The LG Files

If you’re running a glass company today, chances are you’ve felt the pressure: entry-level installers are commanding 8–12% more than last year, mid-level PMs are chasing market raises, and estimators are weighing offers from your competitors.

But here’s the real kicker: paying more alone won’t solve your operational headaches. In fact, it can make them worse — unless you align wages with training, specs, and backend systems.

What the 2025 Wage Trends Tell Us

The latest GlazierIQ Salary Guide (from GlazierIQ Jobs) reports that across several regions, union and non-union shops alike are seeing wage bumps at every level. Entry-level installer wages have jumped sharply, not because demand exploded overnight, but because the competition for trained, dependable labor is fierce.

For owners, this means you’re not just paying more — you’re expected to deliver more:

• Faster ramp-ups for new hires
• Fewer mistakes on-site
• More complex system installs, often under tighter timelines

Why Pay and Specs Must Work Together

Raising wages without investing in training or backend clarity is a recipe for frustration. Your crews — especially younger or newer workers — need tools that help them hit spec the first time. That means:

• Clear takeoffs and shop drawings
• Standardized tools and materials they’ve been trained to use
• Vendor orders that match what’s been promised in the bid

If you’re paying top dollar but relying on tribal knowledge to fill the gaps, you’re not gaining efficiency — you’re burning margin.

What to Watch in Your Job Files and Orders

• Are you bidding jobs that assume “senior-only” labor when your crew mix is trending younger?
• Are your takeoffs aligned to the actual skills and knowledge of your field team?
• Are vendors supplying systems or materials your crew knows how to handle — or are they figuring it out on-site?

Smarter Purchasing = Smarter Performance

Standardizing what your team installs isn’t about limiting options. It’s about reducing decision fatigue on-site. When every crew works with the same anchors, sealants, and framing systems, you:

• Speed up installation
• Cut warranty issues
• Reduce the need for senior staff to double-check everything

LearnGlazing helps you train to the systems you buy, closing the loop between what gets spec’d, ordered, and installed.

Avoid Rework and Delays

The number one silent margin killer? Rework. And rework happens when specs, materials, and crew skills are out of sync.

When your team knows exactly what to look for in the job file — and has seen it before in training — you move faster, with fewer callbacks. LearnGlazing’s course modules focus on the exact challenges glaziers face on real jobs:

• How to read shop drawings
• How to handle movement in curtain walls
• What goes wrong with sealant orders and why

Why LearnGlazing Makes Your Wage Spend Smarter

Nick, the owner persona we see again and again, wants to grow without losing what makes his company great. LearnGlazing helps by:

• Reducing onboarding time for new hires
• Providing consistent, no-fluff training tied to actual field challenges
• Helping crews match wage-level expectations with performance on the job

Ready to Align Pay With Performance?

LearnGlazing helps you get there. Before you just “pay more” to stay competitive, let’s make sure your backend — specs, materials, and training — is set up to make those wages count.

Train smarter, not harder. Visit LearnGlazing.com to see how we can help your team win in 2025.

Ready to learn more?

LearnGlazing.com offers free training courses on this topic and many others, helping you master key glazing concepts. Plus, you can download a certificate of completion at the end!

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