Resize a ring
Cut the band, reshape it, and join it again so the ring ends up a different size.
Career profile
Jeweler and Precious Metal Worker
Jewelers build and repair jewelry, shaping precious metals and setting gems with small hand tools.
A ring can look finished while a seam on it still hasn't been filed smooth, and jewelers work at that tiny scale.
A day in the life
Set a gem in place
Place the gem in its mount, then secure it with setting tools so it stays firmly held.
Model a new design in 3D
In design roles, you build a 3D digital model and tune its proportions, weighing size, cost and production.
Smooth the seam, then inspect
File and polish the rough seam smooth, then check the finished piece under magnification.
Quick facts
High school + workplace training
United States · 2025–2035
$52,540/year
United States · 2025
3.2% projected decline
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
High school + workplace trainingA high school diploma or equivalent is typical; developing proficiency takes long-term on-the-job training.
Pay
$52,540/year2025 national median, or $25.26/hour, for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers together.
Outlook
3.2% projected declineAbout 3,700 openings annually across the broader occupation, averaged over 2025–2035.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy handling tiny parts precisely.
- You are willing to repeat a technique until the finish improves.
- You like turning a design into something you can hold.
Things to weigh
- Expect sustained close work, sitting and repeated hand movements.
- Torches and workshop chemicals require careful handling and protective equipment.
Where AI may help
Computer-aided design (CAD) lets you revise a model before making it. Three-dimensional printing can turn that design into a physical model you can hold.
What people still lead
You still judge whether a design can be made well and inspect the setting and finish.
What we can’t predict yet
Automated polishing and printing may reduce some production work; how much handwork they take over will vary by piece and workshop.
Pay in context
Earnings
These national figures cover jewelers and precious stone and metal workers together, not just bench jewelers.
The median and spread
The median was $52,540 a year, or $25.26 an hour. The 10th and 90th percentiles were $35,580 and $87,540 annually. Those are wage-distribution markers, not starting and experienced salaries.
Workplace affects the comparison
Annual medians were $53,990 in jewelry, luggage and leather goods retail; $48,800 in jewelry and silverware manufacturing; and $46,390 in personal and household goods repair. Retail jobs may include commissions.
Openings despite decline
Employment is projected to fall 3.2%. About 3,700 annual openings are expected as workers leave the occupation.
Getting started
Learn through an apprenticeship
Paid
- What the route involves
- Combine paid work alongside experienced jewelers with technical instruction.
- What it can lead to
- Develop practical skills in areas such as casting, setting or engraving.
Study bench jewelry making
Full-time campus study
- What the route involves
- The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Graduate Jeweler program teaches fabrication, soldering, stone setting and repairs at a jeweler's workstation.
- What it can lead to
- Earn a Graduate Jeweler diploma and build skills for bench fabrication and repair work.
- What to check
- GIA campus applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent and must be at least 18 before orientation and classes.
Plan for substantial hands-on training after high school.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Build consistent bench habits
Practice clean joins and even finishes. Compare your work with quality standards and correct defects.
Take on more intricate pieces
Develop more stone-setting techniques and custom fabrication skills as your control improves.
Lead a bench or shop
Experience can lead to head-jeweler roles or shop management.
Where you can work
Retail jewelry shop
Bench work sits alongside customer service. Store schedules may include evenings, weekends and holidays.
- Indoors
Your own workshop
Making pieces shares time with selling them online or at craft shows, sometimes on weekends.
- Indoors
- Travel
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Make a small ring model from modeling clay. Keep the band thickness even and shape a seat for an imaginary stone. Inspect it from several angles and revise it. Notice whether you enjoy patient adjustments at this scale.
Stay safe: Keep this to clay; it does not require heating metal or working on valuable jewelry.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. National Wages: Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers: Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Gemological Institute of America. Graduate Jeweler Program. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Gemological Institute of America. Comprehensive CAD/CAM for Jewelry Certificate. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Gemological Institute of America. U.S. Admissions Requirements and General Admissions Policy. Accessed 2026-10-04.