The median pay for Gem and Diamond Workers is $52,540 a year ($25.26/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 3.2% through 2035, with about 3,700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-9071
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Gem and Diamond Worker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $52,540a year, or $25.26/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $36KTop 10% $88K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.2%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,70032,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202532.8K
- Projected 203531.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 32.8K Projected 2035 31.8K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Diamond Cutter, Diamond Grader, Diamond Picker, Diamond Polisher, Diamond Setter, Facetor.
Pay
How much do Gem and Diamond Workers make?
Every gem and diamond worker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$52,540
Middle half earn $39,520 to $69,810
- 10th
- $35,580
- 25th
- $39,520
- 75th
- $69,810
- 90th
- $87,540
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $35,580 |
| 25th | $39,520 |
| Median | $52,540 |
| 75th | $69,810 |
| 90th | $87,540 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $52,540
- Median hourly wage
- $25.26/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $57,960
- People employed
- 22,440
Versus all US occupations
At $52,540, Gem and Diamond Workers earn 3% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $1,560 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 9% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $87,540 or more while the bottom 10% earn $35,580, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 25% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Connecticut pays the most at $69,800, and still leads at $67,368 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Gem and Diamond Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Connecticut | $69,800 | $67,368 | 140 |
| 2Virginia | $61,940 | $61,264 | 240 |
| 3New York | $61,720 | $57,190 | 4,300 |
| 4California | $60,790 | $54,904 | 2,300 |
| 5South Carolina | $60,380 | $64,406 | 200 |
| 6Washington | $60,380 | $56,423 | 290 |
| 7New Jersey | $59,480 | $54,667 | 780 |
| 8Vermont | $58,570 | $59,791 | 50 |
| 9Kansas | $57,730 | $64,096 | 110 |
| 10Colorado | $57,120 | $55,428 | 220 |
Job outlook
Is Gem and Diamond Worker a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Gem and Diamond Workers | −3.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Gem and Diamond Workers to change -3.2% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 1,100 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,700 openings are projected each year, 11.3% of the 32,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Automating technology, including 3D printing and robotic polishing, is expected to continue to increase the productivity of jewelers and precious stone and metal workers, which will likely reduce their employment demand. In addition, increasing imports may reduce demand for domestically produced jewelry.
Getting in
How to become a Gem and Diamond Worker
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation, and they learn their skills on the job. Some workers complete an apprenticeship or trade school program.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Gem and Diamond Worker do?
Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers design, construct, adjust, repair, appraise and sell jewelry and related products.
Day-to-day tasks
- Advise customers and others on the best use of gems to create attractive jewelry items.
- Examine gem surfaces and internal structures, using polariscopes, refractometers, microscopes, and other optical instruments, to differentiate between stones, to identify rare specimens, or to detect flaws, defects, or peculiarities affecting gem values.
- Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and other relevant economic factors.
- Examine 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.
- Examine gems during processing to ensure accuracy of angles and positions of cuts or bores, using magnifying glasses, loupes, or shadowgraphs.
- Locate and mark drilling or cutting positions on stones or dies, using diamond chips and power hand tools.
- Select shaping wheels for tasks, and mix and apply abrasives, bort, or polishing compounds.
- Assign polish, symmetry, and clarity grades to stones, according to established grading systems.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most jewelers and precious stone and metal workers work full time, and work schedules may vary.
Self-employed workers may sell their products at trade and craft shows during weekends. Retail store workers also may work nonstandard schedules because they must be available outside normal business hours, such as in the evenings or on holidays and weekends.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where gem and diamond workers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods retailers35%
- Self-employed workers32%
- Jewelry and silverware manufacturing15%
- Merchant wholesalers, durable goods6%
- Personal and household goods repair and maintenance4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods retailers | 35% |
| Self-employed workers | 32% |
| Jewelry and silverware manufacturing | 15% |
| Merchant wholesalers, durable goods | 6% |
| Personal and household goods repair and maintenance | 4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Writing2.9
- Mathematics2.8
- Active Learning2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Mathematics | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Quality Control Analysis3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.8
- Operations Monitoring2.8
- Persuasion2.6
- Service Orientation2.6
- Equipment Selection2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.8 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Persuasion | 2.6 |
| Service Orientation | 2.6 |
| Equipment Selection | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Internet browser software
- Inventory management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Gem and Diamond Worker?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Gem and Diamond Worker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.5
- Conventional4.1
- Investigative3.1
- Artistic2.9
- Enterprising2.1
- Social1.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Gem and Diamond Worker
O*NET related occupations
- Production
Jeweler and Precious Stone and Metal Worker
$52,540median a year
Most earn $36K to $88K
−3.2%High school - Production
Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand
$42,660median a year
Most earn $33K to $61K
−19.2%No formal credential - Production
- Production
- Production
- Production
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic
$46,550median a year
Most earn $36K to $63K
−10.8%High school
More production careers
Median annual pay, with gem and diamond workers highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Gem and Diamond Worker$52,540
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Gem and Diamond Worker | $52,540 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Gem and Diamond Worker appears on
Questions
Gem and Diamond Worker: frequently asked questions
How much do Gem and Diamond Workers make?
Gem and Diamond Workers earn a median of $52,540 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 3% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $25.26/hr. The middle half earn between $39,520 and $69,810. The top 10% earn $87,540 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Gem and Diamond Worker?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Gem and Diamond Workers. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Gem and Diamond Worker a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.2% over 2025–2035, a loss of 1,100 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Gem and Diamond Worker do?
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers design, construct, adjust, repair, appraise and sell jewelry and related products. A core O*NET task: advise customers and others on the best use of gems to create attractive jewelry items.
Which states pay Gem and Diamond Workers the most?
The highest state medians for Gem and Diamond Workers are Connecticut ($69,800), Virginia ($61,940), New York ($61,720) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Gem and Diamond Worker?
O*NET scores Gem and Diamond Workers highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.