Insulation worker salary in North Carolina
Median $20.67 an hour for 2,090 insulation workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since n/a and the state's own outlook.
Insulation worker pay in North Carolina: the full range
North Carolina ranks 44th of 48 states for median insulation worker pay, and 41st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $21.92). 2,090 insulation workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $14.96 – $17.49 | $31,110 – $36,380 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $17.49 – $23.07 | $36,380 – $47,990 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $23.07 – $28.88 | $47,990 – $60,080 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Insulation worker pay by metro in North Carolina
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro | $14.14 | $22.36 | $24.07 | $26.67 | 120 | 8% above |
| Raleigh | $16.84 | $22.13 | $22.54 | $31.30 | 480 | 7% above |
| Charlotte | $14.98 | $21.40 | $21.99 | $29.89 | 760 | 4% above |
| Virginia Beach | $17.07 | $21.03 | $21.48 | $25.87 | 160 | 2% above |
| Wilmington | $14.11 | $18.13 | $18.81 | $21.63 | 90 | 12% below |
| Winston-Salem | $14.00 | $18.00 | $19.57 | $22.31 | — | 13% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Are there more insulation worker jobs in North Carolina?
BLS counted 2,090 insulation workers in North Carolina in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 21%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for insulation workers in North Carolina
North Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of insulation workers in the state to change by +4.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,330 to 1,400, with about 110 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.4% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 2,090 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page), first of this trade's two occupation codes.
Is construction work growing in North Carolina?
Keep comparing
Insulation worker pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in North Carolina
More on North Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do insulation workers make in North Carolina?
The median insulation worker in North Carolina earned $20.67 an hour ($42,990 a year) in May 2025, 12% below the national median of $23.62. The middle half earn $17.49–$23.07; the top 10% earn more than $28.88.
Where does North Carolina rank for insulation worker pay?
North Carolina ranks 44th of 48 states for insulation worker pay, with a median of $20.67 an hour, and 41st after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).
What is the union insulation worker rate in North Carolina?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a insulation worker classification for most North Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many insulation workers work in North Carolina?
BLS counted 2,090 insulation workers in North Carolina in May 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.48; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is insulation worker work growing in North Carolina?
North Carolina's labor market agency projects +4.9% growth for insulation workers between 2024 and 2034, from 1,330 to 1,400 jobs.
How many insulation worker openings a year are there in North Carolina?
North Carolina projects about 110 openings a year for insulation workers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 3,000 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, North Carolina and metro areas, SOC 47-2131, 47-2132. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.