← Back to all jobs
Jeweler
Retail & ServiceYou work with precious metals and gemstones, creating and repairing pieces that people wear to mark the most important moments of their lives. You'll set diamonds under a microscope, resize rings for nervous grooms, and appraise family heirlooms that may or may not be worth what grandma promised. One slip of the file and you've damaged something irreplaceable.
Salary Range
Low
$28k
Median
$44k
High
$72k
10-Year Growth
slower
US Workers
40K
Education
Jewelry arts program or apprenticeship + GIA certification for gemology
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Bench jewelry techniques (soldering, setting, finishing)
- ▸Gemstone identification and grading (GIA standards)
- ▸CAD jewelry design (Rhino, MatrixGold)
- ▸Casting (lost wax, 3D printed resin to metal)
- ▸Precious metal refining and alloying
- ▸Laser welding and engraving
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Precision and fine motor skills
- ▸Patience with intricate work
- ▸Customer consultation
- ▸Aesthetic judgment
- ▸Business management
What you'll actually do
- 01Set gemstones into prongs and bezels under magnification that makes your eyes ache
- 02Resize rings for customers who need it by tomorrow — always by tomorrow
- 03Solder, file, and polish precious metals with tools that look like dental instruments
- 04Appraise jewelry and deliver verdicts that are either thrilling or devastating to the owner
- 05Repair heirloom pieces that are irreplaceable and worth more in sentiment than money
- 06Advise customers on engagement rings while they stare at price tags in visible distress
Related Shifts
Think this could be you?
Take the Career DNA Quiz to see if this role fits your personality.
Take the Quiz