AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 47-2132.00

Will AI replace Insulation Workers, Mechanical?

Insulation Workers, Mechanical: AI does not yet handle any of the role's 9 tasks; most of the work is hands-on, and the part AI can address mostly needs a standard-tier model.

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Every task, scored

The 9 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Insulation Workers, Mechanical, from most to least exposed. None reaches 60, the level at which AI already handles a task.

Task AI exposure Evidence Model tier Importance
Apply, remove, and repair insulation on industrial equipment, pipes, ductwork, or other mechanical systems such as heat exchangers, tanks, and vessels, to help control noise and maintain temperatures. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Determine the amounts and types of insulation needed, and methods of installation, based on factors such as location, surface shape, and equipment use. 20 Estimated Standard 4.3
Install sheet metal around insulated pipes with screws to protect the insulation from weather conditions or physical damage. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, knives, and scissors. 15 Estimated No tier 4.7
Select appropriate insulation, such as fiberglass, Styrofoam, or cork, based on the heat retaining or excluding characteristics of the material. 15 Estimated No tier 4.4
Fit insulation around obstructions, and shape insulating materials and protective coverings as required. 15 Estimated No tier 4.4
Cover, seal, or finish insulated surfaces or access holes with plastic covers, canvas strips, sealants, tape, cement, or asphalt mastic. 15 Estimated No tier 4.2
Read blueprints and specifications to determine job requirements. 15 Estimated No tier 4.2
Prepare surfaces for insulation application by brushing or spreading on adhesives, cement, or asphalt, or by attaching metal pins to surfaces. 15 Estimated No tier 4.1

Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 0 of 9 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 9 of 9. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.

The model tier this role needs

A standard-tier model or lower covers 33% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 33% of the work is something AI can address at some tier, and 67% is hands-on.

Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.

Wages, employment and outlook

US employment
25,660
Median annual wage
$58,340
Middle half of earners
$48,100 to $77,360
Projected change, 2024 to 2034
+4.7%

Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034.

Adjacent roles

The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.

Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.

Questions about Insulation Workers, Mechanical and AI

Will AI replace Insulation Workers, Mechanical?

Not on current evidence. None of the 9 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation reaches a task exposure of 60, the level at which JobRoute counts a task as handled by AI, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 17 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears.

What is the AI exposure of Insulation Workers, Mechanical?

17 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 0 of the 9 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 9 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.

Which Insulation Workers, Mechanical tasks can AI already do?

None reaches 60 yet. The most exposed task is: Apply, remove, and repair insulation on industrial equipment, pipes, ductwork, or other mechanical systems such as heat exchangers, tanks, and vessels, to help control noise and maintain temperatures, at 20 out of 100.

What AI model tier does this role need?

A standard-tier model or lower covers 33% of the role's importance-weighted task work, and 67% is hands-on work that no model tier covers. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.

How many people work as Insulation Workers, Mechanical, and what do they earn?

25,660 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $58,340 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +4.7% from 2024 to 2034.

How to cite

Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.

JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Insulation Workers, Mechanical. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/insulation-workers-mechanical

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