Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers design, construct, adjust, repair, appraise and sell jewelry and related products.
Is jewelers and precious stone and metal workers a good career?
It scores 9/100 and ranks #719 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($52,540 vs $61,390)
- Employment is projected to decline (-5.5% through 2034)
What jewelers and precious stone and metal workers earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. jewelers and precious stone and metal workers earn between $39,520 and $69,810 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live jewelers and precious stone and metal workers jobs
No live jewelers and precious stone and metal workers openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified jewelers and precious stone and metal workers openings will appear here — each shown against the $52,540 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
No placeholder listings · nothing inventedHow to become a jewelers and precious stone and metal worker
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow decline through 2034.
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 & 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.
Related occupations
How much do jewelers and precious stone and metal workers make?
The national median wage is $52,540 a year, with the middle half earning between $39,520 and $69,810 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is jewelers and precious stone and metal workers a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 9 of 100 and ranks #719 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -5.5% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a jewelers and precious stone and metal worker?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Where do jewelers and precious stone and metal workers earn the most?
Among states, Connecticut pays the highest median ($69,800). Local pay for every state and metro is below.