Updated for 2026

Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Salary in 2026

This Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer salary guide for 2026 centers on Careerclev's modeled national salary benchmark, built from the latest official BLS wage baseline and extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. It covers average salary, hourly pay, experience bands, salary by city, salary by state, industry premiums, in-demand skills, and long-term job outlook so readers can compare what drives higher compensation.

Last updated: 202618,940 employment estimateFull salary breakdown12 min read
Average Salary
$50.5K
per year (USA)
Entry Level
$37.5K
starting range
Senior Level
$62.2K
upper percentile
Top Earners
$80.8K+
lead / principal
Hourly Rate
$24
avg. equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline·  Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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What Does a Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Earn?

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer pay at $50,509.0 per year in the United States. On the latest official 2024 BLS wage baseline, the lower end of the Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer salary range starts around $35,080.0, while experienced professionals and top earners can reach $67,480.0 or more.

That national figure is only the starting point. In practice, pay for this role changes quickly once location, industry, experience level, and specialization enter the picture. A Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer working in Minneapolis, MN or a stronger salary industry like Construction may see a very different salary path than someone in a lower-cost market, especially when skills like role-specific skills and advanced tools define the role.

Key 2026 BenchmarkThe national median Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer salary is $50,509.0, with an estimated hourly equivalent of $24.

What Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Professionals Do

Replace or repair broken windshields and window glass in motor vehicles.

Typical Responsibilities

Prime all scratches on pinchwelds with primer and allow to dry.
Core
Remove all dirt, foreign matter, and loose glass from damaged areas, apply primer along windshield or window edges, and allow primer to dry.
Core
Allow all glass parts installed with urethane ample time to cure, taking temperature and humidity into account.
Core
Apply a bead of urethane around the perimeter of each pinchweld and dress the remaining urethane on the pinchwelds so that it is of uniform level and thickness.
Core
Select appropriate tools, safety equipment, and parts, according to job requirements.
Core
Install replacement glass in vehicles.
Core
Related job titlesAutomotive Glass Installer (Auto Glass Installer), Automotive Glass Technician (Auto Glass Technician), Automotive Glazier (Auto Glazier), Glass Installer, Glass Installer Technician, Glass Technician

Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Salary by Experience Level

Experience is one of the strongest salary drivers for Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer roles. Entry-level workers usually sit closer to the lower salary band while senior, lead, and principal-level professionals move into higher ranges as they take on ownership, decision-making, mentoring, and more specialized work.

That progression matters because the headline median can hide how wide the real pay ladder is. For some roles, early-career pay stays close to the middle; for others, the gap between first-job pay and senior pay is large enough to change how attractive the path looks over time.

LevelExperienceAvg. Base SalaryEstimated Total PayGrowth vs Previous
Entry Level Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer0-2 years$37,513.0$39.4K - $44.9KN/A
Mid Level Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer3-5 years$50,552.0$46.6K - $67.8K+34.8%
Senior Level Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer6-10 years$62,201.0$57.1K - $81.5K+23.0%
Lead / Principal Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer10+ years$72,140.0$72.8K - $94.5K+16.0%
How to read the experience tableThe cards show the quick salary story, while the table gives a more detailed view of how Automotive Glass Installer and Repairerpay can move from entry-level work into senior and lead responsibility.

Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Salary by City

City salary differences matter because Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer jobs are tied to local employer demand, cost of living, and industry concentration. Markets like Minneapolis, MN and Connecticut can pay very differently even when the job title looks the same on paper.

That is why city pages are often more useful than national averages once you are actively job searching. They show whether a stronger nominal salary comes from a genuinely better market, a more specialized employer mix, or simply a more expensive metro.

United States — City Comparison

CityProjected SalaryVs. National BenchmarkCost of Living Signal
Minneapolis, MN$64,150.0+27%High salary market
Connecticut$62,480.0+24%High salary market
North Carolina$61,440.0+22%High salary market
Minnesota$61,270.0+21%High salary market
Fayetteville, NC$60,960.0+21%High salary market
New Jersey$60,010.0+19%Competitive
Seattle, WA$59,000.0+17%Competitive
Wilmington, NC$58,990.0+17%Competitive
Boston, MA$58,510.0+16%Competitive
San Jose, CA$58,480.0+16%Competitive
City salary pictureA higher Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer salary in a major metro does not always mean higher take-home value. Housing, taxes, commuting, and remote-work flexibility can change the real outcome.
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Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Salary by Industry

Industry can change a Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer salary as much as geography. Employers in Construction may pay more when the role sits close to revenue, regulated operations, complex infrastructure, or scarce technical expertise.

IndustryProjected SalaryBonus PotentialJob SecurityGrowth Pace
Construction$50,340.0HighStrongFast
Other Services Except Public Administration$47,440.0HighStrongFast
Transportation and Warehousing$46,780.0HighStrongFast
Wholesale Trade$46,410.0ModerateStrongFast
Retail Trade$43,680.0ModerateStrongModerate

The strongest-paying industries for Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer roles usually combine higher budgets with urgent business needs. Use this table to compare not only salary, but also the tradeoff between upside, stability, and long-term growth.

Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Salary by Skill Specialization

Skills shape salary because they tell employers what kind of problems a Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer can solve. Strong signals around role-specific skills, advanced tools, tools, platforms, analysis, communication, and domain knowledge can help candidates move from average pay into stronger compensation bands.

Common tool stackO*NET maps Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer work to tools such as Workday software, Microsoft Windows, Recordkeeping software, and Estimating software.
role-specific skills can raise the ceilingThe most valuable Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer skills are the ones connected to business-critical work, scarce tools, and hard-to-fill responsibilities. Pairing role-specific skills with advanced tools can make a candidate easier to price at the top of the salary range.

Remote vs Onsite vs Hybrid — Salary Comparison

Remote, onsite, and hybrid pay can shift the salary story for Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer jobs. Remote roles often widen the hiring market, while onsite roles may pay more in expensive metros when employers need local availability, team coverage, or specialized workplace access.

Work TypeAvg. BaseExperienceBenefitsFlexibility
Remote Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer$50,509.0Market dependentVariableHigh
Hybrid Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer$52,024.3Metro dependentStrongMedium
Onsite Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer$51,014.1Location dependentStrongLower

Hybrid roles can carry a small premium in high-cost cities, while fully remote roles can be especially powerful for workers outside the most expensive labor markets. The best comparison is total pay after location, taxes, commuting, and lifestyle costs.

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How to Become an Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer

The most common path into Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer work is to pair the expected baseline education with early hands-on practice and proof that you can handle the core responsibilities of the role. Candidates move faster when they can connect training, projects, internships, or prior adjacent work to the exact kinds of tasks employers hire automotive glass installer and repairer professionals to do.

If you want the fuller step-by-step version, open the full How to Become an Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer guide.

Practical shortcutThe strongest early candidates for Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer jobs usually show job-relevant work samples, clear fundamentals, and evidence that they can contribute with limited supervision.
Knowledge areas employers associate with this roleCustomer and Personal Service, Mechanical, English Language, and Administration and Management.

Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Work Environment

Work environment can shape job fit just as much as salary. For Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer, the day-to-day experience may vary based on employer type, digital vs on-site workflows, collaboration intensity, schedule predictability, and how much independent judgment the role requires.

Common work-style signalsO*NET highlights Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cautiousness, and Stress Tolerance for Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer work.
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Entry-Level Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Salary Expectations

Entry-level Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer salary expectations should be viewed as a starting range, not a ceiling. New workers in this role often earn around $37,513.0, with pay rising as they build practical experience, stronger judgment, better tools, and a clearer track record of delivering work without close supervision.

Internship / Trainee
$18/hr
$28.1K - $43.1K annualized
Early practical exposure, supervised assignments, portfolio building, and conversion into a first full-time role.
New Grad / Junior
$37.5K
$37.5K - $42.8K base
First full-time Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer roles reward candidates who can show useful work, reliable fundamentals, and coachability.

Typical Promotion Timeline

Promotions usually follow the move from supervised work to independent delivery, then to broader ownership. Switching employers can sometimes accelerate salary growth when the current role has a narrow pay band.

StageTypical TimelineSalary JumpKey Milestone
Intern → JuniorInternship → first role$6.8K - $12.0KFirst full-time offer
Junior → Mid18-30 months$6.1K - $11.1KDeliver work independently
Mid → Senior2-4 years$7.5K - $13.7KOwn larger outcomes
Senior → Lead3-6 years$8.7K - $18.0KInfluence teams or strategy

Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Career Progression & Salary Path

This step is useful because experience level and career progression are related, but not identical. The pay path below shows how compensation tends to widen as the work moves from narrower execution into broader ownership and leadership scope.

1
Intern / Trainee
$27.4K$36.9K
Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
2
Junior
$34.0K$44.9K
Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
3
Mid Level
$42.5K$52.9K
Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
4
Senior
$51.0K$66.2K
Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
5
Lead
$60.5K$76.6K
Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
6
Principal / Architect
$70.9K$96.9K
Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.

Factors That Affect a Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer's Salary

A Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer salary is rarely determined by job title alone. Employers also price the role based on education, certifications, tools used, industry setting, workplace responsibility, and how difficult it is to find qualified candidates with the same mix of skills.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.

Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Job Demand & Market Outlook

The Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer job outlook matters because demand affects hiring, salary growth, and how much leverage qualified workers have. The current projection points to 3.6% employment change from 2024 to 2034, which helps explain whether employers are likely to keep competing for qualified talent.

Salary is easier to interpret when it sits next to a demand signal. Strong wages in a shrinking field can tell a very different story from strong wages in a role where openings, replacement demand, and market expansion are all still active.

BLS Employment ProjectionEmployment is projected to change by 3.6% from 2024 to 2034.
About averageAnnual openings: 1.4 thousand.
Metric2026 Status
Projected employment20.4k → 21.1k
Typical educationUsually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Related experienceSome 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.
Remote job availabilityMeaningful for roles with portable work and digital workflows
Salary market signalMedian pay of $50,509.0 suggests a solid compensation track.

How to Increase Your Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer Salary

The most reliable way to increase a Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer salary is to make your value easier for employers to measure. That usually means building stronger evidence around outcomes, expanding into higher-value skills, moving toward better-paying industries, and negotiating with current market salary data in hand.

StrategyAvg. Salary ImpactTimelineEffort Level
Benchmark against stronger markets+15-30%1-3 monthsHigh ROI
Build a visible specialization$6.1K - $14.1K3-9 monthsMedium
Target higher-paying industries$4.0K - $9.1K2-6 monthsMedium
The fastest salary liftFor many Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer professionals, the fastest path is a focused mix of stronger proof, higher-value skills, and better market selection. Salary gains usually come faster when candidates combine a clear portfolio with targeted applications and negotiation.

Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer vs Similar Career Salaries

Comparing Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer salary with Substation Relay Repairer and other nearby careers helps show whether this job title is underpaid, fairly priced, or part of a stronger salary path. These comparisons are useful when choosing between roles, planning a career move, or deciding which skills to build next.

Substation Relay Repairer
$101K
Related role
Above baseline
Electrical Power-line Installer and Repairer
$92.6K
Related role
Above baseline
Signal and Track Switch Repairer
$83.6K
Related role
Above baseline
Transportation Equipment Electronics Technician
$82.7K
Related role
Above baseline
Avionic Technician
$81.4K
Related role
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Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician
$78.7K
Related role
Above baseline
Maintenance Supervisor
$78.3K
Related role
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Control and Valve Installer and Repairer
$74.7K
Related role
Above baseline
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Frequently Asked Questions

These questions usually come up after readers compare the national salary, experience bands, and city differences. Together they clarify how to read the salary data and what to pay attention to when you compare this role with nearby careers.

What is the average Automotive Glass Installers & Repairers salary?
The latest national baseline for Automotive Glass Installers & Repairers is about $47,300 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Automotive Glass Installers & Repairers salary?
Entry-level estimates for Automotive Glass Installers & Repairers are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $35,100 per year nationally.
How much can senior Automotive Glass Installers & Repairers professionals earn?
Senior Automotive Glass Installers & Repairers estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $58,200 per year nationally.
Does location affect Automotive Glass Installers & Repairers salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Automotive Glass Installers & Repairers salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
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Data Sources & Methodology
Updated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
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