Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers vs First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers: $48K vs $80K Median Pay

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers vs First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers: what changes?

Consider Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers if you want to replace or repair broken windshields and window glass in motor vehicles. Consider First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers if you would rather directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers and First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers

National median pay (2025): $47,630
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Prime all scratches on pinchwelds with primer and allow to dry.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,300

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (22,600 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers brief

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

National median pay (2025): $79,860
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Inspect, test, and measure completed work, using devices such as hand tools or gauges to verify conformance to standards or repair requirements.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 48,900

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers brief

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers has the edge on annual openings

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers is at 48,900 annual openings, compared with 1,300 annual openings for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers.

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers has the edge on median pay

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers is at $79,860, compared with $47,630 for Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers.

Typical preparation differs.

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers has the edge on projected growth

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers is at 5.7% projected growth, compared with 4.1% projected growth for First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers.

45.8/ 100

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers

71.2/ 100

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers vs First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

Dimension	Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Median pay (2025)	$47,630	$79,860
Pay percentile	25.1 percentile	71.6 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.7%	4.1%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	1,300	48,900
2025 employment	22,600	629,000
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 2	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers brief Read First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers brief

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers vs First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers has the edge on annual openings

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers has the edge on median pay

Typical preparation differs.

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers has the edge on projected growth

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers vs First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

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