Glazier: career path and pay in the US
Where a Glazier goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 4 steps, from Glazier / Apprentice to Glazing Contractor / Business Owner.
Also for the United Kingdom: Glazier in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 2 years
Glazier / Apprentice
$40K to $60K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Apprenticeship Program (in progress) - US/UK/EU, Health & Safety Certification (required) - Global.
Step 2 · 2 to 5 years
Glazier / Journeyman
$65K to $100K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Glazing Certification (optional) - Global, NVQ Level 3 Glazing - UK/EU, Health & Safety Certification - Global.
Step 3 · 5 to 10 years
Master Glazier / Supervisor
$75K to $110K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Glazing Certification - Global, NVQ Level 4 Glazing - UK/EU, Health & Safety Certification - Global, Business License (optional) - Global.
Step 4 · 10+ years
Glazing Contractor / Business Owner
$105K to $155K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Glazing Certification - Global, NVQ Level 4 Glazing - UK/EU, Health & Safety Certification - Global, Business License - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$40K to $60K → $105K to $155K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Glazier ($24.84); this band converts it at 40 hours a week. The published figure for Master Glazier sat below the previous step, so this band is set 12% above it.
What the work involves
Install glass in windows, skylights, store fronts, and display cases, or on surfaces, such as building fronts, interior walls, ceilings, and tabletops.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
Knowledge areas
- Building and Construction
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Design
- Customer and Personal Service
Education people bring
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED): 44%
- Less than a High School Diploma: 36%
- Post-Secondary Certificate: 12%
Job Zone 2, job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. 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.
Other paths from here
- Carpenter
- General Contractor
- Construction Manager
- Window Installer
More Skilled Trades paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers, Carpenters, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, Brickmasons and Blockmasons, Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles.
Your own role
How exposed is your job, task by task? Free score in under a minute.
SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.