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Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers: Career Overview
Replace or repair broken windshields and window glass in motor vehicles.
What Tasks Do Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers Do?
The core tasks performed by automotive glass installers and repairers span:
- Prime all scratches on pinchwelds with primer and allow to dry.
- Remove all dirt, foreign matter, and loose glass from damaged areas, apply primer along windshield or window edges, and allow primer to dry.
- Allow all glass parts installed with urethane ample time to cure, taking temperature and humidity into account.
- Apply a bead of urethane around the perimeter of each pinchweld and dress the remaining urethane on the pinchwelds so that it is of uniform level and thickness.
- Select appropriate tools, safety equipment, and parts, according to job requirements.
- Install replacement glass in vehicles.
- Obtain windshields or windows for specific automobile makes and models from stock and examine them for defects prior to installation.
- Check for and remove moisture or contamination in damaged areas and keep areas dry until repairs are complete.
What Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers Need to Know
Top automotive glass installers and repairers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Auto Glass Repair Specialist (Automotive Glass Repair Specialist)
- Auto Services Glass Installer (Automotive Services Glass Installer)
- Auto Technician
- Automobile Installer
- Automotive Glass Installer (Auto Glass Installer)
- Automotive Glass Mechanic (Auto Glass Mechanic)
- Automotive Glass Specialist (Auto Glass Specialist)
- Automotive Glass Technician (Auto Glass Technician)
Employment and Demand
There are about 373,123 automotive glass installers and repairers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +12.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $76,815 |
| Hourly median | $36.93 |
| 10th percentile | $47,229 |
| 25th percentile | $62,022 |
| 75th percentile | $91,609 |
| 90th percentile | $106,402 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $62,480 |
| North Carolina | $61,440 |
| Minnesota | $61,270 |
| New Jersey | $60,010 |
| Massachusetts | $56,750 |
| Washington | $55,750 |
| New York | $55,650 |
| Ohio | $54,380 |
| West Virginia | $51,290 |
| Michigan | $51,120 |
| Idaho | $51,050 |
| Wyoming | $50,730 |
| Nevada | $50,110 |
| New Hampshire | $49,770 |
| North Dakota | $49,620 |
| Oregon | $49,190 |
| Iowa | $49,150 |
| Alaska | $49,110 |
| Hawaii | $48,670 |
| Wisconsin | $48,410 |
| Illinois | $48,290 |
| Indiana | $48,080 |
| Virginia | $47,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,780 |
| California | $47,460 |
| Montana | $47,430 |
| Mississippi | $47,000 |
| Georgia | $46,790 |
| Colorado | $46,400 |
| Maryland | $46,370 |
| Arizona | $45,910 |
| Arkansas | $45,900 |
| Florida | $45,810 |
| Texas | $45,290 |
| Kentucky | $45,250 |
| Missouri | $44,680 |
| Oklahoma | $44,010 |
| South Carolina | $43,790 |
| Maine | $43,530 |
| Alabama | $39,940 |
| Utah | $39,300 |
| Nebraska | $39,190 |
| Kansas | $38,510 |
| New Mexico | $38,230 |
| Tennessee | $36,230 |
| Louisiana | $34,710 |
Where Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers Earn the Most
Compensation for automotive glass installers and repairers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $54,162 | 3.0% | 0.82 |
| Middle Atlantic | $51,983 | 8.7% | 0.64 |
| Great Lakes | $50,618 | 12.4% | 0.90 |
| Plains States | $50,099 | 5.2% | 0.88 |
| Far Western US | $49,327 | 18.5% | 1.10 |
| Rocky Mountains | $46,769 | 5.8% | 1.65 |
| Southeast | $46,605 | 28.3% | 1.32 |
| Southwest | $45,149 | 18.3% | 1.43 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $64,150 | 200 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | RI | $63,530 | 90 |
| Fayetteville, NC | NC | $60,960 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $59,000 | 290 |
| Wilmington, NC | NC | $58,990 | 30 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $58,510 | 160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $58,480 | 80 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $58,010 | 430 |
Top Industries Employing Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
The bulk of automotive glass installers and repairers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 16,410 | $47,440 |
| Retail Trade | 1,120 | $43,680 |
| Wholesale Trade | 720 | $46,410 |
| Construction | 620 | $50,340 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 30 | $46,780 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Workday software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for automotive glass installers and repairers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How to Become Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
Most automotive glass installers and repairers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Glaziers (Primary-Short)
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall (Primary-Long)
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical (Primary-Long)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Supplemental)
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers (Primary-Short)
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (Primary-Short)
- Rail Car Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Tire Repairers and Changers (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for automotive glass installers and repairers often complete programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-3022.00 (Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers).