How much do glaziers make in Indiana in 2026?

The median glazier in Indiana earns $60,210 a year, which works out to about $28.95 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half of Indiana's glaziers earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or still building your skills, the 25th percentile sits at $48,290 annually ($23.22/hr). Experienced glaziers who've moved into the top quarter of earners bring home $70,010 or more per year ($33.66/hr). That's a $21,720 spread between the lower and upper ends of the scale, which tells you there's real room to grow in this trade.

Glaziers in Indiana work across a wide range of settings — commercial storefronts, curtain wall systems on office towers, residential windows, shower enclosures, and specialty architectural glass. The type of work you do directly affects your pay. A glazier running a full curtain wall crew on a downtown Indianapolis high-rise is going to earn toward the top of that range. Someone doing residential replacement windows for a smaller shop in a rural county is more likely to land near the lower end.

Experience is the biggest single driver of pay in this trade. Entry-level glaziers — those fresh out of an apprenticeship or with only a year or two on the tools — typically fall in the $48,000–$52,000 range. Workers with five or more years of documented field experience, especially in commercial or specialty glass work, generally push past the $60,000 median. Glaziers who can read structural drawings, work with frameless systems, or handle specialty glazing like fire-rated or blast-resistant assemblies are in shorter supply and can command rates toward or above the 75th percentile.

Indiana doesn't require a statewide glazier license, but most employers want proof of apprenticeship completion or equivalent hands-on training. A formal four-year apprenticeship program typically combines on-the-job hours with classroom instruction covering glass types, sealants, metal framing systems, and safety. Completing that path matters — it's one of the clearest ways to move from entry-level wages to median pay faster than just accumulating years on the job.

Geography within Indiana plays a role too. The Indianapolis metro area, along with Fort Wayne and the northwest Indiana corridor near Chicago, tends to support higher pay because commercial construction activity is denser and competition for experienced glaziers is stiffer. Smaller markets in southern Indiana or rural areas may offer fewer commercial projects, which can limit both hours and top-line earnings.

Overtime is common in this trade, particularly during peak construction seasons in spring and summer. A glazier earning $28.95/hr who regularly picks up 10 hours of overtime per week at time-and-a-half ($43.43/hr) can add $22,500 or more to annual take-home over the course of a busy year. That's a meaningful supplement and one reason glaziers in active construction markets often outpace what base wage figures suggest.

Some workers in this trade may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

Specialty skills are one of the most direct ways to increase your pay without waiting for years to pass. Glaziers who become proficient in structural silicone glazing, automated cutting systems, or complex point-fixed glass installations are harder to replace and tend to negotiate higher wages. Shop supervisory experience — estimating, layout, or crew lead responsibilities — also moves compensation toward the upper tier.

All figures on this page come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, released May 2025. BLS data reflects base wages and does not include overtime, per diem, bonuses, or employer-paid benefits, so actual total compensation on the job can be higher than what these figures show.