What You Need to Know About Gem and Diamond Worker
Position Description Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
Gem & Diamond Worker Responsibilities
- Select shaping wheels for tasks, and mix and apply abrasives, bort, or polishing compounds.
- Regrind drill points, and advance drill cutting points according to specifications for channel depths and shapes.
- Dismantle lapping, boring, cutting, polishing, and shaping equipment and machinery to clean and lubricate it.
- Replace, true, and sharpen blades, drills, and plates.
- 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.
- Locate and mark drilling or cutting positions on stones or dies, using diamond chips and power hand tools.
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Skills Needed to be a Gem & Diamond Worker
Below is a list of the skills most Gem and Diamond Workers say are important on the job.
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 & Diamond Worker Jobs
- Diamond Picker
- Pearl Cutter
- Diamond Cleaner
- Diamond Grader
- Diamond Die Polisher
Is There Going to be Demand for Gem and Diamond Workers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 37,700 jobs in the United States for Gem and Diamond Worker. 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.
Gem & Diamond Worker Salary
The typical yearly salary for Gem and Diamond Workers is somewhere between $23,530 and $67,250.

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 different U.S. states?
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 |
What Tools & Technology do Gem and Diamond Workers Use?
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 to 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?

Gem and Diamond Workers Sector

Below are examples of industries where Gem and Diamond Workers work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Gem and Diamond Worker might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Gem and Diamond Worker in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- 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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