What Glaziers Do

Glaziers install glass in windows, skylights, and other fixtures in storefronts and buildings.

Work Environment

As in many other construction trades, the work is physically demanding. Glaziers may experience cuts from tools and glass, and falls from ladders and scaffolding. Most work full time.

How to Become a Glazier

Glaziers typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma and learn their trade through an apprenticeship.

Job Outlook

Employment of glaziers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2014 to 2024, slower than the average for all occupations. Good job opportunities are expected from the need to replace glaziers who leave the occupation each year.

Growth & Trends

This occupation supported 46,700 jobs in 2012 and 45,300 jobs in 2014, reflecting a decline of 3.0%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 17.1% in 2022 to 54,700 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 48,300, compared with an observed value of 45,300, 6.2% lower than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 4.1% in 2024 to 47,200 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 56,300 jobs for 2024, 19.3% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.

Glaziers Employment and Labor Information 2023

Glaziers Employment Brief:

Install glass in windows, skylights, store fronts, and display cases, or on surfaces, such as building fronts, interior walls, ceilings, and tabletops.

Glaziers Job Description

Here is a Job Description an employer might post for potential Glaziers.

Glaziers Responsibilities and Duties:

• Set glass doors into frames and bolt metal hinges, handles, locks, or other hardware to attach doors to frames and walls.
• Select the type or color of glass or mirror according to specifications.
• Confer with customers to determine project requirements or to provide cost estimates.
• Load and arrange glass or mirrors onto delivery trucks, using suction cups or cranes to lift glass.
• Grind or polish glass, smoothing edges when necessary.
• Fabricate or install metal sashes or moldings for glass installation, using aluminum or steel framing.
• 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.
• Cut and remove broken glass prior to installing replacement glass.
• Fasten glass panes into wood sashes or frames with clips, points, or moldings, adding weather seals or putty around pane edges to seal joints.
• Secure mirrors in position, using mastic cement, putty, bolts, or screws.

Typical Daily Tasks of Glaziers:

• Handling and Moving Objects: Apply decorative or textured finishes or coverings. Apply material to fill gaps in surfaces. Assemble temporary equipment or structures. Cut carpet, vinyl or other flexible materials. Cut glass. Cut metal components for installation. Cut wood components for installation. Dismantle equipment or temporary structures. Fabricate parts or components. Install building fixtures. Install doors or windows. Install metal structural components. Install wooden structural components. Mark reference points on construction materials. Smooth surfaces with abrasive materials or tools. Trim excess material from installations.
• Getting Information: Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Apply adhesives to construction materials. Load or unload materials used in construction or extraction. Protect structures or surfaces near work areas to avoid damage. Remove worn, damaged or outdated materials from work areas.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Verify alignment of structures or equipment.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Select construction materials.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment.

Glaziers Skills and Requirements:

• Equipment Selection Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Management of Personnel Resources Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Mathematics Using mathematics to solve problems.
• Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• NavigationUsing scroll bars, a mouse, and dialog boxes to work within the computer's operating system. Being able to access and switch between applications and files of interest.
• Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• DatabasesUsing a computer application to manage large amounts of information, including creating and editing simple databases, inputting data, retrieving specific records, and creating reports to communicate the information.

Glaziers Education and Training:

Typical education for include: High school diploma or equivalent.

Glaziers Salary, Wages, and Salary and Job Outlook

Glaziers average pay is: $48720 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employees who work in Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors are the highest paid making $27.43, while Automotive Repair and Maintenance make the least at $22.76 per hour.Here are the top city/metro areas with the highest paying salaries for a Glaziers: