How much do glaziers make in Missouri in 2026?

Missouri glaziers earned a median of $51,430 per year — about $24.73 per hour — according to BLS OEWS data from May 2025. That number sits in the middle of the full range: entry-level and lower-wage workers came in at $37,390 annually (roughly $17.98/hr), while experienced glaziers in the top quarter of earners pulled $71,670 or more, equal to about $34.46 per hour. The spread between the 25th and 75th percentile is over $34,000 a year, which tells you that experience, specialization, and the type of work you land matter enormously in this trade.

Glaziers in Missouri handle everything from commercial storefront systems and curtain wall installations on high-rise buildings to residential window replacement and specialty glass work like mirrors, shower enclosures, and skylights. Commercial and industrial glazing typically pays better than residential, and workers who develop skills in structural glazing, unitized curtain wall systems, or glass and metal framing tend to command wages closer to or above the 75th percentile. If you're cutting glass on small residential jobs, expect pay nearer the lower end. If you're running a crew on a downtown Kansas City office tower or a St. Louis medical complex, you're more likely to see figures above the median.

Geography within Missouri shapes your paycheck. The Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas concentrate the largest commercial construction projects, which means more hours, more overtime, and more access to the higher-paying specialty work. Workers in smaller markets — Springfield, Joplin, Columbia — still find steady work, but the project scale tends to be smaller and the high-end opportunities fewer. If you're willing to drive or relocate within the state, targeting metro work can lift your annual take-home considerably.

Overtime is a real factor for glaziers, particularly during peak construction seasons in spring and summer. Missouri doesn't have extreme weather shutdowns the way northern states do, but winter months can still slow exterior glazing work. A glazier at the median working consistent 40-hour weeks earns around $51,430. Add a regular schedule of overtime at time-and-a-half and that number can climb well into the $60,000s without reaching the formal 75th percentile benchmark, simply because BLS figures are based on straight-time equivalents from employer surveys.

Apprenticeship is the standard path into glazing. Programs typically run three to four years and combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction covering glass types, glazing compounds, sealants, and metal framing systems. During apprenticeship, wages start below the median and step up at regular intervals. Completing the apprenticeship and accumulating journeyman-level experience is the most reliable way to break past the $51,430 midpoint and push toward the upper quartile. Some workers may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

Missouri does not require a statewide glazier license, but many employers require OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification, and working at height on commercial jobs almost always involves fall protection training. Adding certifications in structural silicone glazing, LEED-related building envelope work, or glass film installation gives you more leverage in wage negotiations and broadens the job types you can bid on.

To raise your pay in this trade, the most direct paths are: completing your apprenticeship and hitting journeyman status, specializing in higher-complexity commercial work, moving toward lead or foreman roles, or developing estimating skills so you can move into project management. Glaziers who can read architectural drawings, work with metal framing systems, and manage a crew without constant supervision are consistently the ones employers pay above the median.

The BLS figures here come from employer payroll surveys and capture base wages. They do not include tips, non-cash benefits, employer contributions to retirement or health plans, or the value of employer-provided tools and vehicles. Your total compensation package may be meaningfully higher than the wage figures alone suggest, particularly if you're working for a larger commercial glazing contractor with a full benefits program.