Glazier
Installs, replaces and repairs glass — windows, doors, mirrors, partitions and shopfronts. In Kenya — with growing construction and demand for glass facades in commercial buildings — glaziers serve a specialised construction trade.
- AI exposure
- 20 of 100, low exposure
- Hiring trend
- Stable
- Hiring rate
- 25%
The role
What the work is, what it pays, and what it costs you.
At a glance
- Remote friendly
- No
- Freelance potential
- Medium
- Time to senior
- 5 years
A day in the role
Cuts glass to size for a custom window. Installs glass in aluminium window frames on a new building. Fits a sliding glass door for a residential property. Installs glass office partitions in a commercial building. Replaces a broken shopfront window. Installs a bathroom mirror. Measures a site for a custom glass order. Handles large glass panels using suction cups.
What it pays
Kenyan market, per month- Entry
- KES 18,000-35,000
- Mid
- KES 40,000-85,000
- Senior
- KES 95,000-220,000
Exposure
How much of this a machine can already do, and how that was worked out.
Where this rating sits
1,516 rated careersRated above 12% of the 1,516 careers in the catalogue, which averages 43. Inside trades & vocational the mean is 11, across 66 careers.
Named task by task
Already automated
- AI-powered glass quantity calculation from window dimensions
- Automated glass type selection based on requirements
- AI-assisted cutting pattern optimisation
- Generating installation quotes
Still human
- Cutting glass — measuring and cutting glass to size using glass cutters, straight edges
- Installing windows — fitting glass into window frames (aluminium, wooden, steel), securing with putty, beads, or gaskets
- Installing glass doors — sliding glass doors, swing glass doors, automatic doors
- Installing glass partitions — office partitions, shower screens, glass walls
- Installing mirrors — wall mirrors, wardrobe mirrors, decorative mirrors
- Installing shopfronts — commercial glass fronts, display windows, security glass
- Repairing and replacing glass — replacing broken windows, repairing cracked glass, reglazing
- Handling glass safely — using suction cups, gloves, proper lifting techniques, safety procedures
Task counts
- Displacing
- Minimal — glazing is hands-on physical work requiring precision and safety.
- Augmenting
- AI estimation tools assist but don't replace manual work.
Sources
Behind the rating- Kenya construction sector
- Kenya glass and aluminium industry
- Building code requirements for glass
Getting in
The routes into the role and what each one asks for.
What to study
8 courses- Certificate in Metal Processing TechnologyKsh 42,600a year
- Artisan in Building TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Carpentry and JoineryKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Front Office OperationsKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in HorticultureKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Land SurveyingKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in MasonryKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Refrigeration and Air ConditioningKsh 67,189a year
How people get in
Apprenticeship with glass company
2-4 yearsLow cost
Learn glazing through apprenticeship with a glass company or experienced glazier
Who hires
- Glass Companies (Mabani, Asante)
- Construction Companies
- Aluminium Fabricators
- Self-Employed
Common misconceptions
Glaziers just put glass in frames
Glazing involves precise cutting, knowledge of glass types, safety handling, sealing techniques and installation of complex glass systems — a specialised construction trade.
What happens next
How the role changes from here, and where it leads.
Growth outlook
- Net demand change
- +8%
- Over
- 2026-2028
- Drivers
- Commercial construction with glass facades,Residential glass demand,Renovation and replacement,Glass partition demand
- Headwinds
- Safety risks,Fragile materials,Limited formal training
What to learn
- Smart glass and electrochromic glass installation
- Energy-efficient glass (double glazing, Low-E)
- Structural glass and frameless systems
- Digital measurement and estimation tools
Related careers
Kenyan market notes
Glazing is a specialised construction trade in Kenya. Growing use of glass in commercial buildings (facades, curtain walls in Nairobi), residential (larger windows, glass doors), retail (shopfronts), and offices (partitions). Key companies: Mabani Steel, Asante Glass, Mhasibu Glass. Key types: float (standard), tempered (safety — required by building codes), laminated (security), tinted/reflective (heat reduction), frosted (privacy), bulletproof (banks). Training: on-site apprenticeship, NITA trade testing. Challenges: safety risks (cutting/handling), fragile materials, limited formal training. Salary: entry KES 18,000-35,000, mid KES 40,000-85,000, senior KES 95,000-220,000+.
Further reading
This role is rated 20 out of 100 today. Save it and the app keeps that number, then tells you by how much it has moved when the record is next reviewed.