Career change as a glazier
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 6 with on-the-job training and 2 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Window and facade designer
Also: CAD drafter in metal and facade construction
With on-the-job training
As a designer or CAD drafter you draw windows, doors and facades with industry software, create production and order lists and coordinate details with planners and installation.
- What you bring:
- You know profiles, fittings, connections and glass build-ups and know what a drawing needs so that installation and sealing on the site succeed.
- How to get there:
- Window, metal and facade construction companies train experienced glaziers in design on the job (Einarbeitung), often with courses for the industry software of a few days to weeks. Confident use of a PC is expected. For a qualification of your own, you can retrain (Umschulung) as a technical systems planner (Technischer Systemplaner/Technische Systemplanerin), specialization steel and metal construction technology, which usually takes a good 2 years.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€4,947gross per monthMedian salary
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Field technical advisor, glass and window systems
Also: Sales advisor in window and door specialist retail
With on-the-job training
At the manufacturer, glass wholesaler or specialist dealer you advise glaziers, construction companies and private customers, take measurements, prepare offers and look after jobs through to installation.
- What you bring:
- You know from practice which glass, windows and fittings suit which purpose and what can go wrong during installation.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training from the manufacturer or dealer (Einarbeitung) with product training, usually for a few weeks to months. A journeyman certificate and driving license class B are generally expected. Look for permanent employment, because as a self-employed sales agent you usually work only on commission.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€4,456gross per monthMedian salary
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Claims adjuster for glass damage
Also: Employee in claims field service
With on-the-job training
As a claims adjuster or expert you check glass and window damage on site or from photos, assess the cause and repair route and write reports for insurers or courts.
- What you bring:
- You recognize broken glass, leaks, fogging and installation errors and know how such damage is properly fixed.
- How to get there:
- Insurers and claims service providers give tradespeople with glazing experience a few weeks to months of on-the-job training themselves (Einarbeitung). Confident PC skills and confidence in customer conversations are expected. As an expert you usually work only after the master craftsperson exam and courses at chambers or training providers. You are publicly appointed and sworn after the chamber has checked your special expertise.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€4,797gross per monthMedian salary
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Caretaker
Also: Property caretaker
With on-the-job training
As a caretaker at housing companies, schools or businesses you keep buildings and grounds in good shape, do repairs and take care of technology and winter maintenance (snow clearing).
- What you bring:
- You can adjust, seal and repair windows and doors, replace panes yourself and work independently.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training from the employer (Einarbeitung). Your journeyman certificate is an advantage there, and for heating and electrics, building services courses of a few weeks help. You work mostly in buildings and carry heavy loads less often than in installation, and on-call duty can come on top.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demanding€3,260gross per monthMedian salary
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Installer of photovoltaic systems
Also: Solar installer
With on-the-job training
At a solar company you install photovoltaic modules on roofs and facades and, with an electrotechnical additional qualification, also take over parts of the installation.
- What you bring:
- You handle large glass surfaces confidently, work at height and know how fastenings and connections are made tight and storm-proof.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training at a solar or electrical specialist company (Einarbeitung), and installation experience with glass and facades is an advantage there. For work on the electrics you need an electrotechnical qualification, for example a course to become an electrically qualified person for defined tasks (Elektrofachkraft für festgelegte Tätigkeiten) or the further training as a solar installer (Solarteur) at chambers of crafts and training providers. Depending on scope, this takes a few weeks to months.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of time outdoors -
Machine operator in insulating glass production
Also: Employee in glass finishing
With on-the-job training
In the glass industry or at a glass finisher you control cutting, grinding and insulating glass lines, check quality and work in the hall instead of on the construction site.
- What you bring:
- You know types of glass, cutting, edge processing and insulating glass from the workshop and handle glass confidently.
- How to get there:
- Glass finishers and insulating glass manufacturers train glaziers on the equipment over a few weeks (Einarbeitung), usually in shift work. An industrial qualification comes from vocational training (Ausbildung) as a flat glass technologist (Flachglastechnologe/Flachglastechnologin), which takes 3 years; with your journeyman certificate it can be shortened.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workLittle customer contact€3,256gross per monthMedian salary
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Master glazier
Also: Installation manager in window and facade construction
With further trainingPromotion
As a master craftsperson (Meister) or installation manager you take measurements, plan installations and crews, calculate jobs and check execution on the site.
- What you bring:
- You know types of glass, windows, doors, all-glass systems and facades and know what matters in installing, sealing and glazing.
- How to get there:
- The master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the glazier trade takes about one year full-time and 2 to 3 years alongside work, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are admitted with the journeyman certificate (Gesellenbrief). For your own business you need the master qualification or an equivalent entitlement, because the glazier trade requires a license.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demanding€4,664gross per monthMedian salary
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Instructor in the glazier trade
Also: Instructor at an inter-company training facility
With further trainingPromotion
As an instructor you practice with trainees in the workshop and in courses and prepare them for the journeyman exam.
- What you bring:
- You are skilled in glass cutting, glazing and window installation in practice and can demonstrate and explain techniques well.
- How to get there:
- The master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the glazier trade also includes trainer aptitude (Ausbildereignung). It takes about one year full-time and longer alongside work, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Full-time instructor jobs exist, for example, at inter-company training facilities and glass technical schools.*Regulated by law (Crafts Code (HwO) § 22b).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact€4,462gross per monthMedian salary
Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as a glazier without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Window and facade designer, Field technical advisor, glass and window systems, Claims adjuster for glass damage, Caretaker, Installer of photovoltaic systems and Machine operator in insulating glass production.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a glazier?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Master glazier and Instructor in the glazier trade.
What promotion options do I have as a glazier?
Promotions include, for example: Master glazier and Instructor in the glazier trade.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Window and facade designer (€4,947 gross per month), Claims adjuster for glass damage (€4,797 gross per month) and Master glazier (€4,664 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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