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Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers: Career Overview
Shape molten glass according to patterns.
The Daily Work of Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers span:
- Heat glass to pliable stage, using gas flames or ovens and rotating glass to heat it uniformly.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure products to verify conformance to specifications, using instruments such as micrometers, calipers, magnifiers, or rulers.
- Record manufacturing information, such as quantities, sizes, or types of goods produced.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Artificial Glass Eye Maker
- Bender
- Blow Molder
- Blower
- Bottle Blower
- Fiber Glass Worker
- Gaffer
- Glass Bender
How Many Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers Are There?
There are roughly 437,500 glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +15.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $36,735 |
| Hourly median | $17.66 |
| 10th percentile | $25,259 |
| 25th percentile | $30,997 |
| 75th percentile | $42,473 |
| 90th percentile | $48,211 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $74,780 |
| Maryland | $51,470 |
| New Hampshire | $50,690 |
| New York | $50,470 |
| Connecticut | $50,350 |
| Massachusetts | $49,530 |
| Montana | $49,350 |
| Oregon | $49,290 |
| New Jersey | $49,120 |
| California | $48,390 |
| Georgia | $48,320 |
| Louisiana | $48,280 |
| Washington | $48,100 |
| Vermont | $47,700 |
| Nebraska | $47,640 |
| Rhode Island | $47,630 |
| Delaware | $47,210 |
| Arizona | $47,170 |
| Maine | $47,100 |
| Kansas | $47,040 |
| Indiana | $46,990 |
| Nevada | $46,350 |
| Wisconsin | $45,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,810 |
| Illinois | $45,720 |
| Colorado | $45,480 |
| North Dakota | $45,230 |
| Minnesota | $45,090 |
| Iowa | $44,760 |
| Ohio | $44,660 |
| Idaho | $43,960 |
| Florida | $43,730 |
| South Carolina | $42,730 |
| Michigan | $42,520 |
| Missouri | $42,090 |
| Arkansas | $41,920 |
| Virginia | $41,280 |
| Oklahoma | $41,010 |
| Kentucky | $40,280 |
| Tennessee | $39,570 |
| Utah | $39,260 |
| North Carolina | $39,090 |
| Texas | $38,960 |
| West Virginia | $36,970 |
| Alabama | $36,240 |
| Mississippi | $30,070 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $49,134 | 5.4% | 1.41 |
| Far Western US | $48,466 | 17.7% | 1.08 |
| Middle Atlantic | $48,200 | 12.1% | 0.94 |
| Plains States | $45,055 | 9.9% | 1.63 |
| Great Lakes | $44,930 | 21.5% | 1.69 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,963 | 4.2% | 1.26 |
| Southeast | $40,825 | 21.6% | 1.13 |
| Southwest | $40,351 | 7.6% | 0.63 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland, NJ | NJ | $62,530 | 200 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $61,000 | 180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $58,630 | 420 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $58,150 | 80 |
| Rochester, NY | NY | $57,360 | 60 |
| Syracuse, NY | NY | $54,560 | 40 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $54,250 | 450 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $52,740 | 80 |
Which Industries Hire Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
The largest employers of glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 28,900 | $45,490 |
| Construction | 3,060 | $48,720 |
| Retail Trade | 840 | $49,730 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 840 | $36,100 |
| Wholesale Trade | 520 | $43,310 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 140 | $48,040 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 40 | $41,700 |
Below are examples of industries where glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers work:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (Supplemental)
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (Supplemental)
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
- Tool and Die Makers (Primary-Long)
About the Data
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: 51-9195.04 (Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic).
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