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Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers

ManufacturingO*NET 51-9195.04United States

Shape molten glass according to patterns.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$43,665

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+7.9%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

77.6% of the workforce

Employment
39.88K jobs

Growing to 43.03K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What glass blowers, molders, benders, and finishers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Inspect, weigh, and measure products to verify conformance to specifications, using instruments such as micrometers, calipers, magnifiers, or rulers.
  • Heat glass to pliable stage, using gas flames or ovens and rotating glass to heat it uniformly.
  • Record manufacturing information, such as quantities, sizes, or types of goods produced.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$31,608
25th percentile
$35,485
50th percentile
$43,665
75th percentile
$53,642
90th percentile
$67,625

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $43,665 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+7.9%faster than average
202539,883 jobs
2035 projected43,033 jobs

3,150 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
77.6%
Certificate
19.9%
Some college
1.7%
Associate degree
0.9%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Lifting Ability
  • Blueprinting
  • Metal Forming
  • Machinery
  • Tube Bending
  • Hand Tools
  • Power Tool Operation
  • Sawing
  • Fabrication
  • Housekeeping
  • Mechanical Aptitude
  • General Mathematics
  • Drilling
  • Furnaces
  • Lathes
  • Pipe (Fluid Conveyance)
  • Plant Safety
  • Safety Standards
  • Shop Drawing
  • Technical Drawing

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Glassblowers36 postings
  2. 02Tube Benders12 postings
  3. 03Fiberglass Technicians9 postings
  4. 04Pipe Superintendents5 postings
  5. 05Bartenders/Shift Leaders4 postings
  6. 06Fabricators4 postings
  7. 07Glaziers4 postings
  8. 08Tenders4 postings
  9. 09Class Instructors3 postings
  10. 10Glass Workers3 postings
  11. 11Premium Managers3 postings
  12. 12Field Service Technicians2 postings
  13. 13Injection Molders2 postings
  14. 14Apprentices1 postings
  15. 15Coil Tubing Operators1 postings
  16. 16Commercial Glaziers1 postings
  17. 17Driver Technicians1 postings
  18. 18Pipe Welder Journeymen1 postings
  19. 19Retail Yard Crewmembers1 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting8 postings
  2. 02Atkore International7 postings
  3. 03Modine Manufacturing7 postings
  4. 04Glassybaby5 postings
  5. 05Thompson Construction5 postings
  6. 06Trinity Employment Specialists4 postings
  7. 07Glasstek3 postings
  8. 08Martin Marietta3 postings
  9. 09Tosoh Quartz3 postings
  10. 10Kelly Services2 postings
  11. 11Pat's Glass And Glazing2 postings
  12. 12Workbox Staffing2 postings
  13. 132bglass1 postings
  14. 14Ace Glass Incorporated1 postings
  15. 15Aerotek1 postings
  16. 16Blenko Glass Company1 postings
  17. 17Chihuly Garden And Glass1 postings
  18. 18Crystal Tones1 postings
  19. 19Eastern National1 postings
  20. 20Express Employment Professionals1 postings

Keep looking

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