Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers salary by state
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$60,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$5,500
9.5% of base
Total target cash
$65,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$3,50050th$5,50075th$9,000
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
Typical entry preparation: High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
What Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workerss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
Clean and polish metal items and jewelry pieces, using jewelers' tools, polishing wheels, and chemical baths.
Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire.
Create jewelry from materials such as gold, silver, platinum, and precious or semiprecious stones.
Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
Examine assembled or finished products to ensure conformance to specifications, using magnifying glasses or precision measuring instruments.
Top skills:Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessJudgment and Decision MakingCoordination
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers pay by experience level
Entry level$37,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$41,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$54,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$72,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$90,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-5.5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
4,000
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers salary by industry
Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers
Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance
1,210 workers
$56,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
460 workers
$64,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
380 workers
$89,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Clean and polish metal items and jewelry pieces, using jewelers' tools, polishing wheels, and chemical baths.
Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire.
Create jewelry from materials such as gold, silver, platinum, and precious or semiprecious stones.
Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
Examine assembled or finished products to ensure conformance to specifications, using magnifying glasses or precision measuring instruments.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers pays 7% above the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Need Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
