Gem and Diamond Workers
Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
Also called: Brilliandeer, Brilliandeer Lopper, Clarity Expert, Diamond Assorter, Diamond Cleaner, Diamond Cleaver
Median pay
$52,540
Pay for the broader BLS group “Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$35,580 – $87,540
People employed
22,440
Whole BLS group
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 2.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 3.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 4.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 5.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Gem and Diamond Workers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (47 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers”.
What gem and diamond workers do
- 01Assign polish, symmetry, and clarity grades to stones, according to established grading systems.
- 02Identify and document stones' clarity characteristics, using plot diagrams.
- 03Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and other relevant economic factors.
- 04Measure sizes of stones' bore holes and cuts to ensure adherence to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- 05Examine gems during processing to ensure accuracy of angles and positions of cuts or bores, using magnifying glasses, loupes, or shadowgraphs.
- 06Examine diamonds or gems to ascertain the shape, cut, and width of cut stones, or to select the cuts that will result in the biggest, best quality stones.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Economics and Accounting
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from gem and diamond workers
- Watch and Clock Repairers69% · —
- Prepress Technicians and Workers69% · —
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers69% · —
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers65% · —
- Aviation Inspectors65% · group pay
Change into gem and diamond workers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Prepress Technicians and Workers69% · $48,690
- Craft Artists64% · $46,080
- Photographers64% · $44,660
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators55% · $55,490
Majors that lead here
- Watchmaking and Jewelrymaking
- Jewelry Arts
- Metal Arts
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.