Salary
Average Salary: $42,500
Expected Lifetime Earnings: $1,774,290
It's a classic good news, not-so-good news scenario when it comes to how much money glaziers make. Since most learn through on-the-job training, the starting pay isn't great—around $24,000 a year. But, on the plus side, it's paid training. Even better, it's a higher salary than many people make when they're just starting to work without a college degree. See? Good news and not-so-good news, just like we promised.
Here's some better news—glaziers are set for a better than average growth rate over the next several years, estimated at 17% (source). After two to three years of making mid-$20,000 pay, instead of spending that much a year going to most universities, you become a full-fledged glazier (source). After a few years on the job, you'll be qualified to do any glazier work that comes your way, whether it be working for an established contractor or striking out on your own, bidding for jobs as a freelancer.
Essentially, if you aren't someone who suffers from acro-glasso-phobia—hanging glass in high places—you'll earn a decent hourly rate plus hazardous duty pay. That equals some sweet moolah. Thanks to sun-blocking and safety coatings, not to mention glass being a completely recyclable product, more office, apartment, and hotel buildings are using glass on their exteriors which means more opportunities for you.
The best news? Even if you do suffer from acro-glasso-phobia, (or some other completely made up thing), there's still plenty of glazier work to be done. New schools, shopping centers, grocery stores, and fast food places provide plenty of glass installation work opportunities. Not to mention new home construction or remodeling projects.