Careers · Explore one path
Insulation Workers, Mechanical
Apply insulating materials to pipes or ductwork, or other mechanical systems to help control and maintain temperature.
Other titles employers use
Commercial Insulator · Heat and Frost Insulator · Industrial Insulator · Insulation Installer · Insulation Mechanic · Insulation Worker · Insulator · Insulator Journeyman
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Time Management
Subjects to know
- Building and Construction
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
Useful strengths
- Trunk Strength
- Problem Sensitivity
- Extent Flexibility
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.7 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 4.7 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.3 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 4.6 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 79%
- A certificate or some college 21%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Project management software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 5,460
- Job openings each year
- 450
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 9.4%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 5,460 | 450 | 9.4% |
| North Carolina | 1,600 | 130 | 8.1% |
| Washington | 1,540 | 140 | 9.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,090 | 80 | 2.8% |
| New York | 1,080 | 10 | 4.9% |
| Florida | 1,010 | 90 | 13.5% |
| Virginia | 1,010 | 80 | 3.1% |
| Colorado | 970 | 80 | 11.5% |
| Georgia | 800 | 70 | 12.7% |
| Wisconsin | 790 | 60 | 9.7% |
| Arizona | 780 | 70 | 14.7% |
| Illinois | 760 | 60 | 1.3% |
| Indiana | 740 | 60 | 2.8% |
| Missouri | 670 | 50 | 1.5% |
| Ohio | 650 | 50 | 1.6% |
| Louisiana | 610 | 50 | 8.9% |
| Kansas | 480 | 40 | 2.1% |
| Kentucky | 480 | 40 | — |
| Maine | 480 | 40 | −2.0% |
| Minnesota | 480 | 40 | 6.7% |
| Iowa | 450 | 40 | 9.8% |
| South Carolina | 450 | 40 | — |
| Maryland | 430 | 30 | 4.9% |
| Tennessee | 410 | 40 | 7.9% |
| Utah | 400 | 40 | 29.0% |
| Michigan | 390 | 30 | — |
| Alabama | 340 | 30 | 6.3% |
| Oregon | 310 | 30 | 14.8% |
| Wyoming | 290 | 30 | 20.8% |
| Delaware | 260 | 20 | 4.0% |
| Nevada | 230 | 20 | 4.5% |
| Connecticut | 220 | 20 | 10.0% |
| Oklahoma | 210 | 20 | 5.0% |
| Idaho | 200 | 20 | 17.6% |
| Nebraska | 200 | 20 | 11.1% |
| North Dakota | 180 | 20 | 12.5% |
| South Dakota | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Mississippi | 100 | 10 | 25.0% |
| Massachusetts | 80 | 10 | — |
| New Mexico | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Alaska | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Arkansas | 50 | 0 | — |
| Rhode Island | 50 | 0 | 25.0% |
| West Virginia | 50 | 0 | — |
| Vermont | 40 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Degrees each year
- 76
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Rowan University
- Degrees each year
- 56
- Admit rate
- 78%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Tuskegee University
- Degrees each year
- 12
- Admit rate
- 31%
- Annual cost after aid
- $35,000
Thomas Jefferson University
- Degrees each year
- 4
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Annual cost after aid
- $25,000
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
- Degrees each year
- 2
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Compare every college offering building/construction finishing, management, and inspection