Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
Production
Jewelry pieces are formed from gold, silver, platinum, and stones: cutting and filing rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets; soldering joints; then smoothing rough spots with files and emery paper and polishing with wheels or buffing wire. Stones and metal pieces are positioned and set with hand tools, and finished work is checked under a magnifying glass or with measuring instruments. Repairs include resizing rings, replacing clasps and mountings, and cleaning pieces in chemical baths. Production costs are figured from labor and materials. The work suits people who like fine, hands-on metalwork, close visual checking, and making small pieces to a precise fit.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$52'540
Median Wage Market Position
$52'540
What you might do
- Make jewelry from gold, silver, and gemstones
- Set stones and secure them in place
- Resize rings and replace broken clasps
- Cut and file rings, brooches, and lockets
- Polish metal pieces with wheels and chemical baths
- Inspect finished work under a magnifying glass
Skills that matter
- Setting stones in rings and mountings
- Filing, soldering, and polishing metal
- Inspecting finished pieces under magnification
- Resizing rings and replacing clasps
- Figuring labor and material costs
- Talking through design and repair choices
AI & the future of this role
Custom design, fine handwork, repair, and trusted appraisal are hard for machines to fully match. Clients still seek craftsmanship and in-person care for precious pieces, so employment prospects tend to hold up better than in more standardized shop roles.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details