Commercial & architectural glass
Glazier
Handling something that is heavy, expensive and breaks.
Typical pay
$45k-$95k
How you get in
3-4 year apprenticeship
Outlook
Steady with commercial construction
Few openings
72/100Openings are uncommon relative to how many people do this work, and the field is growing.
JobPOVs index, calculated from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025-2035 for Glaziers. It measures how many openings arise each year relative to the size of the field — not how many people apply. BLS does not publish a saturation figure.
Glaziers install glass, curtain wall and storefront systems. Commercial curtain wall work is the high end — large lites, crane picks and tight tolerances on the outside of a building.
A day in the life
6:00a – 3:30p · 9 hours 30 min
- 6:00aReview shop drawings and stage material
- 7:00aSet anchors and frame for a storefront run
- 9:30aCrane pick to set a large glass unit
- 12:00pLunch
- 12:30pGlaze, seal and set gaskets
- 3:30pCaulk joints and clean the installed glass
How to get in
Union apprenticeship
Duration
3-4 years
Cost
$0 — paid while you train
Credential
Journeyman glazier
- Apply to a glaziers local when applications open
- Work while completing classroom instruction
- Learn storefront, curtain wall, and interior glass systems
- Finish with a journeyman card and benefits
Glass shop entry
Duration
1-3 years
Cost
$0
Credential
None; OSHA and lift certifications
- Get hired at a glass company doing residential or auto glass
- Learn cutting, handling and sealant work
- Move to commercial storefront and curtain wall crews
- Add lift and rigging certifications
Specialize in curtain wall or auto glass
Duration
2-5 years
Cost
$500-$8,000
Credential
Manufacturer or AGSC certifications
- Master fundamentals first
- Move into high-rise curtain wall for the best pay
- Or specialize in auto glass, where mobile independent work is viable
- ADAS recalibration certification is increasingly required for auto glass
What people love
- · Strong union pay and benefits
- · Paid apprenticeship
- · Highly visible finished work on real buildings
- · Less crowded than the larger trades
What wears people down
- · Glass is heavy and cuts badly when it breaks
- · Work at height on swing stages and lifts
- · Weather exposure on exterior installs
- · Damaged units are expensive and delay the job