All careers › Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
Auto glass tech: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $35,390lowest 10% earn less
- $40,11025th percentile
- $47,630median
- $59,55075th percentile
- $70,650top 10% earn more
Automotive glass installers and repairers had a median pay of $47,630 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +5.7%[2]
- Openings per year
- 1,300[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do auto glass techs make?
The median wage for automotive glass installers and repairers was $47,630 a year, or $22.90 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $50,430 a year, or $24.25 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980 a year[4]. So this job's median sits a little below the national median.
The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,390 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $70,650[3]. The 25th percentile was $40,110 and the 75th was $59,550[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].
| Level | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3][9] | $35,390 | $17.01 |
| 25th percentile[3][9] | $40,110 | $19.28 |
| Median[1] | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| 75th percentile[3][9] | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| 90th percentile[3][9] | $70,650 | $33.97 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not count benefits or some bonuses[10].
Pay by state and city
Among the 45 states with published data, Connecticut had the highest median at $63,880, followed by New Jersey at $61,040 and North Carolina at $60,710[11]. Georgia had the lowest listed median at $36,430[11].
Texas had the most jobs at 2,220, then California at 2,200 and Florida at 2,030[12]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the top median at $62,490, followed by Columbus, OH at $61,900[13]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the most jobs among metros at 570[14].
Show median pay in 45 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut[11] | $63,880 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $61,040 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $60,710 | 790 |
| Washington | $60,630 | 770 |
| Massachusetts | $58,490 | 140 |
| Oregon | $57,270 | 280 |
| North Dakota | $56,280 | 40 |
| Alaska | $52,260 | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $52,000 | 70 |
| New York | $50,240 | 660 |
| Ohio | $50,090 | 860 |
| Hawaii | $49,410 | 50 |
| Utah | $49,310 | 270 |
| Illinois | $48,860 | 510 |
| Florida | $48,800 | 2,030 |
| Wisconsin | $48,790 | 300 |
| Colorado | $48,610 | 890 |
| Idaho | $48,530 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,350 | 510 |
| Minnesota | $47,800 | 480 |
| Virginia | $47,730 | 650 |
| California | $47,710 | 2,200 |
| Maryland | $47,350 | 380 |
| Maine | $47,270 | 60 |
| Nevada | $47,210 | 190 |
| Montana | $47,090 | 150 |
| Mississippi | $47,060 | 210 |
| Missouri | $47,060 | 580 |
| Michigan | $46,860 | 580 |
| Indiana | $46,850 | 320 |
| Nebraska | $46,630 | 70 |
| Texas | $46,550 | 2,220 |
| Alabama | $46,340 | 380 |
| South Carolina | $46,180 | 440 |
| Kentucky | $45,980 | 180 |
| Wyoming | $45,970 | 70 |
| Arizona | $45,670 | 730 |
| Iowa | $45,520 | 110 |
| Arkansas | $45,180 | 190 |
| Louisiana | $41,620 | 370 |
| Oklahoma | $41,350 | 150 |
| Kansas | $39,900 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $38,420 | 270 |
| New Mexico | $37,470 | 150 |
| Georgia | $36,430 | 520 |
How to become an auto glass tech
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the usual entry education, with no related work experience needed[6]. In an O*NET survey of 17 workers, 90% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required[15].
The OOH profile covers a wider group of body and glass repair jobs, so the details below describe that group[16].
- First: finish high school or get an equivalent[6].
- Next: consider a training program. Employers often prefer applicants who have completed one in body or glass repair, but many new workers start without it[17].
- Then: learn on the job. BLS rates the typical training as moderate-term[6]. Basic glass installation may take as few as 6 months to learn, and working fully independently can take up to a year[18].
Certification is not required but is recommended[19]. A few states require a license for automotive glass installation and repair, so check with your state[20].
What auto glass techs do
Their job is fixing or swapping out cracked windshields and windows on motor vehicles[21]. Typical tasks include:
- Choosing the right tools, safety gear and parts for the job[22].
- Cleaning damaged areas and applying primer where glass will sit[22].
- Keeping repair areas dry until the work is done[22].
- Laying a bead of urethane around the frame edge and smoothing it[22].
- Checking new glass for defects before installing it[22].
- Letting urethane cure, based on temperature and humidity[22].
- Putting back moldings, clips, wipers and other removed parts[22].
Where they work
Glass installers and repairers often go to the customer's site to fix windshields and window glass[23]. Body repairers in the wider group usually work indoors in shops[23]. The work can be physically demanding and may involve cramped positions[24].
Injury and illness rates for this job are among the highest of any occupation. Safety habits such as proper lifting and a face shield help lower the risk[25]. Most workers in the wider group work full time, and overtime is common when shops have a backlog[26]. About 10.2% of workers were self-employed in 2025[27].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][28]. That is an increase of about 1,300 jobs[2]. Those counts include self-employed workers[2].
BLS expects about 1,300 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs that come open when people retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.8% of workers leave the labor force and 3.4% move to a different occupation[29].
Is it a good fit?
The entry bar is a high school diploma, with training on the job[6]. Median pay is a little below the all-occupations median, though the top 10% earned more than $70,650[1][4][3]. Growth is projected to be faster than average for all jobs[2][28]. The job is physically demanding, and injury rates are among the highest of all occupations[24][25]. Check your state's license rules before you start[20].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an auto glass tech make an hour?
- The median was $22.90 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $24.25[1][7].
- How long does it take to become an auto glass tech?
- In the wider OOH group, learning basic installation may take as few as 6 months, and working independently can take up to a year[18].
- What education do you need to be an auto glass tech?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
- Is auto glass work in demand?
- BLS projects 5.7% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 1,300 openings a year[2][28][5].
- Which state pays auto glass techs the most?
- Connecticut had the highest median at $63,880, followed by New Jersey at $61,040[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers in the US was $47,630 per year and $22.90 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers is projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 22,600 to 23,900 jobs (a change of +1,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers: 10th percentile $35,390, 25th percentile $40,110, 75th percentile $59,550, 90th percentile $70,650. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,300 openings for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers was $50,430 per year and $24.25 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers: 10th percentile $17.01, 25th percentile $19.28, 75th percentile $28.63, 90th percentile $33.97. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers jobs: Texas 2,220; California 2,200; Florida 2,030; Colorado 890; Ohio 860. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $62,490; Columbus, OH $61,900; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $60,160; Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $59,810; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $56,360; Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $51,990; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $50,140; Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $49,910. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 570 (median $46,200); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 530 (median $49,910); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 500 (median $47,920); Columbus, OH 480 (median $61,900); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 450 (median $46,060); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 410 (median $47,140). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 49-3022.00 survey of workers (17 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 90%, Less than a High School Diploma 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Automotive Body and Glass Repairers" covers Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: 10.2% of Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.