Insulation worker salary in Washington
Median $32.57 an hour for 2,330 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 Washington: the full range
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 work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.9× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $21.82 – $27.42 | $45,380 – $57,030 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $27.42 – $47.66 | $57,030 – $99,120 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $47.66 – $63.83 | $99,120 – $132,770 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Insulation worker pay by metro in Washington
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia | $22.11 | $36.83 | $35.52 | $61.54 | 40 | 13% above |
| Seattle | $23.87 | $34.61 | $31.15 | $64.47 | 1,250 | 6% above |
| Mount Vernon | $22.08 | $30.15 | $29.44 | $57.31 | 90 | 7% below |
| Spokane | $21.44 | $29.66 | $29.57 | $57.09 | 150 | 9% below |
| Portland | $17.96 | $29.31 | $27.81 | $47.44 | 450 | 10% below |
| Kennewick | $18.57 | $29.20 | $29.17 | $56.31 | 280 | 10% 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 Washington?
BLS counted 2,330 insulation workers in Washington in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 18%. 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 Washington
Washington's labor market agency projects the number of insulation workers in the state to change by -3.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,090 to 1,050, with about 80 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 2,330 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Washington 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 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.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asotin | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260003 |
| Benton | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260102 |
| Chelan | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260103 |
| Clallam | Union ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260022 |
| Columbia | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260104 |
| Douglas | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260106 |
| Franklin | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260107 |
| Grays Harbor | Union ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260027 |
| Island | Union ASBE0007-003 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260028 |
| Jefferson | Union ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260029 |
| King | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260108 |
| Kitsap | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260109 |
| Lewis | Union ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260032 |
| Mason | Union ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260034 |
| Pacific | Union ASBE0007-005 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260036 |
| Pend Oreille | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260110 |
| Pierce | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260111 |
| San Juan | Union ASBE0007-002 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260038 |
| Skagit | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260112 |
| Snohomish | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260113 |
| Spokane | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260114 |
| Stevens | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260115 |
| Thurston | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260116 |
| Walla Walla | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260117 |
| Whatcom | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260118 |
| Yakima | Union ASBE0007-007 2025-06-01 | $75.37 | $18.82 | $94.19 | WA20260119 |
| Clark | Union ASBE0036-006 2025-03-31 | $62.02 | $22.36 | $84.38 | WA20260120 |
| Klickitat | Union ASBE0036-002 2025-03-31 | $62.02 | $22.36 | $84.38 | WA20260031 |
| Skamania | Union ASBE0036-006 2025-03-31 | $62.02 | $22.36 | $84.38 | WA20260120 |
| Wahkiakum | Union ASBE0036-002 2025-03-31 | $62.02 | $22.36 | $84.38 | WA20260040 |
| Cowlitz | Survey SUWA2018-005 2024-03-01 | $39.50 | $14.21 | $53.71 | WA20260105 |
| Adams | Survey SUWA2002-001 2009-06-18 | $24.21 | $4.07 | $28.28 | WA20260021 |
| Ferry | Survey SUWA2002-004 2009-06-18 | $24.21 | $4.07 | $28.28 | WA20260024 |
| Garfield | Survey SUWA2002-005 2009-06-18 | $24.21 | $4.07 | $28.28 | WA20260025 |
| Grant | Survey SUWA2002-006 2009-06-18 | $24.21 | $4.07 | $28.28 | WA20260026 |
| Kittitas | Survey SUWA2002-010 2009-06-18 | $24.21 | $4.07 | $28.28 | WA20260030 |
| Lincoln | Survey SUWA2002-013 2009-06-18 | $24.21 | $4.07 | $28.28 | WA20260033 |
| Okanogan | Survey SUWA2002-015 2009-06-18 | $24.21 | $4.07 | $28.28 | WA20260035 |
| Whitman | Survey SUWA2002-022 2009-06-18 | $24.21 | $4.07 | $28.28 | WA20260042 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. 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?
Keep comparing
Insulation worker pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Washington
More on 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 in Washington in May 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 2.30; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is insulation worker work growing in Washington?
Washington's labor market agency projects -3.7% growth for insulation workers between 2024 and 2034, from 1,090 to 1,050 jobs.
How many insulation worker openings a year are there in Washington?
Washington projects about 80 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, Washington 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: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.