How to become a glazier
Install glass in windows, skylights, store fronts, and display cases, or on surfaces, such as building fronts, interior walls, ceilings, and tabletops.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
What glaziers do
- Determine plumb of walls or ceilings, using plumb lines and levels.
- Install pre-assembled metal or wood frameworks for windows or doors to be fitted with glass panels, using hand tools.
- Operate cranes or hoists with suction cups to lift large, heavy pieces of glass.
- Set glass doors into frames and bolt metal hinges, handles, locks, or other hardware to attach doors to frames and walls.
- Load and arrange glass or mirrors onto delivery trucks, using suction cups or cranes to lift glass.
- Secure mirrors in position, using mastic cement, putty, bolts, or screws.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
Is glazier a good career?
On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 12% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Massachusetts $100,810
- Hawaii $80,800
- District of Columbia $78,390
- New Jersey $70,890
- Oregon $70,890
Glaziers salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.