Insulation worker salary in South Carolina
Median $22.61 an hour for 730 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 South Carolina: the full range
South Carolina ranks 35th of 48 states for median insulation worker pay, and 29th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.13). 730 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 | $16.89 – $19.29 | $35,140 – $40,120 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $19.29 – $27.91 | $40,120 – $58,040 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $27.91 – $32.62 | $58,040 – $67,840 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Insulation worker pay by metro in South Carolina
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $20.04 | $24.40 | $26.04 | $32.62 | 110 | 8% above |
| Greenville | $17.07 | $22.77 | $24.41 | $36.19 | 120 | 1% above |
| Charlotte | $14.98 | $21.40 | $21.99 | $29.89 | 760 | 5% below |
| Charleston | $13.96 | $19.29 | $19.10 | $31.59 | 180 | 15% 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 South Carolina?
BLS counted 730 insulation workers in South Carolina in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 19%. 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 South Carolina
South Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of insulation workers in the state to change by +3.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 500 to 510, with about 40 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 730 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: South Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page), first of this trade's two occupation codes.
Union scale and prevailing wage for insulation workers in South Carolina
On federally funded construction in South Carolina, contractors must pay insulation workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 3 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $57.36). 3 of the 3 counties still use a survey rate dated 2008 or earlier (for example Aiken County at $57.36). The market median for the state is $22.61.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken | Survey SUSC2011-002 2008-10-01 | $33.00 | $24.36 | $57.36 | SC20260002 |
| Allendale | Survey SUSC2011-002 2008-10-01 | $33.00 | $24.36 | $57.36 | SC20260002 |
| Barnwell | Survey SUSC2011-002 2008-10-01 | $33.00 | $24.36 | $57.36 | SC20260002 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the South Carolina prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in South Carolina?
Keep comparing
Insulation worker pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in South Carolina
More on South Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do insulation workers make in South Carolina?
The median insulation worker in South Carolina earned $22.61 an hour ($47,020 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $23.62. The middle half earn $19.29–$27.91; the top 10% earn more than $32.62.
Where does South Carolina rank for insulation worker pay?
South Carolina ranks 35th of 48 states for insulation worker pay, with a median of $22.61 an hour, and 29th after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 93.7, US = 100).
What is the union insulation worker rate in South Carolina?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a insulation worker classification for most South Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many insulation workers work in South Carolina?
BLS counted 730 insulation workers in South Carolina in May 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.10; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is insulation worker work growing in South Carolina?
South Carolina's labor market agency projects +3.8% growth for insulation workers between 2024 and 2034, from 500 to 510 jobs.
How many insulation worker openings a year are there in South Carolina?
South Carolina projects about 40 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, South 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: South Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.