Glazier Career

glazier-500Glazing is a skilled trade that involves the working of glass, and sometimes substitutes for glass. The occupation serves two basic purposes. The placement of glass in buildings makes it more aesthetically pleasing. Glass also serves purposes of utility. It shields the inside of buildings from the elements while enabling visibility in and out of them.

The job requires considerable knowledge in how to work with several types of materials, as well as some mathematics such as arithmetic, geometry, and even algebra. With the use of heavy equipment and cutting tools, the job carries with it some physical risk, so it is important to thoroughly follow safety precautions learned during the training period.

Glazier Career Snapshot

You would be working indoors, as well as outdoors, in all types of weather conditions. Installing windows also means that you will have to work in potentially considerable heights on scaffolds, lifting panels of glass.

Further details on a career as a glazier are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$39,440

is the average yearly salary for glaziers.

4%

increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.

60%

have a High school diploma or equivalent while 23% have less than a High school diploma.

Glazier Education

You would be working indoors, as well as outdoors, in all types of weather conditions. Installing windows also means that you will have to work in potentially considerable heights on scaffolds, lifting panels of glass.

Glazier Job Duties

Glaziers use tools to cut glass to a specific size and shape according to a blueprint. They install them into fixtures such as frames, sashes, and moldings. Examples of these settings are windows, skylights, mirrors, facades, doors, and even tables. In some instances, glaziers will also design the fixtures themselves. For windows and doors, the glazier will also add sealants to make sure air cannot penetrate through.

Glazier Salaries

The median salary for a glazier in the year 2015 was $39,440 per year, or $18.96 per hour according to the BLS.gov. The lowest paid glaziers earned $25,550, while the highest paid made as much as $79,050. Experience plays a significant role in how much you will make, with apprentices typically earning toward the lower end of the spectrum. Location, as well as the industry sector of your buildings is also a factor.

Glazier Job Outlook

There is an expected growth of 4% for glaziers over the next decade, which is slower than the national average. Technological advancements such as prefabricated windows are cutting into demand.

Glazier Skills & Traits

Glazier Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by Glazier:Typical Work Activities:
• Coordination
• Critical Thinking
• Operation & Control
• Reading Comprehension
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Near Vision
• Manual Dexterity
• Finger Dexterity
• Information Ordering
• Automatic Cutting Tables
• Glass Bevelers
• Levels
• Power Saws
• Tape Measures
• Handling & Moving Objects
• Getting Information
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Communicating with Others

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