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Manufacturing Glass Blower

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AVG. SALARY

$42,040

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EDUCATION

High school preferred +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Increasing

What They Do

Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers Career Video

About This Career

Shapes molten glass according to patterns.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Heats glass to pliable stage, using gas flames or ovens and rotating glass to heat it uniformly.
  • Inspects, weighs, and measures products to verify conformance to specifications, using instruments such as micrometers, calipers, magnifiers, or rulers.
  • Records manufacturing information, such as quantities, sizes, or types of goods produced.
  • Places glass into dies or molds of presses and controls presses to form products, such as glassware components or optical blanks.
  • Sprays or swabs molds with oil solutions to prevent adhesion of glass.
  • Blows tubing into specified shapes to prevent glass from collapsing, using compressed air or own breath, or blows and rotates gathers in molds or on boards to obtain final shapes.
  • Operates electric kilns that heat and mold glass sheets to the shape and curve of metal jigs.
  • Determines types and quantities of glass required to fabricate products.
  • Sets up and adjusts machine press stroke lengths and pressures and regulates oven temperatures, according to glass types to be processed.
  • Shapes, bends, or joins sections of glass, using paddles, pressing and flattening hand tools, or cork.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
  • Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
  • Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
  • Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
  • Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Gaffer
  • Glass Bender
  • Glass Lathe Operator
  • Glass Tube Bender
  • Glassblower
  • Neon Glass Bender
  • Neon Tube Bender
  • Glass Blower — Shapes molten glass according to patterns.

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support