How To Become An Insulator: What It Is and Career Path

What is an insulator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Insulators install and replace fabricated material that helps to insulate homes, businesses, and buildings. These individuals work to save energy and reduce excess noise in buildings and homes by working on boilers, vents, steam pipes, or water pipes. Insulators also install fire-proof materials to limit the spread of fire and smoke and should be knowledgeable of energy-saving and insulating products and installation techniques. The extent to which a home or building is insulated has a direct effect on the heating and cooling costs of the client, and it is up to the insulator to install proper energy-saving materials in walls, ceilings, and other spaces.

Insulators also work on boilers, steam pipes, refrigerated storage areas, and a variety of industrial containers that depend on insulation to maintain the proper temperatures and reduce energy costs. Insulators use a wide variety of techniques to install different kinds of insulation, including stapling, spraying, and cementing, and they measure, cut, and then install insulation material. Insulators typically work in the field and may spend most of their workweek traveling to installation sites. They must also possess excellent communication, analytical, mechanical, and troubleshooting skills.

Most insulation workers learn the trade on the job, although internships are offered by employers. Although most companies hire applicants with at least a high school diploma, candidates with comparable experience and adequate verbal skills can also be considered. Many insulators can make up to $44,000 annually in the US, and the field is expected to grow 3% by 2028.

ScoreInsulatorUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,721

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.1

Growth Rate 3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 2.28%

Black or African American 8.88%

Hispanic or Latino 33.89%

Unknown 6.11%

White 48.33%

Gender

female 9.96%

male 90.04%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress Level

6.1

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.3

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an insulator

Explore insulator education requirements

Most common insulator degrees

High School Diploma

55.5 %

Associate

13.7 %

Bachelor's

12.5 %

Start to develop specific insulator skills

Skills	Percentages
Safety Procedures	8.29%
Tape Measure	7.30%
Ladders	6.59%
Asphalt	5.54%
Mechanical Systems	5.42%

Complete relevant insulator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New insulators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an insulator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real insulator resumes.

Research insulator duties and responsibilities

Prepare surfaces for insulation application, brushing or spreading on adhesive cement or asphalt.
Assist journeymen with insulation of pipes, air ducts, heating and cooling systems.
Involve insulating chill, hot water, and cryogenic plumbing as well as HVAC ducts in refineries and commercial buildings.
Maintain & follow all OSHA requirements and standards.

Prepare your insulator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your insulator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an insulator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Insulator Resume templates

Build a professional Insulator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Insulator resume.

Apply for insulator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an insulator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do insulators rate their job?

-/5

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Insulator reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2021

Cons

OSHA doesn’t keep up with the safety of billboards every day i risk my life 100+ft with no safety cables