Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
Also called: Jewelers
Design, fabricate, adjust, repair, or appraise jewelry, gold, silver, other precious metals, or gems.
Also called: Antique Jewelry Repairer, Appraisal Technician (Appraisal Tech), Appraiser, Arborer, Artisan Jeweler, Artist
Median pay
$52,540
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$35,580 – $87,540
People employed
22,440
Holland code
RAC
Realistic · Artistic · Conventional
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.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 2.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 3.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 4.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (47 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers salary in every state →
What jewelers and precious stone and metal workers do
- 01Clean and polish metal items and jewelry pieces, using jewelers' tools, polishing wheels, and chemical baths.
- 02Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire.
- 03Create jewelry from materials such as gold, silver, platinum, and precious or semiprecious stones.
- 04Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
- 05Examine assembled or finished products to ensure conformance to specifications, using magnifying glasses or precision measuring instruments.
- 06Make repairs, such as enlarging or reducing ring sizes, soldering pieces of jewelry together, and replacing broken clasps and mountings.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Design
- Production and Processing
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
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 jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
- Craft Artists78% · −12%
- Prepress Technicians and Workers70% · −7%
- Furniture Finishers67% · −15%
- Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators67% · −11%
- Upholsterers67% · −12%
Change into jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Craft Artists79% · $46,080
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers76% · $37,800
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers72% · $41,640
- Prepress Technicians and Workers70% · $48,690
- Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners69% · $46,420
Majors that lead here
- Watchmaking and Jewelrymaking
- Jewelry Arts
- Metal Arts
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.