What is a Gem and Diamond Worker?
Gem & Diamond Worker Definition Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
Life As a Gem & Diamond Worker: What Do They Do?
- Place stones in clamps on polishing machines and polish facets of stones, using felt-covered or canvas-covered polishing wheels and polishing compounds such as tripoli and rouge.
- Secure gems or diamonds in holders, chucks, dops, lapidary sticks, or blocks for cutting, polishing, grinding, drilling, or shaping.
- Assign polish, symmetry, and clarity grades to stones, according to established grading systems.
- Replace, true, and sharpen blades, drills, and plates.
- Split gems along pre-marked lines to remove imperfections, using blades and jewelers’ hammers.
- Select shaping wheels for tasks, and mix and apply abrasives, bort, or polishing compounds.
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What a Gem & Diamond Worker Should Know
Gem and Diamond Workers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Gem and Diamond Worker
- Diamond Cleaner
- Jewelry Designer
- Diamond Sawer
- Diamond Sorter
- Diamond Polisher
Is There Job Demand for Gem and Diamond Workers?
There were about 37,700 jobs for Gem and Diamond Worker in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Gem and Diamond Worker. The BLS estimates 3,500 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Gem & Diamond Worker are Idaho, South Carolina, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Tennessee, New Mexico, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Gem & Diamond Worker Make?
The salary for Gem and Diamond Workers ranges between about $23,530 and $67,250 a year.

Gem and Diamond Workers who work in Kentucky, New Jersey, or Wisconsin, make the highest salaries.
How much do Gem and Diamond Workers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $41,320 |
Alaska | $33,520 |
Arizona | $45,860 |
Arkansas | $43,880 |
California | $40,940 |
Colorado | $42,490 |
Connecticut | $54,280 |
Delaware | $46,690 |
Florida | $41,300 |
Georgia | $36,350 |
Hawaii | $37,560 |
Idaho | $42,040 |
Illinois | $39,030 |
Indiana | $41,220 |
Iowa | $44,390 |
Kansas | $44,200 |
Kentucky | $55,840 |
Louisiana | $36,820 |
Maine | $43,950 |
Maryland | $51,920 |
Massachusetts | $44,480 |
Michigan | $40,580 |
Minnesota | $39,590 |
Mississippi | $27,820 |
Missouri | $38,330 |
Montana | $34,950 |
Nebraska | $30,680 |
Nevada | $46,200 |
New Hampshire | $48,280 |
New Jersey | $54,870 |
New Mexico | $30,480 |
New York | $50,380 |
North Carolina | $40,420 |
North Dakota | $52,090 |
Ohio | $38,180 |
Oklahoma | $41,100 |
Oregon | $52,580 |
Pennsylvania | $42,670 |
Rhode Island | $43,710 |
South Carolina | $40,270 |
South Dakota | $37,330 |
Tennessee | $46,740 |
Texas | $41,450 |
Utah | $36,900 |
Vermont | $40,010 |
Virginia | $48,330 |
Washington | $39,540 |
West Virginia | $39,120 |
Wisconsin | $52,050 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Gem and Diamond Workers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Gem and Diamond Workers:
- Web browser software
- Inventory tracking software
How do I Become a Gem & Diamond Worker?
Learn what Gem and Diamond Worker education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Gem & Diamond Worker?

Where do Gem and Diamond Workers Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Gem and Diamond Worker might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Gem and Diamond Worker sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
- Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
- Sewers, Hand
References:
Image Credit: Jorge Royan via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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