Best Cities to Start a Glazier Business (2026)

Where a solo glazier business has the most room Our calculation

Myrtle Beach, SC ranks first. One-person foundation, framing & exterior work businesses there average $120,634 a year in revenue, with 15.9 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses for every 10,000 residents (typical metro: 12.0). We scored all 161 metros where the Census publishes foundation, framing & exterior work business counts.

1
Myrtle BeachSOUTH CAROLINA · SC · $120,634 avg solo revenue · 15.9 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
79
2
WilmingtonNORTH CAROLINA · NC · $107,318 avg solo revenue · 15.4 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
75
3
Hilton Head IslandSOUTH CAROLINA · SC · $132,808 avg solo revenue · 21.3 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
73
4
NashvilleTENNESSEE · TN · $123,621 avg solo revenue · 16.5 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
72
5
DurhamNORTH CAROLINA · NC · $105,101 avg solo revenue · 13.7 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
72
6
KilleenTEXAS · TX · $113,168 avg solo revenue · 15.5 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
71
7
RaleighNORTH CAROLINA · NC · $106,500 avg solo revenue · 15.8 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
71
8
KnoxvilleTENNESSEE · TN · $107,012 avg solo revenue · 13.6 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
71
9
GreenvilleNORTH CAROLINA · NC · $91,195 avg solo revenue · 10.3 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fast population growth and lots of new building
70
10
Kansas CityMISSOURI · MO · $116,814 avg solo revenue · 12.1 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue
69
11
ColumbusOHIO · OH · $110,188 avg solo revenue · 12.6 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
69
12
ColumbiaSOUTH CAROLINA · SC · $97,212 avg solo revenue · 10.9 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fast population growth and lots of new building
68
13
MadisonWISCONSIN · WI · $109,527 avg solo revenue · 10.3 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
68
14
Sioux FallsSOUTH DAKOTA · SD · $108,177 avg solo revenue · 17.0 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
68
15
BridgeportCONNECTICUT · CT · $137,233 avg solo revenue · 13.3 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue
67

Weights: average solo revenue 3, fewer competitors per resident 3, revenue compared with the local employee wage 2, new home permits 2, population growth 1. Each factor is a percentile among these metros.

Top 5 by each factor Government data

Highest solo revenue

Bridgeport, CT: $137,233
Hilton Head Island, SC: $132,808
New Haven, CT: $123,935
Nashville, TN: $123,621
Myrtle Beach, SC: $120,634

Least competition

Honolulu, HI: 4.8 per 10k residents
San Jose, CA: 4.9 per 10k residents
San Francisco, CA: 5.0 per 10k residents
Las Vegas, NV: 5.4 per 10k residents
Visalia, CA: 5.6 per 10k residents

Most new building

North Port, FL: 19.8 home permits per 1k
Myrtle Beach, SC: 17.0 home permits per 1k
Wilmington, NC: 16.8 home permits per 1k
Cape Coral, FL: 16.6 home permits per 1k
Fayetteville, AR: 15.5 home permits per 1k

Fastest-growing population

Myrtle Beach, SC: +20.9%
Lakeland, FL: +19.8%
Ocala, FL: +17.3%
Wilmington, NC: +15.9%
Panama City, FL: +15.7%

Every metro Government data

Click a column to sort. “Rate to match it” is the hourly rate you'd need to bill to replace the local employee median, at our default assumptions (25% for tax and benefits, $30,000 overhead, 1,400 billable hours). Try your own numbers in the rate calculator.

#	Metro	Score	Solo revenue	Businesses / 10k people	Employee median	Rate to match it	Permits / 1k
1	Myrtle Beach, SC	79	$120,634	15.9	$46,160	$63/hr	17.0
2	Wilmington, NC	75	$107,318	15.4	$46,000	$62/hr	16.8
3	Hilton Head Island, SC	73	$132,808	21.3	$54,950	$70/hr	13.5
4	Nashville, TN	72	$123,621	16.5	$56,580	$72/hr	9.2
5	Durham, NC	72	$105,101	13.7	$47,270	$64/hr	10.1
6	Killeen, TX	71	$113,168	15.5	$45,420	$62/hr	6.8
7	Raleigh, NC	71	$106,500	15.8	$47,060	$63/hr	11.8
8	Knoxville, TN	71	$107,012	13.6	$49,710	$66/hr	8.4
9	Greenville, NC	70	$91,195	10.3	$40,280	$57/hr	7.3
10	Kansas City, MO	69	$116,814	12.1	$56,850	$72/hr	4.5
11	Columbus, OH	69	$110,188	12.6	$61,010	$76/hr	7.2
12	Columbia, SC	68	$97,212	10.9	$51,310	$67/hr	7.1
13	Madison, WI	68	$109,527	10.3	$82,480	$95/hr	10.0
14	Sioux Falls, SD	68	$108,177	17.0	$47,590	$64/hr	7.8
15	Bridgeport, CT	67	$137,233	13.3	$64,290	$79/hr	3.6
16	New Haven, CT	67	$123,935	8.6	$62,850	$78/hr	1.8
17	Charlotte, NC	66	$104,051	16.3	$48,250	$65/hr	8.0
18	Roanoke, VA	66	$109,991	10.6	$47,950	$64/hr	2.8
19	Fort Collins, CO	66	$118,193	16.2	$60,190	$75/hr	6.6
20	Omaha, NE	66	$117,659	18.6	$50,190	$66/hr	6.5
21	Austin, TX	66	$105,805	18.8	$49,340	$65/hr	11.3
22	Chattanooga, TN	66	$105,074	13.3	$47,670	$64/hr	5.1
23	Dayton, OH	65	$115,528	9.9	$62,490	$77/hr	2.4
24	Greenville, SC	65	$101,317	14.9	$51,750	$68/hr	8.6
25	North Port, FL	65	$87,992	13.8	$47,200	$64/hr	19.8
26	Gainesville, GA	64	$107,992	25.9	$48,450	$65/hr	9.4
27	Des Moines, IA	64	$112,798	17.6	$62,590	$77/hr	8.5
28	Pensacola, FL	63	$97,877	13.6	$47,960	$64/hr	6.3
29	Panama City, FL	63	$95,868	17.0	$47,190	$64/hr	10.8
30	San Luis Obispo, CA	63	$115,933	10.4	$61,610	$76/hr	2.4
31	Lubbock, TX	63	$107,685	23.3	$41,450	$58/hr	8.0
32	Cincinnati, OH	63	$109,654	11.0	$59,620	$75/hr	3.2
33	Dallas, TX	63	$106,925	21.8	$49,450	$66/hr	8.3
34	Fargo, ND	62	$97,402	10.9	$63,740	$78/hr	5.8
35	Colorado Springs, CO	62	$115,993	17.8	$60,130	$75/hr	7.6
36	Oklahoma City, OK	61	$106,634	20.1	$46,140	$63/hr	5.9
37	Harrisburg, PA	61	$90,657	7.3	$51,520	$67/hr	2.0
38	Asheville, NC	61	$101,408	16.6	$47,150	$64/hr	7.8
39	St. Louis, MO	60	$108,539	9.8	$61,370	$76/hr	2.2
40	Richmond, VA	60	$92,944	11.3	$57,760	$73/hr	6.8
41	Lincoln, NE	60	$99,733	15.4	$48,800	$65/hr	7.0
42	Jacksonville, FL	59	$78,718	11.1	$48,370	$65/hr	8.0
43	Tulsa, OK	59	$103,977	17.7	$46,290	$63/hr	5.0
44	Rapid City, SD	59	$100,898	18.4	$46,820	$63/hr	6.3
45	Fayetteville, AR	59	$95,315	25.4	$45,610	$62/hr	15.5
46	Hartford, CT	59	$112,178	9.2	$70,430	$84/hr	1.3
47	Memphis, TN	58	$104,538	12.0	$48,100	$64/hr	2.5
48	Santa Cruz, CA	57	$98,779	7.0	$58,970	$74/hr	1.8
49	Phoenix, AZ	56	$79,476	10.5	$57,170	$72/hr	7.9
50	State College, PA	56	$93,882	7.6	$56,740	$72/hr	2.0
51	Columbus, GA	56	$95,152	8.5	$47,700	$64/hr	1.9
52	Denver, CO	56	$112,158	19.3	$64,080	$79/hr	5.3
53	Indianapolis, IN	56	$94,382	12.3	$62,470	$77/hr	5.4
54	Oxnard, CA	55	$100,737	8.3	$62,320	$77/hr	1.9
55	Milwaukee, WI	55	$102,399	8.3	$71,970	$86/hr	2.0
56	Little Rock, AR	55	$96,981	16.3	$44,700	$61/hr	4.1
57	Lexington, KY	55	$86,644	11.7	$48,000	$64/hr	4.5
58	Lansing, MI	54	$91,160	8.8	$47,510	$64/hr	1.8
59	Tyler, TX	54	$108,869	28.9	$42,580	$59/hr	2.2
60	Hagerstown, MD	54	$79,958	10.3	$55,240	$71/hr	5.4
61	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY	54	$96,163	13.5	$55,170	$71/hr	4.4
62	Billings, MT	54	$99,409	18.6	$49,610	$66/hr	5.4
63	Spokane, WA	53	$86,631	11.0	$58,130	$73/hr	5.3
64	Athens, GA	53	$83,365	13.2	$48,540	$65/hr	5.8
65	Boise City, ID	53	$92,382	20.0	$60,960	$76/hr	11.6
66	Hot Springs, AR	53	$112,983	23.4	$38,010	$55/hr	3.3
67	Wichita, KS	53	$92,304	14.2	$45,530	$62/hr	4.8
68	Palm Bay, FL	53	$66,070	10.3	$41,600	$59/hr	7.3
69	Sacramento, CA	53	$79,736	7.5	$63,580	$78/hr	4.4
70	Gainesville, FL	53	$61,590	8.5	$48,140	$64/hr	10.5
71	Boston, MA	52	$109,844	9.3	$107,610	$118/hr	2.0
72	Seattle, WA	52	$88,227	9.0	$75,610	$89/hr	3.9
73	Gulfport, MS	52	$80,520	16.5	$37,820	$55/hr	7.9
74	Salt Lake City, UT	52	$85,369	13.6	$51,470	$67/hr	6.0
75	Fort Wayne, IN	52	$97,172	13.9	$60,150	$75/hr	3.6
76	Trenton, NJ	52	$99,656	12.8	$64,720	$79/hr	3.0
77	Philadelphia, PA	52	$89,596	8.1	$62,200	$77/hr	2.1
78	Bend, OR	51	$83,955	15.5	$60,390	$75/hr	12.1
79	Santa Maria, CA	51	$87,983	7.6	$66,520	$81/hr	3.1
80	Houston, TX	51	$84,840	20.0	$48,340	$65/hr	8.7
81	Minneapolis, MN	51	$99,158	13.1	$68,620	$83/hr	3.9
82	Pittsburgh, PA	50	$86,665	9.6	$51,140	$67/hr	2.4
83	Pittsfield, MA	50	$112,087	12.0	$70,200	$84/hr	1.2
84	Reno, NV	50	$62,497	7.1	$49,610	$66/hr	5.2
85	Missoula, MT	50	$81,119	14.8	$50,290	$66/hr	7.1
86	Tucson, AZ	49	$79,261	11.3	$48,430	$65/hr	4.4
87	Tampa, FL	49	$73,207	12.6	$47,500	$64/hr	6.9
88	Greensboro, NC	49	$82,144	14.6	$45,240	$62/hr	4.9
89	Portland, OR	49	$86,436	8.3	$73,860	$87/hr	3.3
90	Great Falls, MT	49	$81,100	11.8	$39,470	$57/hr	3.0
91	Bremerton, WA	49	$67,457	6.5	$66,860	$81/hr	6.4
92	Albany, NY	48	$74,668	7.9	$48,840	$65/hr	2.3
93	Bellingham, WA	48	$77,610	9.5	$64,640	$79/hr	5.3
94	Provo, UT	47	$71,194	14.1	$52,430	$68/hr	10.2
95	Coeur d'Alene, ID	46	$86,425	23.1	$61,580	$76/hr	9.4
96	Lakeland, FL	46	$67,589	14.8	$48,000	$64/hr	10.4
97	Ocala, FL	46	$59,933	14.5	$40,610	$58/hr	15.0
98	Grand Rapids, MI	46	$77,868	12.0	$47,850	$64/hr	3.7
99	Olympia, WA	46	$67,297	6.9	$91,870	$103/hr	5.6
100	Worcester, MA	46	$106,994	14.2	$78,820	$92/hr	1.9
101	Las Vegas, NV	46	$40,216	5.4	$49,540	$66/hr	6.2
102	Virginia Beach, VA	46	$79,124	8.1	$57,990	$73/hr	2.2
103	San Jose, CA	45	$77,415	4.9	$82,420	$95/hr	2.8
104	San Antonio, TX	45	$86,688	23.3	$47,730	$64/hr	4.0
105	Kennewick, WA	45	$69,504	11.3	$62,280	$77/hr	7.8
106	Lancaster, PA	45	$103,283	21.7	$51,880	$68/hr	2.3
107	Kalamazoo, MI	45	$71,591	6.9	$47,400	$64/hr	1.9
108	Santa Rosa, CA	45	$79,137	9.3	$61,430	$76/hr	3.5
109	Amarillo, TX	44	$91,320	25.0	$44,060	$61/hr	3.7
110	Syracuse, NY	44	$72,363	7.4	$57,720	$73/hr	3.1
111	Jackson, MS	44	$83,894	15.4	$36,680	$54/hr	2.6
112	Orlando, FL	44	$66,704	15.2	$47,270	$64/hr	10.0
113	Kiryas Joel, NY	44	$73,378	8.5	$61,190	$76/hr	3.1
114	Youngstown, OH	43	$113,496	19.0	$58,790	$74/hr	0.7
115	Honolulu, HI	43	$81,683	4.8	$80,940	$94/hr	1.4
116	Salem, OR	42	$85,879	11.3	$78,420	$91/hr	3.2
117	Erie, PA	42	$77,252	8.5	$45,500	$62/hr	0.9
118	Stockton, CA	42	$53,320	5.9	$61,240	$76/hr	3.2
119	Evansville, IN	42	$74,580	9.3	$59,570	$75/hr	3.0
120	Springfield, MA	41	$87,678	8.2	$83,420	$96/hr	0.7
121	Visalia, CA	41	$52,112	5.6	$56,310	$72/hr	3.7
122	Anchorage, AK	41	$85,524	10.0	$59,270	$74/hr	0.7
123	Burlington, VT	41	$73,987	11.0	$61,110	$76/hr	5.5
124	Cape Coral, FL	41	$69,088	20.2	$48,780	$65/hr	16.6
125	Riverside, CA	40	$66,763	9.2	$60,750	$76/hr	3.4
126	Longview, TX	40	$87,549	17.8	$41,050	$58/hr	1.0
127	San Diego, CA	40	$64,453	7.0	$65,150	$80/hr	3.6
128	Chicago, IL	39	$81,058	9.3	$61,530	$76/hr	1.7
129	Cleveland, OH	39	$93,458	14.7	$59,630	$75/hr	1.9
130	Baltimore, MD	39	$71,786	7.9	$58,980	$74/hr	2.0
131	Albuquerque, NM	39	$63,466	9.2	$47,150	$64/hr	3.1
132	Sebastian, FL	39	$74,855	12.6	$47,380	$64/hr	1.5
133	Akron, OH	38	$91,304	13.8	$58,550	$74/hr	1.1
134	Pueblo, CO	38	$97,151	16.5	$59,220	$74/hr	1.3
135	Detroit, MI	38	$77,664	10.7	$56,980	$72/hr	2.0
136	Baton Rouge, LA	38	$70,564	13.9	$47,150	$64/hr	4.9
137	San Francisco, CA	38	$73,688	5.0	$74,550	$88/hr	1.7
138	Fresno, CA	37	$49,640	6.6	$59,940	$75/hr	3.0
139	Washington, DC	37	$77,259	12.1	$63,310	$78/hr	2.8
140	Providence, RI	36	$76,675	9.9	$61,650	$76/hr	1.7
141	Los Angeles, CA	36	$65,460	6.6	$64,160	$79/hr	2.1
142	South Bend, IN	35	$70,983	9.3	$60,380	$75/hr	2.3
143	Buffalo, NY	35	$65,685	6.5	$60,060	$75/hr	1.3
144	Rochester, NY	35	$73,693	8.9	$60,520	$75/hr	1.7
145	Cedar Rapids, IA	34	$71,904	12.9	$57,760	$73/hr	3.6
146	Modesto, CA	34	$58,578	7.5	$60,140	$75/hr	2.2
147	New York, NY	34	$63,590	7.9	$69,480	$83/hr	2.2
148	Vineland, NJ	34	$69,750	7.6	$73,260	$87/hr	0.9
149	Naples, FL	32	$62,214	17.4	$58,780	$74/hr	6.9
150	Salinas, CA	32	$59,822	6.2	$65,380	$80/hr	1.8
151	Vallejo, CA	32	$49,682	6.1	$65,520	$80/hr	1.9
152	Twin Falls, ID	31	$62,049	18.5	$50,440	$66/hr	5.6
153	Lake Charles, LA	31	$60,525	9.8	$47,980	$64/hr	2.2
154	Fort Smith, AR	30	$73,352	23.3	$44,940	$62/hr	2.9
155	Huntington, WV	30	$57,026	7.1	$48,020	$64/hr	0.8
156	Toledo, OH	28	$70,234	9.9	$60,700	$76/hr	0.8
157	Laredo, TX	27	$51,708	29.3	$33,280	$51/hr	5.0
158	Las Cruces, NM	25	$49,973	15.9	$44,310	$61/hr	3.7
159	Miami, FL	24	$54,497	18.9	$44,430	$61/hr	3.8
160	New Orleans, LA	24	$60,827	11.4	$48,250	$65/hr	1.7
161	El Paso, TX	22	$56,954	17.9	$38,830	$56/hr	2.3

How to read this

Revenue is what one-person businesses take in before expenses, not take-home pay. A high figure with lots of competitors per resident usually means a busy but crowded market; a lower figure with few competitors can mean room to grow. Business counts come from the Census Nonemployer Statistics (2024) and County Business Patterns (2023), grouped as “foundation, framing & exterior work”, so they include some firms outside the trade itself.

For pay as an employee in any of these cities, see the glazier salary overview or the best cities for glaziers to work.

Census Nonemployer Statistics 2024; County Business Patterns 2023; Census Building Permits 2025; Census population estimates; BLS OEWS May 2025. Our data

Best cities to start a glazier business