Gem and Diamond Workers
SOC code 51-9071 · O*NET-SOC 51-9071.06 · Medium preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Gem and Diamond Workers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$52,540
a year
Hourly
$25.26
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$57,960
$27.87 per hour
Middle 50%
$39,520 – $69,810
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$35,580 – $87,540
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
22,440
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $35,580
- $17.11/hr
- 25th percentile
- $39,520
- $19.00/hr
- Median percentile
- $52,540
- $25.26/hr
- 75th percentile
- $69,810
- $33.56/hr
- 90th percentile
- $87,540
- $42.09/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
-5%
Declining
35,100
jobs in 2024
33,200
projected for 2034
About 1,900 fewer jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do gem and diamond workers do?
Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Assign polish, symmetry, and clarity grades to stones, according to established grading systems.
- Identify and document stones' clarity characteristics, using plot diagrams.
- Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and other relevant economic factors.
- Measure sizes of stones' bore holes and cuts to ensure adherence to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- Examine gems during processing to ensure accuracy of angles and positions of cuts or bores, using magnifying glasses, loupes, or shadowgraphs.
- Examine diamonds or gems to ascertain the shape, cut, and width of cut stones, or to select the cuts that will result in the biggest, best quality stones.
- 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.
- Sort rough diamonds into categories based on shape, size, color, and quality.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a gem and diamond workers earn?
The national median is $52,540 a year. The full range runs from $35,580 at the 10th percentile to $87,540 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a gem and diamond workers without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is gem and diamond workers in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to shrink by about 5% between 2024 and 2034 — declining. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Writing2.9/5
- Mathematics2.8/5
- Active Learning2.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Production and Processing3.2/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
- Sales and Marketing3.0/5
- Economics and Accounting2.9/5
- Computers and Electronics2.8/5
- Mathematics2.8/5
- English Language2.7/5
Transferable strengths: Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making.