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Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers

	Median Wage (USD, 2025)	Projected Job Openings (2025-2035)	Projected Growth (2025-2035)
National Statistics	$46170	5500	6.2%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$46170

Median Wage (USD, 2025)

5500

Projected Job Openings (2025-2035)

6.2%

Projected Growth (2025-2035)

Shape molten glass according to patterns.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
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.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

Related Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

Detailed Work Activities

Weigh finished products.
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Record operational or production data.
Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
Shape glass or similar materials.
Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
Create diagrams or blueprints for workpieces or products.
Select production input materials.
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
Connect electrical components or equipment.
Trim excess material from workpieces.
Cut glass.
Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds.
Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
Place materials into molds.
Design jewelry or decorative objects.
Replace worn equipment components.
Repair production equipment or tools.
Operate grinding equipment.
Maintain production or processing equipment.
Operate heating or drying equipment.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

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.
Record manufacturing information, such as quantities, sizes, or types of goods produced.
Determine types and quantities of glass required to fabricate products.
Design and create glass objects, using blowpipes and artisans' hand tools and equipment.
Operate and maintain finishing machines to grind, drill, sand, bevel, decorate, wash, or polish glass or glass products.
Operate electric kilns that heat and mold glass sheets to the shape and curve of metal jigs.
Place electrodes in tube ends and heat them with glass burners to fuse them into place.
Strike necks of finished articles to separate articles from blowpipes.
Place rubber hoses on ends of tubing and charge tubing with gas.
Place glass into dies or molds of presses and control presses to form products, such as glassware components or optical blanks.
Repair broken scrolls by replacing them with new sections of tubing.
Spray or swab molds with oil solutions to prevent adhesion of glass.
Superimpose bent tubing on asbestos patterns to ensure accuracy.
Set up and adjust machine press stroke lengths and pressures and regulate oven temperatures, according to glass types to be processed.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: 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. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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