Construction and Extraction · Holland code RC

Insulation Workers, Mechanical

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

Also called: Industrial Insulator, Insulation Mechanic, Insulator, Mechanical Insulator, Commercial Insulator, Heat and Frost Insulator, Insulation Installer, Insulation Worker.

O*NET 47-2132.00

At a glance

US median annual pay: $58,340; Middle half earn $48,100 to $77,360. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Most common education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED); 72% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
Preparation needed: Job Zone 2 of 5; Some preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

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.
Install sheet metal around insulated pipes with screws to protect the insulation from weather conditions or physical damage.
Read blueprints and specifications to determine job requirements.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Active Listening3.0 / 5
Critical Thinking3.0 / 5
Monitoring3.0 / 5
Speaking2.9 / 5
Reading Comprehension2.8 / 5
Active Learning2.8 / 5

Knowledge areas

Building and Construction4.3 / 5
Customer and Personal Service4.1 / 5
Mechanical4.1 / 5
Administration and Management4.0 / 5
Education and Training3.9 / 5
Mathematics3.8 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

Realistic99
Investigative24
Artistic0
Social4
Enterprising0
Conventional54

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

European occupation titles (ESCO)

insulation worker · DE Isoliermonteur/Isoliermonteurin · FR monteur en isolation/monteuse en isolation

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

Construction operatives n.e.c. (8159)85,400 employed
Construction and building trades n.e.c. (5319)215,600 employed
Elementary construction occupations n.e.c. (9129)91,600 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Craft and related trades workers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Craft and related trades workers, by country
Country	Median pay
Belgium	€40,086
Germany	€38,638
Austria	€38,194
Sweden	€37,856
Netherlands	€37,077
Ireland	€36,098
France	€27,145
Italy	€26,488
Spain	€22,817
Portugal	€11,142
Poland	€10,099

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Exposure to AI

This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -1.27. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.

Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.

Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (47-2132).

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

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