Insulation worker salary in Tennessee
Median $23.28 an hour for 1,160 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 Tennessee: the full range
Tennessee ranks 29th of 48 states for median insulation worker pay, and 21st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.33). 1,160 insulation workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $16.78 – $18.94 | $34,900 – $39,390 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $18.94 – $27.43 | $39,390 – $57,060 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $27.43 – $34.37 | $57,060 – $71,490 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Insulation worker pay by metro in Tennessee
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $17.57 | $26.16 | $27.17 | $34.64 | 550 | 12% above |
| Knoxville | $17.18 | $23.26 | $25.12 | $33.59 | 170 | about the same as |
| Memphis | $17.53 | $22.73 | $24.65 | $29.44 | 140 | 2% 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 Tennessee?
BLS counted 1,160 insulation workers in Tennessee in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 13%. 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 Tennessee
Tennessee's labor market agency projects the number of insulation workers in the state to change by +10.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,180 to 1,310, with about 110 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.4% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 1,160 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Tennessee 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 Tennessee
On federally funded construction in Tennessee, contractors must pay insulation workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 42 of the 42 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $56.99 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $23.28.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260176 |
| Blount | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260177 |
| Bradley | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260194 |
| Campbell | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260195 |
| Cannon | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260196 |
| Carter | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260197 |
| Cheatham | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260196 |
| Chester | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260198 |
| Crockett | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260198 |
| Davidson | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260178 |
| Dickson | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260199 |
| Fayette | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260200 |
| Grainger | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260195 |
| Hamblen | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260179 |
| Hamilton | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260180 |
| Hawkins | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260201 |
| Hickman | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260199 |
| Jefferson | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260181 |
| Knox | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260182 |
| Loudon | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260202 |
| Macon | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260203 |
| Madison | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260183 |
| Marion | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260184 |
| Maury | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260203 |
| Montgomery | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260185 |
| Morgan | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260202 |
| Polk | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260194 |
| Roane | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260186 |
| Robertson | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260204 |
| Rutherford | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260187 |
| Sequatchie | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260188 |
| Shelby | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260200 |
| Smith | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260204 |
| Sullivan | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260201 |
| Sumner | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260205 |
| Tipton | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260189 |
| Trousdale | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260205 |
| Unicoi | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260197 |
| Union | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260190 |
| Washington | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260191 |
| Williamson | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260192 |
| Wilson | Union ASBE0086-002 2025-03-01 | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | TN20260193 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Tennessee prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Tennessee?
Keep comparing
Insulation worker pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Tennessee
More on Tennessee
Questions this page answers
How much do insulation workers make in Tennessee?
The median insulation worker in Tennessee earned $23.28 an hour ($48,410 a year) in May 2025, 1% below the national median of $23.62. The middle half earn $18.94–$27.43; the top 10% earn more than $34.37.
Where does Tennessee rank for insulation worker pay?
Tennessee ranks 29th of 48 states for insulation worker pay, with a median of $23.28 an hour, and 21st after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (BEA price parity 91.9, US = 100).
What is the union insulation worker rate in Tennessee?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for insulation workers in 42 counties, with a typical package of $56.99 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many insulation workers work in Tennessee?
BLS counted 1,160 insulation workers in Tennessee in May 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.24; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is insulation worker work growing in Tennessee?
Tennessee's labor market agency projects +10.9% growth for insulation workers between 2024 and 2034, from 1,180 to 1,310 jobs.
How many insulation worker openings a year are there in Tennessee?
Tennessee 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, Tennessee 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: Tennessee labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.