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Glazier: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$57,080median pay per year, or $27.44 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,300lowest 10% earn less
  2. $46,32025th percentile
  3. $57,080median
  4. $66,61075th percentile
  5. $89,790top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A glazier installs glass in buildings, and the median pay was $57,080 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.9%[2]
Openings per year
3,900[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do glaziers make?

The median pay for glaziers was $57,080 a year, or $27.44 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of glaziers earned more and half earned less. The average was a little higher, at $59,720 a year or $28.71 an hour[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

Pay varies a lot within the trade. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,300 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $89,790[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

Percentile Annual pay Hourly pay
10th[4][10] $37,300 $17.93
25th[4][10] $46,320 $22.27
Median[1] $57,080 $27.44
75th[4][10] $66,610 $32.03
90th[4][10] $89,790 $43.17

These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[11]. About 1% of glaziers were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Massachusetts had the highest median pay for glaziers at $100,810 a year, followed by Hawaii at $80,800 and the District of Columbia at $78,390[13]. New Jersey and Oregon were tied at $70,890[13]. Mississippi had the lowest published state median, at $36,750[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 glazier jobs, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH had the highest median at $107,610, followed by Madison, WI at $82,480 and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $82,420[14].

The most glazier jobs were in California (7,020), Florida (6,370) and Texas (5,850)[15]. Among metro areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the most jobs at 3,030, with a median of $69,480[16].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Massachusetts[13]$100,8101,080
Hawaii$80,800280
District of Columbia$78,390200
New Jersey$70,890820
Oregon$70,890700
Washington$66,8601,460
Minnesota$66,130460
California$64,0407,020
Connecticut$63,840690
Alaska$63,000270
Wisconsin$62,400580
Colorado$62,3402,040
Illinois$61,8401,410
North Dakota$61,80080
New York$61,7603,400
Rhode Island$61,650150
Vermont$60,390110
Indiana$60,2101,270
Ohio$60,2001,670
Maryland$59,8901,820
Idaho$59,850580
Virginia$59,260890
New Hampshire$58,850150
Pennsylvania$58,8101,510
Iowa$57,330430
Arizona$56,5602,370
Wyoming$55,03070
Michigan$52,7702,040
Utah$51,470990
Missouri$51,430630
South Carolina$50,650740
Nebraska$50,190440
West Virginia$49,810140
Nevada$49,490730
Montana$49,360410
Kentucky$49,110570
Tennessee$48,610880
Maine$47,770150
Texas$47,7305,850
Louisiana$47,150610
South Dakota$47,140220
Kansas$47,090440
Florida$47,0306,370
New Mexico$46,940380
North Carolina$46,170840
Alabama$45,520260
Oklahoma$45,380430
Arkansas$44,700480
Georgia$43,3402,530
Mississippi$36,750820

How to become a glazier

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education, with no work experience needed and apprenticeship as the typical training[7].

Training covers handling and cutting glass, installing glass and metal framing, blueprint reading, safety practices and first aid[19].

Some states may require a license. Licensing usually involves a test and a mix of education and work experience, so check with your state[20]. Optional certification can show skill and widen job options[21].

In an O*NET survey of 26 workers, 44% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 36% said less than a high school diploma, and 12% said a post-secondary certificate[22].

What glaziers do

Glaziers put glass into windows, skylights, store fronts, display cases and building surfaces[23]. Common tasks include:

O*NET workers report job titles such as commercial glazier, field glazier and auto glass technician[25].

Where glaziers work

Foundation, structure and building exterior contractors were the largest employers in 2025, at 67% of glazier jobs[26]. The work is physically demanding. Glaziers spend much of the day standing, bending or reaching, lift heavy glass, and are often outdoors. They may travel to different job sites[27].

The job can be dangerous. Injuries can include cuts, falls from ladders and scaffolding, and contact with solvents. Workers may wear safety glasses, harnesses and gloves[28]. Full-time work is the norm[29]. The job also calls for comfort working at heights[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects glazier employment to grow 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 59,200 to 60,300 jobs, a gain of 1,100[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3].

About 3,900 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.4% of glaziers are projected to leave the labor force and 3.9% to move to a different occupation[31].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest the trade suits people who want to learn on the job without a college degree, since the typical entry path is a high school diploma and an apprenticeship[7]. Pay was above the all-occupations median[1][5]. The work is physical and involves heights, weather and injury risks[30][27][28]. Growth is slower than average, but openings still come from workers leaving the occupation[2][3][6].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a glazier make an hour?
The median was $27.44 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $28.71[1][8].
How long does it take to become a glazier?
Glaziers typically learn the trade in a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship or on the job[19].
What education do you need to be a glazier?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical requirement[7][17].
Is glazier a growing job?
Employment is projected to grow 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
What is the highest paying state for glaziers?
Massachusetts, with a median of $100,810 a year in May 2025[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Glaziers in the US was $57,080 per year and $27.44 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Glaziers is projected to grow 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 59,200 to 60,300 jobs (a change of +1,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Glaziers: 10th percentile $37,300, 25th percentile $46,320, 75th percentile $66,610, 90th percentile $89,790. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,900 openings for Glaziers 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
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Glaziers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Apprenticeship. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Glaziers was $59,720 per year and $28.71 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. 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
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Glaziers: 10th percentile $17.93, 25th percentile $22.27, 75th percentile $32.03, 90th percentile $43.17. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 1% of Glaziers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Glaziers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Glaziers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $107,610; Madison, WI $82,480; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $82,420; Urban Honolulu, HI $80,940; Salem, OR $78,420; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $75,610; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $74,550; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $73,860. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Glaziers jobs: California 7,020; Florida 6,370; Texas 5,850; New York 3,400; Georgia 2,530. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Glaziers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,030 (median $69,480); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 2,330 (median $44,430); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 2,000 (median $57,170); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,980 (median $49,450); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,980 (median $64,160); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,380 (median $63,310). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 47-2121.00 survey of workers (26 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 44%, Less than a High School Diploma 36%, Post-Secondary Certificate 12%, Some College Courses 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Glaziers. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Glaziers. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 47-2121.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Auto Glass Tech (Automobile Glass Technician), Commercial Glazier, Field Glazier, Glass Installer, Glass Technician (Glass Tech), Glassman, Glazer, Glazier. O*NET OnLine
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of glaziers in 2025: Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors 67%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Glaziers: 2.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

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.