Glaziers earn a median of $57,080 per year ($27.44/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.9% through 2035, with about 3,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-2121
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Glazier in four numbers
- Median pay
- $57,080a year, or $27.44/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $90K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.9%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,90059,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202559.2K
- Projected 203560.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 59.2K Projected 2035 60.3K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school35.8%
- High school44.2%
- Certificate12%
- Some college8.1%
Highest education held by glaziers Segment Value Less than high school 35.8% High school 44.2% Certificate 12% Some college 8.1%
Also advertised as: Auto Glass Tech (Automobile Glass Technician), Commercial Glazier, Field Glazier, Glass Installer, Glass Technician (Glass Tech), Glassman.
Pay
How much do Glaziers make?
Every glazier in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$57,080
Middle half earn $46,320 to $66,610
- 10th
- $37,300
- 25th
- $46,320
- 75th
- $66,610
- 90th
- $89,790
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $37,300 |
| 25th | $46,320 |
| Median | $57,080 |
| 75th | $66,610 |
| 90th | $89,790 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $57,080
- Median hourly wage
- $27.44/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $59,720
- People employed
- 58,480
Versus all US occupations
At $57,080, Glaziers earn 12% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $6,100 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 5% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $89,790 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,300, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 29% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $100,810, and still leads at $95,322 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Glaziers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $100,810 | $95,322 | 1,080 |
| 2Hawaii | $80,800 | $73,487 | 280 |
| 3District of Columbia | $78,390 | $71,328 | 200 |
| 4New Jersey | $70,890 | $65,153 | 820 |
| 5Oregon | $70,890 | $68,585 | 700 |
| 6Washington | $66,860 | $62,478 | 1,460 |
| 7Minnesota | $66,130 | $67,055 | 460 |
| 8California | $64,040 | $57,840 | 7,020 |
| 9Connecticut | $63,840 | $61,616 | 690 |
| 10Alaska | $63,000 | $61,548 | 270 |
Job outlook
Is Glazier a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Glaziers | +1.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Glaziers to change 1.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,900 openings are projected each year, 6.6% of the 59,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite limited employment growth, about 3,900 openings for glaziers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
An important component of buildings, glass improves access to natural light. Demand for glaziers stems both from new construction and from the need to repair and replace windows and other glass in existing buildings.
Getting in
How to become a Glazier
Glaziers typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma and learn their trade through an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Apprenticeship
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as glaziers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)44.2%
- Less than a High School Diploma35.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate12%
- Some College Courses8.1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 44.2% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 35.8% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 12% |
| Some College Courses | 8.1% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Glazier do?
Install glass in windows, skylights, store fronts, and display cases, or on surfaces, such as building fronts, interior walls, ceilings, and tabletops.
Glaziers install glass in windows, skylights, and other fixtures in buildings.
Day-to-day tasks
- Install pre-assembled metal or wood frameworks for windows or doors to be fitted with glass panels, using hand tools.
- Cut and remove broken glass prior to installing replacement glass.
- Cut, fit, install, repair, or replace glass or glass substitutes, such as plastic or aluminum, in building interiors or exteriors or in furniture or other products.
- Fabricate or install metal sashes or moldings for glass installation, using aluminum or steel framing.
- Read and interpret blueprints or specifications to determine size, shape, color, type, or thickness of glass, location of framing, installation procedures, or staging or scaffolding materials required.
- Pack spaces between moldings and glass with glazing compounds and trim excess material with glazing knives.
- Set glass doors into frames and bolt metal hinges, handles, locks, or other hardware to attach doors to frames and walls.
- Fasten glass panes into wood sashes or frames with clips, points, or moldings, adding weather seals or putty around pane edges to seal joints.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most glaziers work full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where glaziers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors67%
- Retail trade12%
- Building finishing contractors6%
- Construction of buildings5%
- Manufacturing3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors | 67% |
| Retail trade | 12% |
| Building finishing contractors | 6% |
| Construction of buildings | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Active Listening2.9
- Monitoring2.8
- Writing2.3
- Active Learning2.3
- Learning Strategies2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.3 |
| Active Learning | 2.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Operations Monitoring2.9
- Operation and Control2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Service Orientation2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Operation and Control | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Service Orientation | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Glazier?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Glazier |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.3
- Conventional3.6
- Artistic2.3
- Investigative2.1
- Social1.7
- Enterprising1.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Glazier
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer
$58,930median a year
Most earn $38K to $102K
+2.5%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
Floor Layer, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
$56,460median a year
Most earn $38K to $97K
+9.0%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with glaziers highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Glazier$57,080
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Glazier | $57,080 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Glazier appears on
Questions
Glazier: frequently asked questions
How much do Glaziers make?
Glaziers earn a median of $57,080 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 12% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $27.44/hr. The middle half earn between $46,320 and $66,610. The top 10% earn $89,790 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Glazier?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Glaziers. BLS also lists apprenticeship as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 44.2% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Glazier a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.9% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Glazier do?
Glaziers install glass in windows, skylights, and other fixtures in buildings. A core O*NET task: install pre-assembled metal or wood frameworks for windows or doors to be fitted with glass panels, using hand tools. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Operating system software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Glaziers the most?
The highest state medians for Glaziers are Massachusetts ($100,810), Hawaii ($80,800), District of Columbia ($78,390) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Glazier?
O*NET scores Glaziers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.