How to become a glass and ceramics maker, decorator or finisher
Official title: Glass and ceramics makers, decorators and finishers
Also called: Finisher, Decorator, Bat maker, Cup maker, Jar maker, Pin maker, Pot maker, Ball maker, Bowl maker, Dish maker, Foot maker, Form maker
Glass and ceramics workers, form, shape, decorate, smooth and polish glassware, earthenware, refractory goods, clay bricks and other ceramic goods.
Main tasks
- Uses hand tools and operates machinery to heat, bend, shape, press, drill and cut glass
- Makes artificial eyes, laminated glass sheets or blocks, glass fibre tissue, wool, filament and matting, marks optical lenses and assembles rimless spectacles
- Makes models and moulds from moulding clay and plaster for use in the making and casting of pottery and other ceramic goods
- Throws, casts and presses clay by hand or machine to form pottery, stoneware or refractory goods such as bricks, crucibles, ornaments, sanitary furnishings, saggars, cups, saucers, plates and roofing tiles
- Cuts and joins unfired stoneware pipes to form junctions and gullies, moulds sealing bands on clay pipes, prepares and joins porcelain or earthenware components and assists crucible makers and stone workers with their tasks
- Applies decorative designs and finishes to glassware, optical glass and ceramic goods by grinding, smoothing, polishing, cutting, etching, dipping, painting or transferring patterns or labels
How to become one
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs at levels 1, 2 and 3 are available in some areas.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £28,936 a year
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Questions people ask
How do I become a glass and ceramics maker, decorator or finisher?
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs at levels 1, 2 and 3 are available in some areas.
How much does a glass and ceramics maker, decorator or finisher earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £28,936 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a glass and ceramics maker, decorator or finisher?
Not always. 53% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03