Description

Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.

Interests

Realistic
Conventional

Learn More about Interests

Work Values

Support
Independence
Working Conditions

Learn More about Work Values

Work Styles

Integrity
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Persistence
Independence

Learn More about Work Styles

Tasks

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.

Work Activities

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
Thinking Creatively
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Handling and Moving Objects

Detailed Work Activities

Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Technology Skills

Computer aided design CAD software
Accounting software
Analytical or scientific software
Internet browser software
Data base user interface and query software

Abilities

Near Vision
Finger Dexterity
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Visual Color Discrimination
Problem Sensitivity

Skills

Quality Control Analysis
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Monitoring

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service
Production and Processing
English Language
Mathematics
Sales and Marketing

Most Common Education Level

The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.

Certificates

These are the certification(s) applicable to Gem and Diamond Workers:

Certificate name

Certified Gemologist

Certifying Organization

American Gem Society

Type

Advanced

Certificate name

Certified Gemologist Appraiser

Certifying Organization

American Gem Society

Type

Advanced

Certificate name

Certified Sales Associate

Certifying Organization

American Gem Society

Type

Core

Certificate name

Certified Jewelry Arts Professional

Certifying Organization

American Gem Society

Type

Core

Certificate name	Certifying Organization	Type
Certified Gemologist	American Gem Society	Advanced
Certified Gemologist Appraiser	American Gem Society	Advanced
Certified Sales Associate	American Gem Society	Core
Certified Jewelry Arts Professional	American Gem Society	Core

Income Percentile

The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.

Income Percentile	Annual Income
Low (10%)	N/A
Median (50%)	N/A
High (90%)	N/A

Income by Experience

This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).

Experience	Income
Entry Level	N/A
Mid Level	N/A
Senior Level	N/A
Expert Level	N/A

Employability

There are currently 46,200 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to decrease to 44,500 positions, reflecting a projected decline of -4%.

The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.

Projected Job Growth of -4%

Related Careers

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$39,901

Projected Job Growth

-3 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.

RealisticConventional

Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

Median Annual Income

$44,405

Projected Job Growth

+5 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.

RealisticArtisticConventional

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

Median Annual Income

$44,405

Projected Job Growth

+5 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.

RealisticConventional

Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

Median Annual Income

$43,709

Projected Job Growth

-18 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

No formal educational credential

Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.

RealisticConventional

Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers

Median Annual Income

$49,024

Projected Job Growth

-4 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Design, fabricate, adjust, repair, or appraise jewelry, gold, silver, other precious metals, or gems.

RealisticArtisticConventional

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Median Annual Income

$44,806

Projected Job Growth

-8 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.

RealisticConventional

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Median Annual Income

$43,717

Projected Job Growth

-11 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.

RealisticConventional

Cutters and Trimmers, Hand

Median Annual Income

$39,257

Projected Job Growth

-18 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

No formal educational credential

Use hand tools or hand-held power tools to cut and trim a variety of manufactured items, such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass, or rubber.

RealisticConventional

Etchers and Engravers

Median Annual Income

$41,955

Projected Job Growth

+2 %

Career Cluster(s)

Arts, Entertainment, & Design

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.

RealisticConventionalArtistic

Tool and Die Makers

Median Annual Income

$59,181

Projected Job Growth

-10 %

Career Cluster(s)

Construction

Most Common Education Level

Postsecondary certificate

Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists' hand tools.

RealisticConventional

The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.