Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Insulation Workers, Mechanical
Occupation · SOC 47-2132.00
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 · Insulator Journeyman · Mechanic Insulator · AC Insulation Installer (Air Conditioning Insulation Installer) · Blanket Maker
Job family: Construction and Extraction Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-47-2132-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- About average employment outlook (+4.7% by 2034)
- 2,300 openings/yr
- Moderate AI exposure
- Median pay $57,250/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
- 2013 flagged this for computerization (54th); today's AI task-overlap is comparatively low (21st)
21st-percentile task overlap — yet about 2,300 openings a year (+4.7% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Low | 9th | -1.3 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Low | 13th | 0.1 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Moderate | 46th | 0.1 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.0), with simple added tooling (β 0.0), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.1). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Historical automation estimate (2013)
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.6 · 54th percentile among occupations · Moderate
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | About average · +4.7% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 2,300 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 27,200 → 28,500 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Insulation Workers, Mechanical sits at the 10th percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
13% mean task exposure (2025)
10th percentile of 427 placed occupations
+0 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Insulation Workers · 7124 | 13% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 13 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, knives, and scissors. Core · importance 4.7
- 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. Core · importance 4.4
- Select appropriate insulation, such as fiberglass, Styrofoam, or cork, based on the heat retaining or excluding characteristics of the material. Core · importance 4.4
- Fit insulation around obstructions, and shape insulating materials and protective coverings as required. Core · importance 4.4
- Determine the amounts and types of insulation needed, and methods of installation, based on factors such as location, surface shape, and equipment use. Core · importance 4.3
- Cover, seal, or finish insulated surfaces or access holes with plastic covers, canvas strips, sealants, tape, cement, or asphalt mastic. Core · importance 4.2
- Install sheet metal around insulated pipes with screws to protect the insulation from weather conditions or physical damage. Core · importance 4.2
- Read blueprints and specifications to determine job requirements. Core · importance 4.2
- Prepare surfaces for insulation application by brushing or spreading on adhesives, cement, or asphalt, or by attaching metal pins to surfaces. Core · importance 4.1
- Distribute insulating materials evenly into small spaces within floors, ceilings, or walls, using blowers and hose attachments or cement mortar. Supplemental
- Fill blower hoppers with insulating materials. Supplemental
- Move controls, buttons, or levers to start blowers, and to regulate flow of materials through nozzles. Supplemental
- Remove or seal off old asbestos insulation, following safety procedures. Supplemental
Work activities
- Measure materials or objects for installation or assembly.
- Cut carpet, vinyl or other flexible materials.
- Install insulation in equipment or structures.
- Select construction materials.
- Install metal structural components.
- Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.
- Apply sealants or other protective coatings.
- Prepare surfaces for finishing.
- Apply adhesives to construction materials.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
Abilities
| Trunk Strength | 3.4 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.3 | |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.3 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.1 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.1 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.1 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.1 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.1 | |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.1 | |
| Static Strength | 3.1 | |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 3.1 | |
| Near Vision | 3.1 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.0 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.0 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.0 | |
| Gross Body Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 2.9 | |
| Visualization | 2.9 | |
| Control Precision | 2.9 |
Essential skills
| Active Listening | 3.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| Monitoring | 3.0 | |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
Transferable skills
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Time Management | 3.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Tools & technology
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Preparation level
- SVP (Below 6.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Construction Trades . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| High School Diploma | 71.7% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 20.8% | |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 7.5% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 6.9 | |
| Conventional | 4.3 | |
| Investigative | 2.4 | |
| Social | 1.2 |
Interest areas
Work styles
| Dependability | 2.1 | |
| Attention to Detail | 2.0 | |
| Cautiousness | 1.5 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $39,450 |
| 25th percentile | $47,480 |
| Median (50th) | $57,250 |
| 75th percentile | $75,300 |
| 90th percentile | $94,110 |
| People employed | 25,640 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Construction · Sector | 23,060 | $56,110 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors · National industry | 14,240 | $56,600 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors · National industry | 4,340 | $57,720 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 2,310 | $52,820 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 370 | $77,360 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors · National industry | 210 | $44,960 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 90 | $36,700 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 70 | $67,060 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors · National industry | 40 | $49,760 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | — | $50,100 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | — | $57,420 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Other Building Equipment Contractors · National industry | 557.65× | 14,240 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors · National industry | 106.23× | 4,340 |
| Construction · Sector | 17.07× | 23,060 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 10.97× | 2,310 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors · National industry | 1.18× | 210 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 0.25× | 370 |
Related occupations
Part of the Construction career cluster.
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall · 47-2131.00 Compare →
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers · 47-2081.00 Compare →
- Sheet Metal Workers · 47-2211.00 Compare →
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles · 47-2042.00 Compare →
- Pipelayers · 47-2151.00 Compare →
- Roofers · 47-2181.00 Compare →
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians · 47-2152.04 Compare →
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters · 51-2041.00 Compare →
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons · 47-2021.00 Compare →
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters · 47-2152.00 Compare →
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers · 51-2011.00 Compare →
- Plasterers and Stucco Masons · 47-2161.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Insulation Workers, Mechanical — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- High school diploma or equivalent · typical entry level
- Job zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Construction Trades · field of study
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 10th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Insulation Workers, Mechanical show 21st-percentile AI task overlap — and about 2,300 annual U.S. openings
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical rank in the 21st percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 2,300 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be about average (+4.7%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $57,250, across about 25,640 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Insulation Workers, Mechanical show 21st-percentile AI task overlap — and about 2,300 annual U.S. openings • Insulation Workers, Mechanical rank in the 21st percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 2,300 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be about average (+4.7%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $57,250, across about 25,640 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Insulation Workers, Mechanical". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-2132-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Insulation Workers, Mechanical." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-2132-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Insulation Workers, Mechanical. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-2132-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-47-2132-00,
title = {Insulation Workers, Mechanical},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-2132-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.