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Glazier

Fit glass in people's windows and doors, replace broken glass and install double glazing.

About skillsGetting in

About the job

Salary

Source: National Careers Service

Weekly

£442

Entry level

£769

Experienced

Monthly

£1,917

Entry level

£3,333

Experienced

Yearly

£23,000

Entry level

£40,000

Experienced

500

people are currently employed

Low growth

No change in number of jobs in 5 years

These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics

What it's like

You would fit glass in people’s windows and doors and replace broken glass panes.

You could fit double glazing at a house, install windows at a new office development or carry out glass repairs.

You’d need to be able to follow technical drawings and plans. Accurate measurements will be important for cutting the glass to size and you’d need to work carefully and precisely.

What you might do on a glass replacement job:

  • select the correct glass for the job, for example safety glass to go in a shop front or security glass for a bank

  • remove the old or broken panes, using tools like suction pads (for larger pieces), chisels and pliers

  • remove the beading or putty from frames

  • fit the new glass

  • make the fitting watertight using sealants, rubber strips, or lead and aluminium flashing

You would normally use made-to-measure glass panes that have been cut to size in a workshop beforehand. You may need to make some small adjustments to shape pieces on site using diamond- or wheel-cutting tools.

As well as fitting glass, you could be involved in the manufacture of glazed units, such as timber or UPVC-framed windows and doors.

With experience, you may be able to use your skills on specialist projects, for example on churches or restoring listed buildings.

Some jobs involve working at heights from ladders, scaffolding or suspended cradles.

Hours

You would work 37 to 40 hours a week, which could include out-of-hours duties for emergency replacement of broken glass.

Environment

You would work both indoors and outdoors, depending on each job.

Travel

You would travel from job to job, and some contracts may involve working away from home for periods of time. You would need to drive to transport your equipment.

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  • Construction and built environment
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Top skills

Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!

It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.

Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:

  • analysing
  • taking responsibility
  • taking initiative
  • attention to detail
  • observation
  • working with numbers
  • cooperating

Your skills are important

Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.

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Getting in

Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.

You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.

Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:

  • Practical Craft Skills

  • Practical Woodwork

  • Skills for Work: Construction Craft

  • Skills for Work: Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering

You could do a Modern Apprenticeship leading to a relevant Scottish Vocational Qualifications in Glass Industry Occupations (SVQ level 3) and registration with the Scottish Building Apprenticeship Training Council (SBATC).

You don't always need any qualifications to get into a Modern Apprenticeship but but some employers will look for qualifications at SCQF level 4/5.

  • Qualifications that show understanding of the industry and practical skills such as Skills for Work Construction Crafts (SCFQ level 4/5).

  • Women and Work Sector Pathways initiative (W&WSPI)

  • Skills for Work Construction Crafts courses

  • National Progression Award (prevocational or pre-apprenticeship courses) at college

  • Employability Fund projects (like Youthbuild which support young people's journey to work)

You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent and pass a health and safety test to train or work on construction sites.

A driving licence is required for most jobs.

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