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Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers in Iowa
Want to work as a Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers in Iowa? Below are the key facts. Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.
What do Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers Make in Iowa?
The glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers working in Iowa, the median annual wage is $44,760 per year (or roughly $21.52/hour).Earnings range from $30,140 at the 10th percentile to $57,760 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,140 | $14.49 |
| 25th percentile | $40,020 | $19.24 |
| Median (50th) | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| 75th percentile | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| 90th percentile | $57,760 | $27.77 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Iowa relative to the national average — is 1.77, suggesting that glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers earn a median of $36,735 per year ($17.66/hour), exceeding the Iowa median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 437,500 glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers nationwide. In Iowa alone, about 620 people work in this role. That’s in line with the typical state median of 620.
Top Iowa Metros for Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
These are the Iowa metros with the most glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers in Iowa.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 140 | $44,950 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 50 | $42,580 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 50 | $44,190 |
| Iowa City, IA | 30 | $38,890 |
Top States for Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 4,090 |
| Michigan | 1,980 |
| Texas | 1,950 |
| Indiana | 1,740 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,740 |
| Ohio | 1,730 |
| Florida | 1,680 |
| New York | 1,350 |
| Illinois | 1,160 |
| Massachusetts | 1,150 |
| Alabama | 1,140 |
| Washington | 1,100 |
| Tennessee | 930 |
| Missouri | 810 |
| New Jersey | 800 |
| Kansas | 800 |
| Wisconsin | 790 |
| Minnesota | 730 |
| North Carolina | 710 |
| Georgia | 680 |
Highest-Paying States for Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
These states pay the most for glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers.
| 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 |
Skills
Key glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers typically:
- 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.
- Place glass into dies or molds of presses and control presses to form products, such as glassware components or optical blanks.
- Spray or swab molds with oil solutions to prevent adhesion of glass.
- Blow tubing into specified shapes to prevent glass from collapsing, using compressed air or own breath, or blow and rotate gathers in molds or on boards to obtain final shapes.
- Determine types and quantities of glass required to fabricate products.
- Set up and adjust machine press stroke lengths and pressures and regulate oven temperatures, according to glass types to be processed.
- Shape, bend, or join sections of glass, using paddles, pressing and flattening hand tools, or cork.
- Design and create glass objects, using blowpipes and artisans' hand tools and equipment.
- Operate and maintain finishing machines to grind, drill, sand, bevel, decorate, wash, or polish glass or glass products.
- Repair broken scrolls by replacing them with new sections of tubing.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Working with Computers
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Thinking Creatively
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
Related Careers
Other careers like glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers include:
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
Also Known As
Artificial Glass Eye Maker, Bender, Blow Molder, Blower, Bottle Blower, Fiber Glass Worker, Gaffer, Glass Bender, Glass Block Bender, Glass Block Installer, Glass Blower, Glass Blower Technician, Glass Blowing Instructor, Glass Blowing Lathe Operator, Glass Finisher.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 51-9195.04
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