Career comparison
Glazier vs. Ironworker
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Ironworkers earn more at the median ($62,780 vs. $57,080), while glaziers usually get to work faster (3–4 year apprenticeship of training). Glaziers install glass windows, storefronts and curtain walls on buildings. Ironworkers raise the steel frames of buildings, bridges and towers, high above the ground.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Glazier | Ironworker | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $57,080 ($27.44/hr) | $62,780 ($30.18/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $37,300 – $89,790 | $44,580 – $108,260 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.9% (slower than average) | +3.1% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 3,900 | 5,900 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 3–4 year apprenticeship | 3–4 years (apprenticeship) |
| Key credential | Glazier apprenticeship | Apprenticeship completion |
| Work setting | Glaziers work on commercial sites, homes and shops, often at heights.. | Ironworkers work outdoors at great heights on buildings, bridges and towers, in heat, cold and wind. |
What each job does
Glazier
- Read plans
- Measure openings
- Cut glass
- Install frames
- Set glass
Ironworker
- Read blueprints and erection drawings
- Signal cranes and rig steel members for lifting
- Guide beams and columns into position
- Bolt and weld connections
- Plumb and align steel frames
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, teamwork, and working outdoors. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose glazier if…
- I like precise work
- I don’t mind heights
- I like big buildings
Choose ironworker if…
- I’m comfortable working at great heights
- I like physical, high-energy work
- I trust and depend on my crew
Still torn? Take the Glazier fit quiz and the Ironworker fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, glazier or ironworker?
Ironworkers earn more at the median: $62,780 versus $57,080 for glaziers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Glaziers typically train faster (3–4 year apprenticeship) than ironworkers (3–4 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects ironworkers to grow +3.1% from 2025–35, compared with +1.9% for glaziers.