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What does a glass installer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read

Glass installers position glass windows, skylights, and various fixtures in stores, commercial buildings, homes, and vehicles. Part of their work is to follow blueprints and glassware to specified sizes and shapes. They may spread sealing compound around edges of any opening before inserting glass using an air gun or knife. They remove the old and broken glass before installing new panes. Installers fit glasses into frames, install sashes and moldings, and weather-proof panes using sealants. They must be good with communication skills and courteous to form a positive customer experience.

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Glass installer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real glass installer resumes:

  • Manage telecommunications, data and CCTV equipment.
  • Handle all financial matters, including budget, A/P, A/R, taxes, audits and reports to accountant.
  • Lace assembly, primer applications, soldering, encapsulation and hardware application.
  • Perform preventative maintenance, troubleshot breakdowns and repair malfunctioning HVAC systems and components; utilize measuring and testing instruments.
  • Provide training regarding standard methods, practices, principles, tools and equipment used in construction work.

Glass installer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 39% of Glass Installers are proficient in Customer Service, Ladders, and OSHA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Mechanical skills, and Time-management skills.

We break down the percentage of Glass Installers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 39%

    Provide superior customer service, by leveraging positive interactions with consumers.

  • Ladders, 24%

    Installed glass using ladders and tools.

  • OSHA, 10%

    Research material safety data sheets for possible work related chemical hazards in compliance to federal and state OSHA rules and regulations.

  • Windshield Wipers, 5%

    Remove moldings, clips, windshield wipers and cowl as needed for replacement work.

  • Display Cases, 4%

    Installed windows, glass store fronts, and display cases.

  • Glass Products, 4%

    Involved in selling, quoting, and installing all sorts of glass products.

Common skills that a glass installer uses to do their job include "customer service," "ladders," and "osha." You can find details on the most important glass installer responsibilities below.

Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a glass installer to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "automotive body and glass repairers discuss auto body and glass problems, along with options to fix them, with customers." Additionally, a glass installer resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "replace auto glass for retail customers, mobile auto glass, body shop accounts, and vehicles damaged in accidents. "

Mechanical skills. Another essential skill to perform glass installer duties is mechanical skills. Glass installers responsibilities require that "automotive body repairers must know which diagnostic, hydraulic, pneumatic, and other power equipment and tools are appropriate for certain procedures and repairs." Glass installers also use mechanical skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "install control devices onto hvac units and mechanical rooms"

Time-management skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of glass installers is time-management skills. This skill is critical to many everyday glass installer duties, as "automotive body and glass repairers must be timely in their repairs." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "used the proper tools for the installation process while working as a team to complete each coach on time. "

Detail oriented. A big part of what glass installers do relies on "detail oriented." You can see how essential it is to glass installer responsibilities because "automotive body and glass repairers must pay close attention to detail." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical glass installer tasks: "prioritized and verified daily schedule maintained customer service oriented atmosphere administered high quality auto glass replacement"

Dexterity. Another crucial skill for a glass installer to carry out their responsibilities is "dexterity." A big part of what glass installers relies on this skill, since "automotive body repairers’ tasks, such as removing door panels, hammering out dents, and using hand tools to install parts, require a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination." How this skill relates to glass installer duties can be seen in an example from a glass installer resume snippet: "loaded and arrange glass and mirrors onto delivery trucks, using suction cups or cranes to lift glass. "

Physical strength. Lastly, "physical strength" is an important element of what a glass installer does. Glass installer responsibilities require this skill because "automotive body and glass repairers must sometimes lift heavy parts, such as door panels and windshields." This resume example highlights how glass installer duties rely on this skill: "facilitated optimal reception by measuring the strength from the pole using various test equipments. "

See the full list of glass installer skills

The three companies that hire the most glass installers are:

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Compare different glass installers

Glass installer vs. Window tinter

A glass technician is employed by car dealerships or auto glass replacement companies to help replace cracked or damaged car windscreens and windows. They also treat glass to ensure it withstands heat, sunlight, rain, and snow. They may be required to install glass windows and to identify any issue that may affect glass installation. Generally, they are responsible for selecting appropriate tools and equipment for the job that needs to be done.

We looked at the average glass installer salary and compared it with the wages of a window tinter. Generally speaking, window tinters are paid $4,926 higher than glass installers per year.Even though glass installers and window tinters are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require customer service, commercial buildings, and customer vehicles in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, glass installer responsibilities require skills like "strong work ethic," "ladders," "roofing," and "osha." Meanwhile a typical window tinter has skills in areas such as "visual inspections," "customer satisfaction," "service drive," and "coats." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Window tinters tend to reach similar levels of education than glass installers. In fact, window tinters are 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Glass installer vs. Automotive glass technician

A career as a automotive glass technician brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a glass installer. In fact, automotive glass technicians salary is $4,107 higher than the salary of glass installers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both glass installers and automotive glass technicians have skills such as "display cases," "safety glass," and "shower doors. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that glass installer responsibilities requires skills like "strong work ethic," "customer service," "ladders," and "roofing." But an automotive glass technician might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer satisfaction," "door glass," "schedule appointments," and "mechanical problems."

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Automotive glass technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than glass installers. In fact, they're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Glass installer vs. Glass technician

On average scale, glass technicians bring in higher salaries than glass installers. In fact, they earn a $962 higher salary per year.By looking over several glass installers and glass technicians resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "strong work ethic," "customer service," and "ladders." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from glass installer resumes include skills like "roofing," "osha," "dexterity," and "display cases," whereas a glass technician is more likely to list skills in "working independently," "customer satisfaction," "safety regulations," and "cut resistant gloves. "

Glass technicians earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $38,396. Glass installers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $41,868.When it comes to education, glass technicians tend to earn similar degree levels compared to glass installers. In fact, they're 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Glass installer vs. Windshield installer

Windshield installers tend to earn a lower pay than glass installers by an average of $2,216 per year.According to resumes from glass installers and windshield installers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "customer service," "glass replacement," and "door frames. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between glass installers and windshield installers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a glass installer might have more use for skills like "strong work ethic," "ladders," "roofing," and "osha." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of windshield installers require skills like "door glass," "assembly line," "fix issues," and "manual labor. "

In general, windshield installers hold similar degree levels compared to glass installers. Windshield installers are 3.3% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of glass installer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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