Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
SOC code 47-2131 · O*NET-SOC 47-2131.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Skilled trades
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$49,120
a year
Hourly
$23.62
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$54,740
$26.32 per hour
Middle 50%
$43,200 – $60,980
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$37,030 – $78,190
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
44,440
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $37,030
- $17.80/hr
- 25th percentile
- $43,200
- $20.77/hr
- Median percentile
- $49,120
- $23.62/hr
- 75th percentile
- $60,980
- $29.32/hr
- 90th percentile
- $78,190
- $37.59/hr
What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall do?
Line and cover structures with insulating materials. May work with batt, roll, or blown insulation materials.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, power saws, knives, or scissors.
- Fit, wrap, staple, or glue insulating materials to structures or surfaces, using hand tools or wires.
- Cover and line structures with blown or rolled forms of materials to insulate against cold, heat, or moisture, using saws, knives, rasps, trowels, blowers, or other tools and implements.
- Distribute insulating materials evenly into small spaces within floors, ceilings, or walls, using blowers and hose attachments, or cement mortars.
- Move controls, buttons, or levers to start blowers and regulate flow of materials through nozzles.
- Fill blower hoppers with insulating materials.
- Cover, seal, or finish insulated surfaces or access holes with plastic covers, canvas strips, sealants, tape, cement or asphalt mastic.
- Read blueprints, and select appropriate insulation, based on space characteristics and the heat retaining or excluding characteristics of the material.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 68% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)68%
- Less than a High School Diploma29%
- Post-Secondary Certificate2%
Common questions
How much does an insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall earn?
The national median is $49,120 a year. The full range runs from $37,030 at the 10th percentile to $78,190 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Monitoring2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Building and Construction3.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.0/5
- Mechanical3.0/5
- English Language2.9/5
- Administration and Management2.8/5
- Transportation2.6/5
- Mathematics2.5/5
Transferable strengths: Operation and Control, Coordination, Operations Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management.