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Jewelry Retail
Tiffany & Co., Signet Jewelers, Blue Nile
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
These workers repair, set, polish, and sometimes design jewelry, often handling gemstones that have to be judged very closely for quality and value. The job stands out because it mixes artistic taste with microscope-level precision: a small mistake can damage a stone, ruin a setting, or change what a piece is worth. The tradeoff is that the work can be satisfying and hands-on, but it is slow, exacting, and tied to a shrinking job market.
Also known as Bench JewelerGoldsmithJewelry Repair TechnicianStone SetterDiamond Setter
Median Salary
$49,140
Mean $55,030
U.S. Workforce
~23K
4K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-5.5%
35.1K to 33.2K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~23K workers, with a median annual pay of $49,140 and roughly 4K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 35.1 K in 2024 to 33.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Jewelry Apprentice and can progress toward Master Jeweler / Shop Lead. High-value skills usually include Gemstone Grading & Identification, Microscopes, Loupes & Gemological Instruments, and Jewelry Repair, Soldering & Stone Setting, paired with soft skills such as Active listening, Clear speaking, and Critical thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Talk with customers about the look they want and suggest stones, settings, or repairs that fit their budget and style.
- Inspect gems with loupes, microscopes, and other tools to identify stones, spot flaws, and judge quality.
- Grade stones for clarity, symmetry, and polish using standard gem grading rules and diagrams.
- Repair, assemble, clean, and polish jewelry pieces, then set stones securely into metal.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Talk with customers about the look they want and suggest stones, settings, or repairs that fit their budget and style.
02 Inspect gems with loupes, microscopes, and other tools to identify stones, spot flaws, and judge quality.
03 Grade stones for clarity, symmetry, and polish using standard gem grading rules and diagrams.
04 Repair, assemble, clean, and polish jewelry pieces, then set stones securely into metal.
05 Check cuts, holes, and other details during production so the finished piece matches the design and dimensions.
06 Estimate the value of gems and the cost of making a piece by using price guides, labor time, and material costs.
Industries That Hire
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Luxury Goods
Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels
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Gemological Labs and Certification
GIA, IGI, American Gem Society
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Jewelry Manufacturing
Stuller, Pandora, James Avery
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Auction Houses and Estate Jewelry
Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonhams
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field without a college degree, and 41.59% of workers start with just a high school diploma or equivalent.
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The work is hands-on and visible, so you can see the result of a repair, setting, or custom piece right away.
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It mixes art and science: you are not only making something beautiful, you are also judging gem quality and building pieces to exact tolerances.
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There are still about 4.0K annual openings, so even in a shrinking field there are replacement jobs to compete for.
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Pay is not huge, but the mean annual wage is $55,030, and experienced workers who specialize can earn more than the median $49,140.
Challenges
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The job outlook is weak: employment is projected to drop 5.5% from 35.1K jobs in 2024 to 33.2K by 2034.
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The median pay of $49,140 is only moderate for a skill that takes years of careful training and a lot of precision.
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The work can be hard on your eyes, hands, neck, and back because so much of it involves close-up inspection and steady handwork.
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Automation and mass-produced jewelry can reduce demand for some bench work, especially routine setting and polishing tasks.
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The field is small and specialized, so career growth can be limited unless you move into appraisal, management, or ownership.
Career Progression
Jewelry Apprentice
0-2 years
$30K-$38K
Begins with cleaning, polishing, basic tool work, and careful observation while learning how to handle stones and precious metal safely.
Jeweler and Precious Stone Worker
2-5 years
$42K-$58K
Handles routine repairs, simple stone setting, customer requests, and valuation work with much more independence.
Senior Bench Jeweler THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$59K-$78K
Takes on complex repairs, custom work, gem inspection, and quality checks on expensive pieces.
Master Jeweler / Shop Lead
10+ years
$79K-$105K
Oversees advanced work, trains junior staff, quotes difficult jobs, and may manage a shop or run an independent studio.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 41.59% of workers in this role.
Post-secondary certificate in jewelry repair, bench work, or gemology
A common alternative path, held by 18.31% of workers in this role.
Some college or associate degree in jewelry arts, metals, or design
A smaller share of workers come through some college courses (9.72%) or an associate's degree (8.25%), often to build stronger design or metalworking skills.
Apprenticeship and long-term on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training is typical, so many jewelers learn the trade by shadowing experienced workers and practicing on real pieces.
Key Skills
Technical
Gemstone Grading & Identification 70%
Microscopes, Loupes & Gemological Instruments 67%
Jewelry Repair, Soldering & Stone Setting 64%
Precision Metalworking Tools & Polishing Equipment 60%
Pricing, Appraisal & Cost Estimation 58%
Jewelry CAD & Design Software 54%
Soft Skills
Active listeningClear speakingCritical thinkingCareful judgmentAttention to detailPatience and steadiness Job Outlook and Trends
+-5.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
4K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 35.1K to 33.2 K over the next decade, representing -5.5% growth. Around 4 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.