Architectural Glass and Metal Technician
Impact: Direct, tangible impact on building aesthetics and functionality.
Install, repair, and fabricate glass and metal components, including curtain wall framing, storefronts, doors, skylights, and glazing systems, in commercial, residential, and transportation settings. Measure, cut, prepare, and fit materials to ensure precise and secure installations.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Local travel to job sites
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $58,000
- Entry-level
- $45,000
- Senior
- $85,000
- Growth by 2033
- 3%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- Good
- Typical student debt
- $0 - $10,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Glass Cutting
- Metal Fabrication
- Blueprint Reading
- Glazing Systems Installation
- Material Handling
Soft skills
- Attention to Detail
- Problem-Solving
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Safety Consciousness
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- High School Diploma or GED
- Licensing
- Yes
- Years to mid-career
- 4
- Years to senior
- 8
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Apprentice
- Journeyperson
- Foreman
- Project Manager
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- Low
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 4/10
- Meaning
- 4/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.5/10
- Prestige
- 5.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate