Glazier
IUPAT Local 1324
Install glass in commercial storefronts, curtain walls, windows, and skylights.
Starting Pay
$25.49/hr
1st year apprentice
Journeyman Pay
$50.98/hr
~$102k/year
Apprenticeship
4 years
earn while you learn
Total Package
$140,000+
wages + benefits
Overview
The Work
Glaziers from IUPAT Local 1324 install glass and aluminum framing systems on commercial buildings throughout the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, and Rochester areas. The work includes storefronts, curtain wall systems, windows, skylights, mirrors, and interior glass partitions. You'll cut and fit glass to precise dimensions, assemble aluminum framing, set heavy glass panels with suction cups and cranes, and seal everything against weather. High-rise curtain wall work means you'll be on swing stages and scaffolding installing glass facades on office towers and hospitals. It's precision work with a visual payoff — when you drive past a building you glazed, you can see exactly what you built. Local 1324 operates under IUPAT District Council 82, which covers Minnesota and surrounding states.
Day One as an Apprentice
Your first day you'll report to a commercial construction site and meet your journeyman. Expect to start with safety orientation and learning how to handle glass safely — it's heavier and more fragile than most people expect. Early weeks involve moving materials, cleaning glass, preparing openings, and learning to read shop drawings. You'll watch how experienced glaziers measure, cut, and set glass before you start doing it yourself.
This trade is
Pay Scale
Pay increases each year of the apprenticeship as a percentage of the journeyman rate. All rates are hourly; estimated annual at 2,000 hrs/year.
| Year | Stage | Hourly | Annual Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Year Apprentice | $25.49/hr | ~$51k |
| 2 | 2nd Year Apprentice | $30.59/hr | ~$61k |
| 3 | 3rd Year Apprentice | $38.24/hr | ~$76k |
| 4 | 4th Year Apprentice | $43.33/hr | ~$87k |
| 5 | Journeyman Glazier | $50.98/hr | ~$102k |
Benefits Package
Full family health insurance, defined-benefit pension, annuity fund, and paid vacation. Benefits are administered through IUPAT District Council 82.
Apprenticeship Program
4 years
Program Length
720 hrs
Classroom Hours
7,000 hrs
On-the-Job Hours
How to Apply
Apply through IUPAT District Council 82 or contact Local 1324 directly. You'll need a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license.
Application Windows
Check iupat82.org or call the hall for current application dates.
Requirements
General Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license
- At least 18 years old
- Drug-free workplace — pre-employment drug test required
- Comfortable working at heights on scaffolding and swing stages
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift and carry heavy glass panels (often 75+ lbs with a partner)
- Comfortable working at significant heights on swing stages
- Good hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness
- Ability to stand for extended periods and work overhead
Tools You'll Need
- Basic hand tools: glass cutter, suction cups, tape measure, caulk gun
- Work boots (steel-toed required)
- Hard hat and safety glasses (often provided by employer)
Physical Demand
3/5
Technical Level
3/5
Union Hall
Market Outlook
High Demand
MN DEED projects 6% growth for glaziers (SOC 47-2121) 2022–2032, double the BLS national projection of 3% 2024–2034. Minnesota's commercial curtain-wall and energy-efficient glazing work drives stronger state demand.
Next Steps
Ready to learn more or apply? Here's what to do right now.
Wage source: Journeyman base hourly rate is sourced from the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry Commercial Prevailing Wage Schedule (effective 2025-12-22), which is derived from the prevailing collective bargaining agreement for Twin Cities, St. Cloud & Rochester Areas. Total package (with fringe benefits) is higher than the base rate shown. Apprentice progression rates are calculated as standard percentages of journeyman scale and may differ slightly from the actual CBA. This page is not affiliated with IUPAT Local 1324 or any union. Verify all information — including current pay rates, application windows, and requirements — directly with IUPAT Local 1324.