Insulation Worker

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Work Tasks

• Insulate buildings to keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer
• Insulate cold storage rooms, vats, boilers, tanks, and water pipes
• Measure and cut insulation and put it in place with glue, cement, staples, wire, or tape
• May spray foam insulation on a wire mesh to cover walls or blow loose-fill insulation in attics or outside walls
• Work indoors for insulation and building companies, the federal government, stores, and industries that have large power, heating, and cooling plants
• Work with trowels, brushes, stapling guns, hand and power tools, welding machines, insulation, paste, tape, wire, ladders, and protective gear

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)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: On-the-job training and a clean background
• Employers Prefer: A high school diploma, a driver's license, and an apprenticeship in insulation installation
• Skills/Courses: Courses in applied math, blueprint reading, science, sheet-metal layout, woodworking, and general construction
• Certification/Licensing: Certification is needed to handle asbestos, and is available for residential insulation.