Skilled Wages

Insulation worker salary in Washington

Median $32.57 an hour for 2,330 insulation workers (floor, ceiling, wall, mechanical), May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since n/a.

$32.57/hrMedian hourly wageWashington, May data
$67,750/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.82 – $63.8310th to 90th percentilehourly range
2,330Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Insulation worker pay in Washington: the full range

Wage percentiles, WashingtonMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrWashington: 10th $21.82 · 25th $27.42 · median $32.57 · 75th $47.66 · 90th $63.83Washington$32.57$21.82$63.83United 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): Washington vs United States, May 2025.

Washington ranks 2nd of 48 states for median insulation worker pay, and 4th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.44). 2,330 insulation workers (floor, ceiling, wall, mechanical) work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$21.82 – $27.42$45,380 – $57,030roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$27.42 – $47.66$57,030 – $99,120the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$47.66 – $63.83$99,120 – $132,770the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Insulation worker pay by metro in Washington

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrOlympia: $36.83Olympia$36.83Seattle: $34.61Seattle$34.61Mount Vernon: $30.15Mount Vernon$30.15Spokane: $29.66Spokane$29.66Portland: $29.31Portland$29.31Kennewick: $29.20Kennewick$29.20
Median hourly wage for insulation workers (floor, ceiling, wall, mechanical) by metro area in Washington, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Olympia$22.11$36.83$61.544013% above
Seattle$23.87$34.61$64.471,2506% above
Mount Vernon$22.08$30.15$57.31907% below
Spokane$21.44$29.66$57.091509% below
Portland$17.96$29.31$47.4445010% below
Kennewick$18.57$29.20$56.3128010% below

Union scale and prevailing wage for insulation workers in Washington

On federally funded construction in Washington, contractors must pay insulation workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 30 of the 39 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $94.19 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $28.28). 8 of the 39 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example Adams County at $28.28). The market median for the state is $32.57.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WAAdams: $28.28 (survey)Asotin: $94.19 (union)Benton: $94.19 (union)Chelan: $94.19 (union)Clallam: $94.19 (union)Clark: $84.38 (union)Columbia: $94.19 (union)Cowlitz: $53.71 (survey)Douglas: $94.19 (union)Ferry: $28.28 (survey)Franklin: $94.19 (union)Garfield: $28.28 (survey)Grant: $28.28 (survey)Grays Harbor: $94.19 (union)Island: $94.19 (union)Jefferson: $94.19 (union)King: $94.19 (union)Kitsap: $94.19 (union)Kittitas: $28.28 (survey)Klickitat: $84.38 (union)Lewis: $94.19 (union)Lincoln: $28.28 (survey)Mason: $94.19 (union)Okanogan: $28.28 (survey)Pacific: $94.19 (union)Pend Oreille: $94.19 (union)Pierce: $94.19 (union)San Juan: $94.19 (union)Skagit: $94.19 (union)Skamania: $84.38 (union)Snohomish: $94.19 (union)Spokane: $94.19 (union)Stevens: $94.19 (union)Thurston: $94.19 (union)Wahkiakum: $84.38 (union)Walla Walla: $94.19 (union)Whatcom: $94.19 (union)Whitman: $28.28 (survey)Yakima: $94.19 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$43.54survey 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)$20$40$60$80$100/hrBenton (Kennewick): market median $29.20, prevailing (union) $94.19, gap +$64.99Benton (Kennewick)+$64.99Spokane (Spokane): market median $29.66, prevailing (union) $94.19, gap +$64.53Spokane (Spokane)+$64.53Skagit (Mount Vernon): market median $30.15, prevailing (union) $94.19, gap +$64.04Skagit (Mount Vernon)+$64.04Asotin (Washington): market median $32.57, prevailing (union) $94.19, gap +$61.62Asotin (Washington)+$61.62King (Seattle): market median $34.61, prevailing (union) $94.19, gap +$59.58King (Seattle)+$59.58Thurston (Olympia): market median $36.83, prevailing (union) $94.19, gap +$57.36Thurston (Olympia)+$57.36Clark (Portland): market median $29.31, prevailing (union) $84.38, gap +$55.07Clark (Portland)+$55.07
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for insulation workers, metro counties in Washington.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AsotinUnion ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260003
BentonUnion ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260102
ChelanUnion ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260103
ClallamUnion ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260022
ColumbiaUnion ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260104
DouglasUnion ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260106
FranklinUnion ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260107
Grays HarborUnion ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260027
IslandUnion ASBE0007-003 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260028
JeffersonUnion ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260029
KingUnion ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260108
KitsapUnion ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260109
LewisUnion ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260032
MasonUnion ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260034
PacificUnion ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01$75.37$18.82$94.19WA20260036

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

Is construction work growing in Washington?

223.8kConstruction jobsWashington, 2026-08
-0.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025224kAug 2026
Construction employment in Washington (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Insulation worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Washington

Questions this page answers

How much do insulation workers make in Washington?

The median insulation worker in Washington earned $32.57 an hour ($67,750 a year) in May 2025, 38% above the national median of $23.62. The middle half earn $27.42–$47.66; the top 10% earn more than $63.83.

Where does Washington rank for insulation worker pay?

Washington ranks 2nd of 48 states for insulation worker pay, with a median of $32.57 an hour, and 4th after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).

What is the union insulation worker rate in Washington?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for insulation workers in 30 counties, with a typical package of $94.19 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many insulation workers work in Washington?

BLS counted 2,330 insulation workers (floor, ceiling, wall, mechanical) in Washington in May 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 2.30; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Washington 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.