Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers

Summary

What Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers Do About this section

Jeweler’s torches are used to resize and repair jewelry.

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers design, construct, adjust, repair, appraise and sell jewelry and related products.

Duties

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers typically do the following:

• Design and create jewelry from precious metals and stones
• Examine, identify, and grade diamonds and other gems
• Clean and polish jewelry
• Repair jewelry, such as by replacing broken clasps, fixing settings, or remounting stones
• Smooth joints and rough spots and polish smoothed areas
• Compute the costs of material and labor for new pieces and repairs
• Model new pieces with carved wax or computer-aided design, and then cast them in metal
• Shape metal to hold the gems in pieces of jewelry
• Solder pieces together and set stones

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers use a variety of tools in their work. For example, they may use lasers to cut and improve the quality of stones, to engrave or inscribe personal messages on jewelry, or to weld metals together without seams. They also may use computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) or 3D printers to create jewelry before cutting a stone or taking other costly steps.

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers may use different titles, often based on their job tasks or primary responsibilities.

Bench jewelers, also known as metalsmiths, silversmiths, goldsmiths, and platinumsmiths, do tasks ranging from simple jewelry cleaning and repair to creating molds and original pieces. Some specialize in duties such as hand engraving, stone cutting, or soldering.

Gemologists analyze, identify, describe, and certify the quality and characteristics of gemstones and pearls. They write reports certifying that the items are of a particular quality.

Jewelry appraisers examine and analyze jewelry to determine its value. They then research the jewelry market to estimate the jewelry’s worth and write appraisal documents detailing their findings.

Specific duties for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers may overlap, depending on their training and qualifications. For example, a gemologist might also design and appraise jewelry as well as certify gemstone quality.

Work Environment About this section

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers use various tools and chemicals.

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers held about 46,200 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of jewelers and precious stone and metal workers were as follows:

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers spend much of their time sitting at a workbench or standing at a polishing station.

Their workplace may expose them to hazards including fumes and toxic or caustic chemicals. In addition, they must carefully handle tools, such as a jeweler's torch or laser, to avoid injury. Workers sometimes wear goggles, masks, gloves, or other personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce their risk of harm.

Some jewelers and precious stone and metal workers, especially self-employed workers, may work from home. Along with selling products in retail stores or online, workers also may travel to trade and craft shows. Because many of their materials are valuable, jewelers must follow security procedures, such as making use of burglar alarms.

Work Schedules

Most jewelers and precious stone and metal workers work full time, and work schedules may vary.

Self-employed workers may sell their products at trade and craft shows during weekends. Retail store workers also may work nonstandard schedules because they must be available outside normal business hours, such as in the evenings or on holidays and weekends.

How to Become a Jeweler or Precious Stone and Metal Worker About this section

Although most jewelers and precious stone and metal workers have a high school diploma, many trade schools offer courses for workers who seek additional education.

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation, and they learn their skills on the job. Some workers complete an apprenticeship or trade school program.

Education

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers typically need a high school diploma, although some employers hire candidates who do not have formal education and others may require or prefer education beyond high school.

Trade schools offer postsecondary education for prospective jewelers and precious stone and metal workers. Programs may include courses such as introduction to gems and metals, resizing, repair, and computer-aided design (CAD). Students may learn how to design, cast, set, and polish jewelry and gems, as well as how to use and care for a jeweler’s tools and equipment.

Training

Many jewelers and precious stone and metal workers learn or develop their skills on the job. The length of training required to become proficient depends on the difficulty of the specialty but often lasts at least a year. Training usually focuses on casting, setting stones, making models, or engraving.

Some workers complete an apprenticeship, which combines paid on-the-job training with technical instruction.

Other workers gain skills by working alongside a bench jeweler or gemologist while performing the duties of a salesperson in a retail jewelry store.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers may choose to earn professional certification. Although typically optional, certification demonstrates expertise in a particular area of work, such as gemology.

Advancement

As their responsibilities increase, jewelers may progress through a series of jobs that culminate in high-level positions, such as master jeweler or head jeweler. Those who work in jewelry stores or repair shops may become managers.

Important Qualities

Creativity. Jewelers must have the ability to design unique and beautiful pieces.

Detail oriented. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers must pay attention to large and small details on the pieces they make.

Dexterity. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers must precisely move their fingers and tools in order to grasp, manipulate, and assemble very small objects.

Interpersonal skills. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers interact with customers, whether they sell products in stores, online, or at craft shows.

Multi-tasking skills. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers may have to work on several projects at the same time, whether repairs, design, or other tasks.

Near vision. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers must be able to see details at close range.

Visualization skills. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers must be able to imagine how something might look after its shape is altered or when its parts are rearranged.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers was $47,450 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,790, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $78,500.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Jewelers who work in retail stores may earn commissions for jewelry sold.

Most jewelers and precious stone and metal workers work full time, and work schedules may vary.

Self-employed workers may sell their products at trade and craft shows during weekends. Retail store workers also may work nonstandard schedules because they must be available outside normal business hours, such as in the evenings or on holidays and weekends.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of jewelers and precious stone and metal workers is projected to decline 4 percent from 2023 to 2033.

Despite declining employment, about 5,400 openings for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Declining employment in jewelry and silverware manufacturing is expected due to increasing imports of jewelry and rising productivity. Additionally, traditional jewelry stores may continue to lose some of their customers to nontraditional sellers, such as department stores and online retailers. This shift is also likely to reduce employment for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about jewelers and precious stone and metal workers, visit

Gemological Institute of America Inc.

Jewelers of America

Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America

O*NET

Gem and Diamond Workers

Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers