Glaziers

Summary

Glaziers must carefully seal glass seams.

Quick Facts: Glaziers
2010 Median Pay	$36,640 per year $17.61 per hour
Entry-Level Education	High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Apprenticeship
Number of Jobs, 2010	41,900
Job Outlook, 2010-20	42% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	17,700

What Glaziers Do

Glaziers install glass in windows, skylights, storefronts, and display cases to create distinctive designs or reduce the need for artificial lighting.

Work Environment

As in many other construction trades, the work is physically demanding. Glaziers risk cuts from tools and glass, and falls from ladders and scaffolding. Most work full time. About 5 percent were self-employed in 2010.

How to Become a Glazier

Glaziers typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent, and learn their trade through a formal apprenticeship.

Pay

The median annual wage of glaziers was $36,640 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of glaziers is projected to grow 42 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth is expected as commercial construction increasingly uses glass exteriors. Glaziers who have a wide range of skills should have the best job opportunities.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of glaziers with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

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What Glaziers Do About this section

Suction handles are used to pick up and maneuver glass.

Glaziers install glass in windows, skylights, storefronts, and display cases to create distinctive designs or reduce the need for artificial lighting.

Duties

Glaziers typically do the following:

• Follow blueprints or specifications for size, color, type, and thickness of glass to be used
• Remove any old or broken glass before installing replacement glass
• Cut glass to the specified size and shape
• Make or install sashes or moldings for glass installation
• Fasten glass into sashes or frames with clips, moldings, or other types of fasteners
• Add weather seal or putty around pane edges to seal joints

Glass has many uses in modern life. For example, insulated and specially treated glass keeps in warm or cool air and controls sound and condensation. Tempered and laminated glass makes doors and windows more secure. The creative use of large windows, glass doors, skylights, and sunroom additions makes buildings bright, airy, and inviting. Glaziers specialize in installing these different glass products.

In homes, glaziers install or replace windows, mirrors, shower doors, and bathtub enclosures. They fit glass for tabletops and display cases. On commercial interior projects, glaziers install items such as heavy, often etched, decorative room dividers or security windows. Glazing projects also may involve replacing storefront windows for supermarkets, auto dealerships, banks, and so on.

Workers who replace and repair glass in motor vehicles are not covered in this profile. For more information, see the profile on automotive body and glass repairers.  

For most large scale construction jobs, glass is precut and mounted into frames at a factory or a contractor's shop. The finished glass arrives at the jobsite ready for glaziers to position and secure into place. Using cranes or hoists with suction cups, workers lift large, heavy pieces of glass for installation. In cases where the glass is not secure inside the frame, glaziers may attach steel and aluminum sashes or frames to the building, and then secure the glass with clips, moldings, or other types of fasteners. 

A few glaziers work with plastics, granite, marble, and other materials used as glass substitutes.  Some work with films or laminates that improve the durability or safety of the glass.

Work Environment About this section

Glaziers may need to work at great heights.

Glaziers held about 41,900 jobs in 2010, of which 62 percent were employed in the foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors industry. Another 15 percent were employed in the building material and supplies dealers industry. About 5 percent of glaziers were self-employed.

As in many other construction trades, the work is physically demanding. Glaziers spend most of the day standing, bending, or stretching, and workers often have to lift and maneuver heavy, cumbersome materials, such as large glass plates.

Injuries

Glaziers experience one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses. Typical injuries include cuts from tools and glass, and falls from ladders and scaffolding.

Work Schedules

Most glaziers work full time. About 5 percent of glaziers were self-employed in 2010; self-employed workers are often able to set their own schedule.

How to Become a Glazier About this section

Some glaziers install windows in single family homes.

Glaziers typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent, and learn their trade through a formal apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship

The typical training for glaziers is a 3-year apprenticeship. Each year, apprentices must have at least 144 hours of related technical training and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. On the job, they learn to use the tools and equipment of the trade; handle, measure, cut, and install glass and metal framing; cut and fit moldings; and install and balance glass doors. Technical training includes instruction in glass and installation techniques as well as basic mathematics, blueprint reading and sketching, general construction techniques, safety practices, and first aid.

After completing an apprenticeship program, glaziers are considered to be journey workers who may do tasks on their own. 

A few groups sponsor apprenticeship programs, including several union and contractor associations. The basic qualifications to enter an apprenticeship program are as follows:

• Minimum age of 18
• High school education or equivalent
• Physically able to perform the work

Education

Glaziers typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent. High school math courses are considered useful.

Licenses

Connecticut is the only state that requires licensure for glaziers. Licensure requirements include passing a test, completing an apprenticeship, and a combination of education and experience.

Certifications

The National Glass Association offers a series of written exams that certify an individual's competency to perform glazier work as a Certified Glass Installer Technician.

Important Qualities

Balance. To minimize the risk of falling, glaziers need a good sense of balance while working on ladders and scaffolding.

Hand-eye coordination. Glass must be precisely cut. As a result, a steady hand is needed to achieve a cut of the correct size and shape. 

Physical strength. Glaziers must often lift heavy pieces of glass for hanging. Physical strength, therefore, is important in their work.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of glaziers was $36,640 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.  The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,760, and the top 10 percent earned more than $66,810.

The starting pay for apprentices usually is between 30 percent and 50 percent of what fully trained glaziers make, receiving pay increases as they gain more skill.

Most glaziers work full time. About 5 percent of glaziers were self-employed in 2010; self-employed workers are often able to set their own schedule.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of glaziers is projected to grow 42 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth is expected as commercial construction increasingly uses glass exteriors. As glass manufacturers continue to improve the energy efficiency of glass windows, architects are designing more buildings with glass exteriors, especially in the South.

In addition, the continuing need to modernize and repair existing structures, including many homes, often involves installing new windows. Demand for specialized safety glass and coated glass with protective laminates is also growing due to a greater need for security and the need for structures, particularly many commercial and government buildings, to withstand high winds associated with storms.

Nonetheless, the availability of prefabricated windows that carpenters and general contractors can install is expected to limit overall employment growth of glaziers.

Job Prospects

Good job opportunities are expected as many openings should arise from the need to replace glaziers who leave the occupation. Because employers prefer workers who do many different tasks, glaziers with a wide range of skills will have the best job opportunities. In addition, workers with military service are viewed favorably during initial hiring.

Like many other construction workers, employment of glaziers is sensitive to the fluctuations of the economy. On the one hand, glaziers may experience periods of unemployment when the overall level of construction falls. On the other hand, shortages of workers may occur in some areas during peak periods of building activity. Employment opportunities should be best in the South and in metropolitan areas, where most glazing contractors and glass shops are located.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For details about apprenticeships or other work opportunities in this trade, contact the offices of the state employment service, the state apprenticeship agency, local contractors or firms that employ glaziers, or local union-management finishing trade apprenticeship committees. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor's toll free help line: 1 (877) 872-5627 or Employment and Training Administration.

For more information about glaziers, visit

Associated Builders and Contractors

Finishing Trades Institute

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

National Glass Association