Statewide pay Government data
Insulation installers in California earn a statewide median of $48,840 a year, 1% above the typical U.S. metro, ranking #24 of 48 states. About 3,080 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near California
See all states on the insulation installer overview.
Pay by city Government data
| Metro | Median pay | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San FranciscoCALIFORNIA · CA | $76,170 | $65,884 | 370 |
| OxnardCALIFORNIA · CA | $65,930 | $59,647 | 50 |
| San JoseCALIFORNIA · CA | $58,890 | $53,331 | 190 |
| Los AngelesCALIFORNIA · CA | $48,470 | $42,680 | 830 |
| SacramentoCALIFORNIA · CA | $48,310 | $45,289 | 170 |
| RiversideCALIFORNIA · CA | $46,850 | $44,015 | 480 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
The job (national)
Line and cover structures with insulating materials. May work with batt, roll, or blown insulation materials.
Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,000 openings a year. Typical training: short-term on-the-job training.
Nationally, insulation installers have 312 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 3.6× the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is falls, slips and trips.
What the work is like Government data
How often insulation installers deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes some preparation (high school plus months of training).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Licensing in California Official source
The main state licensing office in California is the Contractors State License Board. Licenses all trades by classification (e.g. C-10 electrical; C-36 plumbing). It can point you to the right license for insulation installers.
Official California licensing site ↗
Requirements for insulation installers vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Cities in California
All trades in California.