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Gem and Diamond Workers: Job Description
Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
What Do Gem and Diamond Workers Take On?
The core tasks performed by gem and diamond workers cover:
- Examine gems during processing to ensure accuracy of angles and positions of cuts or bores, using magnifying glasses, loupes, or shadowgraphs.
- Assign polish, symmetry, and clarity grades to stones, according to established grading systems.
- Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and other relevant economic factors.
- 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.
- Identify and document stones' clarity characteristics, using plot diagrams.
- Advise customers and others on the best use of gems to create attractive jewelry items.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective gem and diamond workers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Gem and Diamond Workers Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Brilliandeer
- Brilliandeer Lopper
- Clarity Expert
- Diamond Assorter
- Diamond Cleaner
- Diamond Cleaver
- Diamond Cutter
- Diamond Die Driller
Job Outlook
There are roughly 768,022 gem and diamond workers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +3.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Gem and Diamond Workers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $66,671 |
| Hourly median | $32.05 |
| 10th percentile | $38,148 |
| 25th percentile | $52,410 |
| 75th percentile | $80,933 |
| 90th percentile | $95,194 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $60,940 |
| Washington | $60,030 |
| Connecticut | $59,930 |
| California | $59,100 |
| Vermont | $57,360 |
| New Hampshire | $56,710 |
| Florida | $56,470 |
| Kansas | $55,430 |
| Missouri | $54,650 |
| Wisconsin | $54,080 |
| Minnesota | $52,390 |
| Colorado | $51,370 |
| South Carolina | $51,100 |
| Louisiana | $50,990 |
| Iowa | $50,940 |
| New York | $50,890 |
| Mississippi | $50,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,160 |
| South Dakota | $49,960 |
| Michigan | $49,930 |
| Maryland | $49,900 |
| Nebraska | $48,980 |
| Hawaii | $48,880 |
| Tennessee | $48,330 |
| Idaho | $48,320 |
| North Carolina | $48,280 |
| Kentucky | $47,790 |
| Rhode Island | $47,300 |
| Texas | $46,900 |
| Indiana | $46,880 |
| Ohio | $46,200 |
| Utah | $46,200 |
| North Dakota | $46,120 |
| Georgia | $46,060 |
| Wyoming | $45,960 |
| Montana | $44,920 |
| Maine | $43,720 |
| New Mexico | $42,470 |
| Oregon | $41,600 |
| Illinois | $40,810 |
| New Jersey | $40,260 |
| Arizona | $40,010 |
| Alabama | $39,730 |
| Oklahoma | $38,690 |
| West Virginia | $38,650 |
| Nevada | $35,670 |
| Arkansas | $31,500 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,700 |
Where Gem and Diamond Workers Earn the Most
Earnings for gem and diamond workers vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $57,364 | 17.3% | 1.16 |
| Plains States | $52,079 | 4.7% | 0.72 |
| Southeast | $51,918 | 15.6% | 0.71 |
| Middle Atlantic | $49,360 | 27.1% | 2.74 |
| Rocky Mountains | $47,976 | 4.9% | 1.34 |
| Great Lakes | $46,001 | 11.4% | 0.83 |
| Southwest | $44,766 | 11.6% | 1.00 |
| New England | $34,172 | 7.2% | 3.72 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | CO | $74,990 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $70,910 | 260 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $68,420 | 90 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | FL | $64,210 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $62,640 | 280 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $62,580 | 180 |
| Richmond, VA | VA | $62,400 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $61,390 | 670 |
Top Industries Employing Gem and Diamond Workers
Most gem and diamond workers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 12,050 | $50,340 |
| Manufacturing | 6,180 | $46,180 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2,780 | $58,120 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,030 | $48,250 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 420 | $70,410 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 410 | $62,640 |
| Finance and Insurance | 190 | $50,870 |
Below are examples of industries where gem and diamond workers work:
Software Gem and Diamond Workers Use
- Accounting software: Business accounting software
- Data base user interface and query software: Gem identification databases
- Computer aided design CAD software: GemCad
- Inventory management software: Inventory tracking software
- Computer aided design CAD software: Jewelry design software
- Analytical or scientific software: Spectrophotometer analysis software
- Internet browser software: Web browser software
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for gem and diamond workers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Sitting
Education and Training
Typical gem and diamond workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Rock Splitters, Quarry (Supplemental)
- Watch and Clock Repairers (Supplemental)
- Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters (Supplemental)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Tool and Die Makers (Primary-Long)
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Future gem and diamond workers typically earn programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-9071.06 (Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers).
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