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Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking

Types of Degrees Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking Majors Are Earning

Those studying Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	49
Associate’s Degree	14
Master’s Degree	18

What Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Production and Processing — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Mechanical — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.
• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.8 / 7.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Control Precision — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.7 / 7
Thinking Creatively	3.6 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	3.6 / 7
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People	3.5 / 7
Getting Information	3.5 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.5 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.5 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	3.5 / 7
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information	3.4 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	3.4 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Inventory tracking software	Inventory management software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Intuit QuickBooks	Accounting software	—
Spectrophotometer analysis software	Analytical or scientific software	—
Jewelry design software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
GemCad	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Gem identification databases	Data base user interface and query software	—
Business accounting software	Accounting software	—
Maplesoft Maple	Analytical or scientific software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking graduates include:

• Pearl Restorer
• Setter
• Phonograph Needle Tip Maker
• Lapidarist
• Diamond Setter
• Gem Cutter
• Diamond Grader
• Diamond Polisher
• Girdler
• Gemologist
• Facetor
• Dial Maker
• Watchmaker
• Pallet Stone Positioner
• Pallet Stone Inserter

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	52.6%
Postsecondary certificate	18.5%
Bachelor’s degree	8.6%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	7.5%
Some college courses	6.0%
Less than a high school diploma	3.9%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.8%
First professional degree	1.0%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 71.6% of Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	23	28.4%
Men	58	71.6%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	61	75.3%
Asian	2	2.5%
Hispanic or Latino	9	11.1%
Black or African American	7	8.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	1.2%
Two or More Races	1	1.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$47,220
4 years	$39,373
5 years	$44,868

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $44,868 — roughly -5% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Watchmaking & Jewelrymaking graduates earn a median of $39,373 four years after completion — roughly 4% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	2,926
Gunsmithing/Gunsmith	2,555
Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair	190
Locksmithing and Safe Repair	61
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other	21
Parts and Warehousing Operations and Maintenance Technology/Technician	18

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.