# Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers

> Shape molten glass according to patterns.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/glass-blowers-molders-benders-and-finishers
- SOC code: 51-9195.04
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $46,170 (10th percentile $35,850, 90th percentile $61,530)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.8%
- Openings a year: 5,100
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic".

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 97 |
| Investigative (I) | 25 |
| Artistic (A) | 8 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 8 |
| Conventional (C) | 69 |

## What you'd do

- Thinking Creatively (importance 84/100)
- Getting Information (importance 75/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 71/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 71/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 69/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 69/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 65/100)
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (importance 61/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 61/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 59/100)

## Skills

Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Design, Production and Processing, Chemistry, Engineering and Technology, Mechanical, Administration and Management, Administrative, Sales and Marketing, Mathematics

## Also called

Bender, Blow Molder, Blower, Bottle Blower, Gaffer, Glass Artist, Glass Bender, Glass Block Bender, Glass Finisher, Glass Lathe Operator

## Related careers

- [Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molders-shapers-and-casters-except-metal-and-plastic): $46,170 median pay
- [Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-forming-pressing-and-compacting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $45,760 median pay
- [Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molding-coremaking-and-casting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $44,350 median pay
- [Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/welding-soldering-and-brazing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $47,920 median pay
- [Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutting-and-slicing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $46,570 median pay
- [Tool and Die Makers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tool-and-die-makers): $64,050 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.