Gem and Diamond Worker

Explore This Path

Perfect for those passionate about the art and precision of gemstones.
Enhance the beauty and value of gems, impacting both fashion and industry.
Discover the unique allure of each stone through expert evaluation and grading.

💰 Earn $41K-$65K

📚 High School Diploma or GED

⏱️ 12–24 MONTH TRAINING

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What You’ll Do

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

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.

Scoop

Minimum Education

High School Diploma or GED

Career Prospects

Good (Increasing by 1-5%)

Training Time

1 to 2 years

Median Earnings

$52,460 in California

$47,450 Nationally

$25K

$50K

$75K

$100K

$125K

$150K

$175K

$200K

$225K

$250K

Real Talk Reel

Want to see what it's like to be a Gem and Diamond Worker? We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life.

@gems_bygemma/Gemma Watts

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Thinking and problem solving
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Speaking

You value 🙏

Having support
Having freedom
Job security

Deep Dive

Gem and Diamond Worker

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Workforce Development Program

A workforce development program typically enhances participants' opportunities to succeed in the workforce through employment skill-building, career counseling, connections to employers, and pathways to high-demand and high-wage jobs.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship typically offers a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, leading to practical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and the potential for long-term employment in a specific trade or profession.

🎓 Paid Work

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-5 years

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Find Training Near You

Find local programs, apprenticeships, or degrees to start your path.

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Learn More About The Industry

Building & Distribution

The primary activities of this group involve constructing, installing, repairing, and maintaining physical infrastructure, producing goods and materials, and transporting people and products from one location to another.