Skilled Wages

Insulation worker salary in Iowa

Median $26.84 an hour for 460 insulation workers (floor, ceiling, wall, mechanical), May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since n/a.

$26.84/hrMedian hourly wageIowa, May data
$55,820/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$20.29 – $36.1410th to 90th percentilehourly range
460Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Insulation worker pay in Iowa: the full range

Wage percentiles, IowaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrIowa: 10th $20.29 · 25th $21.72 · median $26.84 · 75th $34.72 · 90th $36.14Iowa$26.84$20.29$36.14United States: 10th $17.80 · 25th $20.77 · median $23.62 · 75th $29.32 · 90th $37.59United States$23.62
Hourly wage percentiles for insulation workers (floor, ceiling, wall, mechanical): Iowa vs United States, May 2025.

Iowa ranks 10th of 48 states for median insulation worker pay, and 3rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.57). 460 insulation workers (floor, ceiling, wall, mechanical) work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$20.29 – $21.72$42,210 – $45,180roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$21.72 – $34.72$45,180 – $72,220the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$34.72 – $36.14$72,220 – $75,170the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Insulation worker pay by metro in Iowa

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrOmaha: $39.36Omaha$39.36Des Moines: $33.85Des Moines$33.85Sioux City: $23.56Sioux City$23.56
Median hourly wage for insulation workers (floor, ceiling, wall, mechanical) by metro area in Iowa, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Omaha$21.42$39.36$42.88—47% above
Des Moines$21.72$33.85$36.9820026% above
Sioux City$17.86$23.56$34.499012% below

Union scale and prevailing wage for insulation workers in Iowa

On federally funded construction in Iowa, contractors must pay insulation workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 8 of the 99 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $60.41 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $22.49). 91 of the 99 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Adair County at $22.20). The market median for the state is $26.84.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, IAAdair: $22.20 (survey)Adams: $22.20 (survey)Allamakee: $22.76 (survey)Appanoose: $26.36 (survey)Audubon: $22.20 (survey)Benton: $60.41 (union)Black Hawk: $32.19 (survey)Boone: $22.20 (survey)Bremer: $32.19 (survey)Buchanan: $22.76 (survey)Buena Vista: $19.23 (survey)Butler: $22.76 (survey)Calhoun: $19.23 (survey)Carroll: $22.20 (survey)Cass: $22.20 (survey)Cedar: $26.36 (survey)Cerro Gordo: $22.04 (survey)Cherokee: $19.23 (survey)Chickasaw: $22.76 (survey)Clarke: $22.20 (survey)Clay: $19.23 (survey)Clayton: $22.76 (survey)Clinton: $26.36 (survey)Crawford: $22.20 (survey)Dallas: $22.49 (survey)Davis: $26.36 (survey)Decatur: $22.20 (survey)Delaware: $22.76 (survey)Des Moines: $26.36 (survey)Dickinson: $19.23 (survey)Dubuque: $60.41 (union)Emmet: $19.23 (survey)Fayette: $22.76 (survey)Floyd: $22.76 (survey)Franklin: $22.76 (survey)Fremont: $22.20 (survey)Greene: $22.20 (survey)Grundy: $32.19 (survey)Guthrie: $22.49 (survey)Hamilton: $19.23 (survey)Hancock: $19.23 (survey)Hardin: $22.76 (survey)Harrison: $58.80 (union)Henry: $26.36 (survey)Howard: $22.76 (survey)Humboldt: $19.23 (survey)Ida: $19.23 (survey)Iowa: $26.36 (survey)Jackson: $26.36 (survey)Jasper: $26.36 (survey)Jefferson: $26.36 (survey)Johnson: $24.34 (survey)Jones: $60.41 (union)Keokuk: $26.36 (survey)Kossuth: $19.23 (survey)Lee: $26.36 (survey)Linn: $60.41 (union)Louisa: $26.36 (survey)Lucas: $22.20 (survey)Lyon: $19.23 (survey)Madison: $22.49 (survey)Mahaska: $26.36 (survey)Marion: $26.36 (survey)Marshall: $26.36 (survey)Mills: $58.80 (union)Mitchell: $22.76 (survey)Monona: $22.20 (survey)Monroe: $26.36 (survey)Montgomery: $22.20 (survey)Muscatine: $34.97 (survey)O'Brien: $19.23 (survey)Osceola: $19.23 (survey)Page: $22.20 (survey)Palo Alto: $19.23 (survey)Plymouth: $19.23 (survey)Pocahontas: $19.23 (survey)Polk: $22.18 (survey)Pottawattamie: $58.80 (union)Poweshiek: $26.36 (survey)Ringgold: $22.20 (survey)Sac: $19.23 (survey)Scott: $60.41 (union)Shelby: $22.20 (survey)Sioux: $19.23 (survey)Story: $22.10 (survey)Tama: $26.36 (survey)Taylor: $22.20 (survey)Union: $22.20 (survey)Van Buren: $26.36 (survey)Wapello: $26.36 (survey)Warren: $22.49 (survey)Washington: $24.82 (survey)Wayne: $22.20 (survey)Webster: $19.23 (survey)Winnebago: $19.23 (survey)Winneshiek: $22.76 (survey)Woodbury: $31.75 (survey)Worth: $22.76 (survey)Wright: $19.23 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$22.20$22.76$26.36survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for insulation workers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)Prevailing (survey)$20$40$60$80/hrBenton (Iowa): market median $26.84, prevailing (union) $60.41, gap +$33.57Benton (Iowa)+$33.57Harrison (Omaha): market median $39.36, prevailing (union) $58.80, gap +$19.44Harrison (Omaha)+$19.44Woodbury (Sioux City): market median $23.56, prevailing (survey) $31.75, gap +$8.19Woodbury (Sioux City)+$8.19Jasper (Des Moines): market median $33.85, prevailing (survey) $26.36, gap −$7.49Jasper (Des Moines)−$7.49
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for insulation workers, metro counties in Iowa.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BentonUnion ASBE0081-001 2025-06-01$36.06$24.35$60.41IA20260078
DubuqueUnion ASBE0081-001 2025-06-01$36.06$24.35$60.41IA20260065
JonesUnion ASBE0081-001 2025-06-01$36.06$24.35$60.41IA20260078
LinnUnion ASBE0081-001 2025-06-01$36.06$24.35$60.41IA20260069
ScottUnion ASBE0081-001 2025-06-01$36.06$24.35$60.41IA20260073
HarrisonUnion ASBE0039-002 2024-06-28$38.26$20.54$58.80IA20260067
MillsUnion ASBE0039-002 2024-06-28$38.26$20.54$58.80IA20260070
PottawattamieUnion ASBE0039-002 2024-06-28$38.26$20.54$58.80IA20260072
MuscatineSurvey SUIA2016-023 2016-07-19$24.80$10.17$34.97IA20260050
Black HawkSurvey SUIA2016-037 2016-07-19$23.28$8.91$32.19IA20260062
BremerSurvey SUIA2016-038 2016-07-19$23.28$8.91$32.19IA20260063
GrundySurvey SUIA2016-041 2016-07-19$23.28$8.91$32.19IA20260066
WoodburySurvey SUIA2016-052 2016-07-19$23.50$8.25$31.75IA20260077
AppanooseSurvey SUIA2016-005 2016-07-19$19.04$7.32$26.36IA20260032
CedarSurvey SUIA2016-009 2016-07-19$19.04$7.32$26.36IA20260036

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Iowa prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Iowa?

93.8kConstruction jobsIowa, 2026-08
+3.9%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202594kAug 2026
Construction employment in Iowa (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Insulation worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Iowa

Questions this page answers

How much do insulation workers make in Iowa?

The median insulation worker in Iowa earned $26.84 an hour ($55,820 a year) in May 2025, 14% above the national median of $23.62. The middle half earn $21.72–$34.72; the top 10% earn more than $36.14.

Where does Iowa rank for insulation worker pay?

Iowa ranks 10th of 48 states for insulation worker pay, with a median of $26.84 an hour, and 3rd after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).

What is the union insulation worker rate in Iowa?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for insulation workers in 8 counties, with a typical package of $60.41 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many insulation workers work in Iowa?

BLS counted 460 insulation workers (floor, ceiling, wall, mechanical) in Iowa in May 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.03; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Iowa and metro areas, SOC 47-2131, 47-2132.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.