Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall (SOC 47-2131) earn a median $49,120 a year ($23.62 an hour) in the United States, with 44,440 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Nebraska.
What insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall do
Workers in this group line and cover structures with insulating materials, working with batt, roll or blown insulation, to insulate floors, ceilings and walls against cold, heat or moisture. They read blueprints and choose insulation based on the space and the heat-retaining or heat-excluding qualities of the material, then measure and cut it with tape measures, handsaws, power saws, knives or scissors. Pieces are fitted, wrapped, stapled or glued in place with hand tools or wires, and surfaces or access holes are finished or sealed with plastic covers, canvas strips, tape, sealants, cement or asphalt mastic. Blown-in insulation is applied by filling the blower hopper, moving controls to start the blower and regulate flow through the nozzle, and distributing material evenly into small spaces in floors, ceilings and walls, using hose attachments. This occupation is distinct from mechanical insulation workers (47-2132).
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or the equivalent as the education needed.
Also called: Air Conditioning Insulation Installer, Attic Blower, Blower Insulator, Ceiling Insulation Blower, Composition Weatherboard Installer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.80 | $20.77 | $23.62 | $29.32 | $37.59 | $26.32 | 44,440 |
| Annual | $37,030 | $43,200 | $49,120 | $60,980 | $78,190 | $54,740 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Nebraska | Hourly | $21.42 | $22.67 | $35.16 | $39.37 | $39.56 | $31.27 | 310 | 0.31 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $44,550 | $47,160 | $73,140 | $81,880 | $82,280 | $65,030 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $21.82 | $27.42 | $32.57 | $47.66 | $63.83 | $37.64 | 2,330 | 0.66 | 2.30 |
| Annual | $45,380 | $57,030 | $67,750 | $99,120 | $132,770 | $78,280 | ||||
| Mississippi | Hourly | $19.37 | $23.91 | $30.23 | $30.23 | $30.23 | $27.02 | 290 | 0.25 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $40,280 | $49,730 | $62,880 | $62,880 | $62,880 | $56,200 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $17.14 | $23.79 | $28.95 | $34.84 | $38.53 | $29.47 | 700 | 0.36 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $35,660 | $49,490 | $60,210 | $72,470 | $80,140 | $61,290 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $21.22 | $23.94 | $28.41 | $34.69 | $47.21 | $31.90 | 1,600 | 0.17 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $44,140 | $49,780 | $59,100 | $72,150 | $98,200 | $66,360 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.43 | $19.55 | $23.43 | $27.06 | $30.40 | $23.97 | 7,120 | 0.51 | 1.77 |
| Annual | $36,250 | $40,670 | $48,740 | $56,290 | $63,240 | $49,850 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $19.07 | $21.78 | $23.48 | $35.41 | $50.69 | $29.73 | 3,080 | 0.17 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $39,660 | $45,300 | $48,840 | $73,660 | $105,440 | $61,840 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $17.38 | $18.57 | $22.65 | $28.00 | $31.21 | $23.91 | 2,690 | 0.27 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $36,140 | $38,620 | $47,100 | $58,240 | $64,920 | $49,730 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $21.82 | $27.42 | $32.57 | $47.66 | $63.83 | $37.64 | 2,330 | 0.66 | 2.30 |
| Annual | $45,380 | $57,030 | $67,750 | $99,120 | $132,770 | $78,280 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $14.96 | $17.49 | $20.67 | $23.07 | $28.88 | $21.24 | 2,090 | 0.42 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $31,110 | $36,380 | $42,990 | $47,990 | $60,080 | $44,180 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Omaha, NE-IA | Hourly | $21.42 | $22.83 | $39.36 | $39.56 | $42.88 | $33.20 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $44,550 | $47,490 | $81,880 | $82,270 | $89,180 | $69,050 | ||||
| Columbus, OH | Hourly | $18.33 | $23.20 | $38.46 | $38.47 | $38.47 | $31.68 | 380 | 0.34 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $38,130 | $48,260 | $80,000 | $80,010 | $80,020 | $65,900 | ||||
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | Hourly | $22.11 | $28.81 | $36.83 | $61.54 | $61.54 | $42.67 | 40 | 0.34 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $46,000 | $59,920 | $76,610 | $128,000 | $128,000 | $88,760 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $21.69 | $26.41 | $36.62 | $57.65 | $57.65 | $38.84 | 370 | 0.16 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $45,110 | $54,940 | $76,170 | $119,910 | $119,910 | $80,780 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $23.87 | $28.24 | $34.61 | $51.76 | $64.47 | $39.17 | 1,250 | 0.60 | 2.09 |
| Annual | $49,640 | $58,750 | $71,980 | $107,670 | $134,100 | $81,460 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $17.76 | $18.99 | $23.14 | $27.07 | $30.41 | $23.78 | 2,430 | 0.74 | 2.58 |
| Annual | $36,950 | $39,500 | $48,140 | $56,300 | $63,250 | $49,460 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.74 | $19.55 | $24.00 | $27.67 | $30.83 | $24.50 | 2,100 | 0.52 | 1.82 |
| Annual | $36,910 | $40,660 | $49,930 | $57,540 | $64,130 | $50,960 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $19.48 | $24.03 | $29.68 | $36.96 | $56.65 | $33.23 | 1,500 | 0.16 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $40,510 | $49,970 | $61,730 | $76,880 | $117,830 | $69,120 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $19.75 | $21.35 | $22.07 | $29.55 | $37.54 | $26.10 | 1,330 | 0.42 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $41,080 | $44,400 | $45,900 | $61,460 | $78,090 | $54,280 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $23.87 | $28.24 | $34.61 | $51.76 | $64.47 | $39.17 | 1,250 | 0.60 | 2.09 |
| Annual | $49,640 | $58,750 | $71,980 | $107,670 | $134,100 | $81,460 | ||||
Top industries employing insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall
Building Finishing Contractors employ 69.3% of insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall nationally (30,790 jobs) at a median $48,880 a year ($23.50 an hour), followed by Building Equipment Contractors (14.3%) and Nonresidential Building Construction (5.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Finishing Contractors NAICS 238300 | 30,790 | 69.3% | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 6,360 | 14.3% | $48,770 | $23.45 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction NAICS 236200 | 2,400 | 5.4% | $50,510 | $24.29 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors NAICS 238900 | 1,130 | 2.5% | $55,860 | $26.85 |
| Residential Building Construction NAICS 236100 | 720 | 1.6% | $47,110 | $22.65 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (44,440). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $39,880 for insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall in May 2021 and $49,120 in May 2025, with employment of 30,360 and 44,440.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $39,880 | $19.17 | 30,360 |
| May 2022 | $45,380 | $21.82 | 33,130 |
| May 2023 | $47,540 | $22.86 | 38,510 |
| May 2024 | $48,680 | $23.41 | 38,610 |
| May 2025 | $49,120 | $23.62 | 44,440 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
48 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska profile | $35.16 | $73,140 | $44,550 | $82,280 | 310 | 0.31 | 1.07 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $32.57 | $67,750 | $45,380 | $132,770 | 2,330 | 0.66 | 2.30 |
| 3 | Mississippi profile | $30.23 | $62,880 | $40,280 | $62,880 | 290 | 0.25 | 0.88 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $28.95 | $60,210 | $35,660 | $80,140 | 700 | 0.36 | 1.25 |
| 5 | New York profile | $28.41 | $59,100 | $44,140 | $98,200 | 1,600 | 0.17 | 0.58 |
| 6 | Maryland profile | $28.09 | $58,420 | $38,170 | $87,360 | 1,240 | 0.45 | 1.57 |
| 7 | Ohio profile | $28.08 | $58,400 | $37,870 | $80,010 | 870 | 0.16 | 0.55 |
| 8 | Alaska profile | $27.15 | $56,470 | $24,770 | $83,200 | 170 | 0.53 | 1.86 |
| 9 | Missouri profile | $26.94 | $56,040 | $38,550 | $90,370 | 830 | 0.28 | 0.99 |
| 10 | Iowa profile | $26.84 | $55,820 | $42,210 | $75,170 | 460 | 0.30 | 1.03 |
| 11 | Indiana profile | $26.26 | $54,630 | $37,760 | $76,220 | 780 | 0.25 | 0.86 |
| 12 | Minnesota profile | $26.13 | $54,350 | $38,960 | $101,930 | 1,090 | 0.37 | 1.29 |
| 13 | Delaware profile | $25.75 | $53,570 | $38,930 | $66,270 | 280 | 0.59 | 2.06 |
| 14 | Vermont profile | $25.76 | $53,570 | $44,780 | $70,260 | 110 | 0.37 | 1.29 |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $25.48 | $53,000 | $37,660 | $95,180 | 780 | 0.13 | 0.45 |
| 16 | New Jersey profile | $25.36 | $52,750 | $36,760 | $94,540 | 820 | 0.19 | 0.67 |
| 17 | Kansas profile | $24.77 | $51,520 | $40,240 | $89,110 | 430 | 0.30 | 1.05 |
| 18 | New Hampshire profile | $24.67 | $51,320 | $39,850 | $60,650 | 230 | 0.33 | 1.16 |
| 19 | Colorado profile | $24.42 | $50,800 | $40,340 | $70,630 | 1,210 | 0.42 | 1.47 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania profile | $24.33 | $50,600 | $38,330 | $73,580 | 610 | 0.10 | 0.35 |
| 21 | Kentucky profile | $23.91 | $49,730 | $39,430 | $92,110 | 400 | 0.20 | 0.70 |
| 22 | Wisconsin profile | $23.81 | $49,520 | $39,980 | $64,160 | 650 | 0.22 | 0.77 |
| 23 | Massachusetts profile | $23.53 | $48,940 | $44,610 | $59,290 | 710 | 0.20 | 0.68 |
| 24 | California profile | $23.48 | $48,840 | $39,660 | $105,440 | 3,080 | 0.17 | 0.59 |
| 25 | Alabama profile | $23.43 | $48,740 | $36,620 | $61,270 | 660 | 0.31 | 1.09 |
| 26 | Texas profile | $23.43 | $48,740 | $36,250 | $63,240 | 7,120 | 0.51 | 1.77 |
| 27 | Connecticut profile | $23.34 | $48,550 | $38,310 | $61,940 | 300 | 0.18 | 0.61 |
| 28 | New Mexico profile | $23.30 | $48,460 | $36,190 | $78,190 | 250 | 0.29 | 1.01 |
| 29 | Tennessee profile | $23.28 | $48,410 | $34,900 | $71,490 | 1,160 | 0.35 | 1.24 |
| 30 | Montana profile | $23.13 | $48,100 | $36,990 | $83,340 | 490 | 0.96 | 3.36 |
| 31 | Georgia profile | $22.99 | $47,810 | $35,730 | $95,130 | 900 | 0.19 | 0.65 |
| 32 | Maine profile | $22.97 | $47,790 | $37,260 | $62,710 | 440 | 0.68 | 2.39 |
| 33 | Louisiana profile | $22.76 | $47,340 | $37,040 | $62,340 | 1,610 | 0.83 | 2.91 |
| 34 | Florida profile | $22.65 | $47,100 | $36,140 | $64,920 | 2,690 | 0.27 | 0.95 |
| 35 | South Carolina profile | $22.61 | $47,020 | $35,140 | $67,840 | 730 | 0.32 | 1.10 |
| 36 | Oklahoma profile | $22.54 | $46,880 | $34,870 | $70,160 | 570 | 0.34 | 1.17 |
| 37 | Nevada profile | $22.36 | $46,510 | $37,390 | $76,030 | 660 | 0.42 | 1.48 |
| 38 | Michigan profile | $22.35 | $46,490 | $32,360 | $79,620 | 710 | 0.16 | 0.56 |
| 39 | North Dakota profile | $22.33 | $46,450 | $38,830 | $60,430 | 260 | 0.59 | 2.08 |
| 40 | Wyoming profile | $22.21 | $46,200 | $36,400 | $56,830 | 170 | 0.60 | 2.10 |
| 41 | South Dakota profile | $22.03 | $45,820 | $35,890 | $60,320 | 340 | 0.74 | 2.59 |
| 42 | Virginia profile | $21.54 | $44,810 | $37,080 | $61,470 | ** | ** | ** |
| 43 | Arkansas profile | $21.03 | $43,730 | $35,250 | $53,320 | 350 | 0.27 | 0.94 |
| 44 | North Carolina profile | $20.67 | $42,990 | $31,110 | $60,080 | 2,090 | 0.42 | 1.48 |
| 45 | Arizona profile | $20.29 | $42,210 | $36,960 | $61,210 | 780 | 0.24 | 0.85 |
| 46 | Idaho profile | $19.98 | $41,550 | $34,000 | $60,630 | 330 | 0.39 | 1.35 |
| 47 | Utah profile | $19.27 | $40,080 | $35,440 | $53,090 | 300 | 0.17 | 0.60 |
| 48 | West Virginia profile | $17.01 | $35,390 | $34,580 | $59,360 | 70 | 0.10 | 0.33 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (47-2130), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-2131 Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-2131, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-2131.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.