Glass-blower
Also known as: scientific glass maker, glass designer & maker, glass designer, glass blower, glass designer & blower, glassblower
About this occupation
Glass-blowers design, produce and decorate glass artefacts such as stained glass windows, mirrors and architectural glass. Some glass-blowers specialise in restoring, renovating and repairing original pieces. They may also work as scientific glass-blowers, designing and repairing laboratory glass.
Essential skills and knowledge
- maintain an artistic portfolio
- intellectual property law
- manipulate glass
- cut glass
- study artistic techniques
- maintain glass thickness
- design stained glass
- design objects to be crafted
- monitor art scene developments
- study artworks
- select artistic materials to create artworks
- observe glass under heat
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers (O*NET 51-9195.04). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Heat glass to pliable stage, using gas flames or ovens and rotating glass to heat it uniformly.
- Shape, bend, or join sections of glass, using paddles, pressing and flattening hand tools, or cork.
- Blow tubing into specified shapes to prevent glass from collapsing, using compressed air or own breath, or blow and rotate gathers in molds or on boards to obtain final shapes.
- Cut lengths of tubing to specified sizes, using files or cutting wheels.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure products to verify conformance to specifications, using instruments such as micrometers, calipers, magnifiers, or rulers.
- Develop sketches of glass products into blueprint specifications, applying knowledge of glass technology and glass blowing.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring
US median pay: US$46,170 a year (2025), 33,190 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignVery important (3.6)
- Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyImportant (3.4)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryImportant (3.3)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.0)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Tool and Die Makers
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.