Occupations · Production

Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers

Shape molten glass according to patterns.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 51-9195.04

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Place glass into dies or molds of presses and control presses to form products, such as glassware components or optical blanks.
Spray or swab molds with oil solutions to prevent adhesion of glass.
Heat glass to pliable stage, using gas flames or ovens and rotating glass to heat it uniformly.
Inspect, weigh, and measure products to verify conformance to specifications, using instruments such as micrometers, calipers, magnifiers, or rulers.
Blow tubing into specified shapes to prevent glass from collapsing, using compressed air or own breath, or blow and rotate gathers in molds or on boards to obtain final shapes.
Determine types and quantities of glass required to fabricate products.
Set up and adjust machine press stroke lengths and pressures and regulate oven temperatures, according to glass types to be processed.
Record manufacturing information, such as quantities, sizes, or types of goods produced.
Shape, bend, or join sections of glass, using paddles, pressing and flattening hand tools, or cork.
Design and create glass objects, using blowpipes and artisans' hand tools and equipment.
Operate and maintain finishing machines to grind, drill, sand, bevel, decorate, wash, or polish glass or glass products.
Repair broken scrolls by replacing them with new sections of tubing.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Monitoring3.2

Reading Comprehension3.0

Active Listening3.0

Critical Thinking3.0

Active Learning2.9

Speaking2.8

Writing2.6

Mathematics2.6

Learning Strategies2.6

Science1.8

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Outlook●Billing softwareInventory control software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

2 / 5Some preparation — a school diploma and a few months of on-the-job training.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings+2.9 above average

E-Mail−1.9 below average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets+1.9 above average

Telephone Conversations−1.9 below average

Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures+1.8 above average

Exposed to Contaminants+1.7 above average

Exposed to Hazardous Equipment+1.7 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2015-07

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Less than a High School Diploma43%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)34%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)20%

Some College Courses2%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2015-07

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Realistic6.8

Conventional5.1

Investigative2.5

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Quality Control Analysis3.4

Operation and Control3.4

Operations Monitoring3.4

Time Management2.8

Complex Problem Solving2.8

Judgment and Decision Making2.8

Social Perceptiveness2.5

Troubleshooting2.5

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Production and ProcessingDesignMechanicalCustomer and Personal ServiceEngineering and TechnologyMathematics

Abilities it leans on

Near VisionArm-Hand SteadinessReaction TimeControl PrecisionManual DexterityVisual Color Discrimination

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

BenderBlowerGafferMolderGlassblowerBlow MolderTube BenderNeon PumperGlass BenderGlass BlowerLathe BlowerGlass MolderGlass WorkerBottle Blower

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

MolderBlowerBenderGafferPresserGlassblowerTube BenderNeon PumperBlow MolderGlass MolderGlass BlowerGlass Worker

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
glass beveller	7315.2	close
glass-blower	7315.1	close
glass forming machine operator	8181.8	broader
glass polisher	8181.9	broader
drawing kiln operator	8181.4	broader
glass artist	2651.7	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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