Career

Glazier

Field & Trades

Installs the glass, curtain wall, and storefront systems that give a building its skin, precision work where a fraction of an inch off is the difference between a weathertight seal and a leak.

What is a Glazier?

A Glazier cuts, fits, and installs glass and metal glazing systems on a project, from full curtain wall and storefront systems on commercial buildings to windows, mirrors, and interior glass partitions. Much of the work happens well into a project, once the structural frame is up and the building needs its exterior skin, and a lot of it happens at height, on scaffolding or a swing stage, coordinating tight tolerances with the structural steel or framing crew that set the openings.

What they do

Install curtain wall panels and storefront systems per shop drawings and manufacturer specs
Cut, fit, and set glass panes to exact frame dimensions
Apply sealants and glazing compounds to create a weathertight seal around installed glass
Install mirrors, glass partitions, and skylights
Read curtain wall and storefront shop drawings to plan sequencing and material needs
Coordinate with structural steel and framing crews so openings come in at the tolerances glazing requires

A typical day

6:30 AMReview the day's curtain wall installation sequence and stage glass panels at the hoist
7:00 AMSet and secure curtain wall units on the level currently underway, checking plumb and level as each panel goes in
10:30 AMApply sealant and weatherproofing around a completed section of storefront glazing
1:00 PMFit and install interior glass partitions on a lower, already-enclosed floor
3:30 PMWalk completed glazing with the foreman, checking for gaps, scratches, or seal defects before the next trade moves in

Skills

Reading curtain wall and storefront shop drawingsPrecise measurement and cuttingSealant and glazing compound applicationWorking safely at heightMath for angles, dimensions, and material takeoff

Software

Generally none; this is a hands-on field trade

Pay expectations

Pay by experience, nationally

as of May 2025

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Glaziers (SOC 47-2121), national data

Reviewed May 2025. Pay reflects the national wage distribution for this occupation, not a promise for any one job: entry level is the lower part of that range, 5 years in sits around the national median, and 10 years in is the upper part, since pay isn't actually tracked by years on the job. Real pay varies a lot by state, metro area, union status, and employer — scale these up or down for your market. These figures are base pay only: overtime, shift differentials, and per-project bonuses are standard across most construction trades and routinely push real earnings above what's shown here.

What this chart doesn't capture

Running a glass and glazing company leans on bigger commercial contracts than most trades — real upside on a good bid, real risk carrying the cost of glass and crew between jobs.

These figures are wage-and-salary pay only — BLS excludes the self-employed and business owners entirely, and no government source publishes a reliable owner-income figure for glazing contractors. Commercial glazing work is often won through competitive bidding on larger jobs, so income tends to track project pipeline more than a steady hourly rate. Worth researching your own market before trusting any number you find online.

Education

Required:: High school diploma or equivalent, then a registered apprenticeship (typically three years or more, with a minimum of 144 hours of classroom instruction per year plus paid on-the-job training through a union program like IUPAT); most states don't separately license glaziers the way they do electricians or plumbers
Helpful:: OSHA 10 or 30 certification (not a nationwide legal requirement, though several states, including New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Nevada, Missouri, and Rhode Island, legally require it for workers on public construction projects), plus fall protection or aerial/scissor lift certification given how much of the work happens at height
Not necessary:: A four-year college degree; the apprenticeship-to-journeyman route is the standard path into the trade

Career progression

1.Apprentice Glazier
2.Journeyman Glazier
3.Glazing Foreman
4.Glazing Contractor or Superintendent

Who hires for this role

Glazing and Curtain Wall SubcontractorsGeneral Contractors (on projects that self-perform some glazing)Window, Storefront, and Curtain Wall Manufacturers/Installers