Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

How to become an Automotive Glass Installer or Repairer

Official title: Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers

Also called: Auto Glass Installer (Automotive Glass Installer), Auto Glass Tech (Automotive Glass Technician), Auto Glazier (Automotive Glazier), Flat Glass Installer, Glass Installer, Glass Installer Technician (Glass Installer Tech), Installer, Window Film Installer, Windshield Installer, Windshield Repair Technician (Windshield Repair Tech)

Replace or repair broken windshields and window glass in motor vehicles.

Main tasks

Select appropriate tools, safety equipment, and parts, according to job requirements.
Prime all scratches on pinchwelds with primer and allow to dry.
Remove all dirt, foreign matter, and loose glass from damaged areas, apply primer along windshield or window edges, and allow primer to dry.
Check for and remove moisture or contamination in damaged areas and keep areas dry until repairs are complete.
Apply a bead of urethane around the perimeter of each pinchweld and dress the remaining urethane on the pinchwelds so that it is of uniform level and thickness.
Obtain windshields or windows for specific automobile makes and models from stock and examine them for defects prior to installation.
Install, repair, or replace safety glass and related materials, such as back glass heating elements, on vehicles or equipment.
Install replacement glass in vehicles.

How to become one

Most employers prefer to hire automotive body and glass repairers who have completed a training program in automotive body or glass repair. Still, many new automotive body and glass repairers begin work without previous training. Industry certification is becoming increasingly important.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Glass Installer (Auto Serv).

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $47,630 a year The middle half earn $40,110 to $59,550.
About 22,600 people work in this job now, and about 23,900 are projected by 2035. (+5.7%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Automotive Glass Installer or Repairer?

How much does an Automotive Glass Installer or Repairer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $47,630 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $40,110 to $59,550.

Is an Automotive Glass Installer or Repairer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 22,600 to about 23,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Automotive Glass Installer or Repairer?

Usually not. Only 4% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Glass Installer (Auto Serv).

Will AI change the work of an Automotive Glass Installer or Repairer?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.