# Glaziers

US SOC code 47-2121. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/47-2121

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **58,480** US glaziers, with median pay of **$57,080** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.glaziers27.org/about-1) of **7,500** from 1899, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for glaziers: Insulated glass units + low-E coatings + energy codes, 1973 to 2005. Energy code requirements for IGUs and low-E glass drove a sustained replacement-and-retrofit market.

Figures: Official statistic (latest count and pay, highest count); Researched context (earliest figure).

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.9% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=47-2121&ioType=o) (Official statistic).

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Glaziers employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1780
- Latest US employment: 58,480 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [5]
- Latest US median pay: $57,080 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [8]
- Outlook: +1.9% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [20]

### All 27 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1899 | 7,500 (estimate) | $624 (average) (estimate) | Est., Glaziers Local 27 (employment) [1]; Est., The Labor Tribune (St. Louis) (pay) [6] |
| 1927 | 18,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., IUPAT history [2] |
| 1980 | 48,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook… [3] |
| 2000 | 46,160 | $29,780 | BLS OEWS 2000 (employment) [4]; BLS OEWS 2000 (pay) [7] |
| 2003 | 46,230 | $32,310 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [5] |
| 2004 | 43,140 | $32,650 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [5] |
| 2005 | 49,310 | $33,530 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [5] |
| 2006 | 51,990 | $34,610 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [5] |
| 2007 | 50,800 | $35,230 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [5] |
| 2008 | 51,730 | $35,580 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [5] |
| 2009 | 46,400 | $35,590 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [5] |
| 2010 | 40,880 | $36,640 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [5] |
| 2011 | 41,960 | $37,350 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [5] |
| 2012 | 42,350 | $37,610 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [5] |
| 2013 | 44,050 | $37,600 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [5] |
| 2014 | 42,820 | $38,410 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [5] |
| 2015 | 44,230 | $39,440 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [5] |
| 2016 | 47,140 | $41,920 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [5] |
| 2017 | 47,330 | $42,580 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [5] |
| 2018 | 50,940 | $43,550 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [5] |
| 2019 | 52,400 | $44,630 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [5] |
| 2020 | 52,190 | $46,080 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [5] |
| 2021 | 52,700 | $47,180 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [5] |
| 2022 | 51,630 | $48,720 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [5] |
| 2023 | 53,390 | $51,100 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [5] |
| 2024 | 57,000 | $55,440 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [5] |
| 2025 | 58,480 | $57,080 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [5] |

## Sources (74)

### Employment series

1. [Glaziers Local 27 — About: "Glaziers Union Local #27 was organized on May 5th 1899"](https://www.glaziers27.org/about-1), Glaziers Local Union No. 27 / IUPAT
2. [IUPAT history — "1927: Local 636 (Los Angeles) glaziers prepare glass for installation and install a large glass plate; members pictured next to a horse-drawn glass cart"](https://www.iupat.org/about-the-iupat/our-history/), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
3. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook 1980-81 Edition (Bulletin 2075), construction trades section — glaziers employment estimate](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/occupational-outlook-handbook-3964/occupational-outlook-handbook-1980-81-edition-498765/content/pdf/bls_2075_1980_2), Bureau of Labor Statistics / FRASER St. Louis Fed
4. [BLS Occupational Employment and Wages 2000 (USDL 01-460) — national OES estimates, glaziers (SOC 47-2121), May 2000 survey](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/history/ocwage_11142001.txt), Bureau of Labor Statistics
5. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

6. [The Labor Tribune (St. Louis) — "Glaziers Local 513 celebrates 125th Anniversary gala" (recounting Local 138 founding in 1899, wages of 30 cents per hour, 45-hour week)](https://labortribune.com/glaziers-local-513-celebrates-rich-history-with-125th-anniversary-gala/), The Labor Tribune / Glaziers Local 513 / IUPAT
7. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
8. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Tool eras

9. [Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass — founding history: Guild of Glaziers existed as early as 1328, received Royal Charter of incorporation 1638](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Glaziers_and_Painters_of_Glass), Wikipedia / Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass
10. [Evolution of Architectural Glass — history of crown glass, cylinder glass, and early flat glass production methods](https://www.tssbulletproof.com/blog/evolution-architectural-glass), TSS Bulletproof / Architectural Glass History
11. [Encyclopedia.com — Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company: founded 1883 by Captain John B. Ford and John Pitcairn, first financially successful US plate glass manufacturer](https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/pittsburgh-plate-glass-company), Encyclopedia.com / Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company history
12. [IUPAT history — 1927: Local 636 (Los Angeles) glaziers install large plate glass, pictured with horse-drawn glass cart](https://www.iupat.org/about-the-iupat/our-history/), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
13. [ArchEyes — Lever House: A Glass Curtain Wall Icon by SOM (completed 1952, first all-glass curtain wall on Park Avenue)](https://archeyes.com/lever-house-a-glass-curtain-wall-icon-by-som/), ArchEyes / Skidmore Owings and Merrill
14. [AllChronology — Float Glass and Beyond: Pilkington's Glass Manufacturing Revolution (float glass process "patented by Sir Alastair Pilkington in 1952")](https://allchronology.com/2023/10/25/float-glass-and-beyond-pilkingtons-glass-manufacturing-revolution/), AllChronology / Pilkington history
15. [Renewal by Andersen / Window Door Blog — The History of Energy Efficient Windows (low-E coatings invented 1970s; double-pane adopted as standard through 1980s energy codes)](https://www.windowdoor.com/blog/the-history-of-energy-efficient-windows/), Renewal by Andersen / Window and Door
16. [World Economic Forum — How low-emissivity glass is revolutionizing building efficiency (low-E development history, performance gains)](https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/06/low-emissivity-glass-revolutionizing-building-efficiency/), World Economic Forum
17. [Glassonweb — Through the Decades: The Rise of Structural Silicone Glazing (MGM Grand 1993, GE neutral-cure silicones, two-part SSG sealants)](https://www.glassonweb.com/article/through-decades-rise-structural-silicone-glazing), Glassonweb
18. [IUPAT Glazier and Glassworker page — "precision, safety, and a strong understanding of engineering and design principles"; work scope covers curtain walls, atriums, skylights, security glazing](https://www.iupat.org/trades/glazier-and-glassworker/), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
19. [O\*NET 47-2121.00 — Glaziers: work context (74% wear protective equipment every day; 54% work outdoors daily; 82% use hands for tools continually)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2121.00), O\*NET / BLS

### Forecasts and exposure studies

20. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 47-2121 Glaziers (2025: 59.2 thousand; 2035: 60.3 thousand; +1.9%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=47-2121&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Historical notes

21. [Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass — Wikipedia (founding 1328, charter 1638, Great Fire 1666)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Glaziers_and_Painters_of_Glass), Wikipedia / Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass
22. [Encyclopedia.com — Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company: founded 1883 by John B. Ford and John Pitcairn, first financially successful US plate glass manufacturer](https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/pittsburgh-plate-glass-company), Encyclopedia.com
23. [Glaziers Local 27 — About: "Glaziers Union Local #27 was organized on May 5th 1899"](https://www.glaziers27.org/about-1), Glaziers Local 27 / IUPAT
24. [ArchEyes — Lever House: A Glass Curtain Wall Icon by SOM (1952, first all-glass curtain wall on Park Avenue, blue-green heat-resistant glass and stainless steel)](https://archeyes.com/lever-house-a-glass-curtain-wall-icon-by-som/), ArchEyes
25. [Glass Magazine — 120 Years in Glass: NSG Pilkington's Rossford, Ohio float plant, founded 1898 by Edward Ford, "one of the first plants in the US to move to float glass production" in the mid-1960s](https://www.glassmagazine.com/article/120-years-glass), Glass Magazine
26. [Engineer Fix — When Did Double Pane Windows Become Standard? (energy crisis 1973, 25% heat loss through windows, double-pane mass adoption through 1980s)](https://engineerfix.com/when-did-double-pane-windows-become-standard/), Engineer Fix
27. [Wikipedia — Glazier: "As of 2014, there are some 45,300 glaziers in the US with a median pay of $38,410 per year"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glazier), Wikipedia (citing BLS OEWS 2014)

### Predecessors & successors

28. [Worshipful Company of Glaziers — Guild of Glaziers existed as early as 1328; Royal Charter 1638; craft tradition carried to American colonies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Glaziers_and_Painters_of_Glass), Wikipedia / Worshipful Company of Glaziers

### Present-day analysis

- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-21
- [O\*NET 30.3 — US Department of Labor](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), accessed 2026-05-21

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.