be very good as new construction opportunities continue to grow, as the increased focus on maintenance and retrofitting continues, and as...