Employers

Approximately 53,500 glaziers are employed in the United States. Most glaziers work in construction, renovation, and repair of buildings and are employed by construction companies, glass suppliers, or glazing contractors. A good number work for manufacturers who need glass installed in some of their products.

Starting Out

People who would like to enter this field either as apprentices or on-the-job trainees can obtain more information about local opportunities by contacting area glazing contractors, the local offices of the state employment service, or local offices of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades. Information about apprenticeships may also be available through state apprenticeship agencies. Job leads for helper positions may also be listed in newspaper classified ads.

Experienced glaziers usually have only a few possible avenues for advancement. In some situations, they can move into supervisory positions, directing the work done by other glazing workers at construction sites or in shops or factories. Or they can become estimators, figuring the costs for labor and materials before jobs are done. Advancement for glaziers often consists of pay increases without changes in job activity.

Read Glass magazine (http://www.glassmagazine.com) to learn more about the industry.

Visit http://jobs.glassmagazine.com for job listings.

Talk to glaziers about their jobs. Ask them for advice on breaking into the field.