Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
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.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
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.
Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
Design, fabricate, adjust, repair, or appraise jewelry, gold, silver, other precious metals, or gems.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $26K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $32K
Median Salary: $41K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $56K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $77K
Demand
Core Tasks
Position stones and metal pieces, and set, mount, and secure items in place, using setting and hand tools.
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.
Make repairs, such as enlarging or reducing ring sizes, soldering pieces of jewelry together, and replacing broken clasps and mountings.
Clean and polish metal items and jewelry pieces, using jewelers' tools, polishing wheels, and chemical baths.
Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
Select and acquire metals and gems for designs.
Compute costs of labor and materials in order to determine production costs of products and articles.
Anneal precious metal objects such as coffeepots, tea sets, and trays in gas ovens for prescribed times to soften metal for reworking.
Examine assembled or finished products to ensure conformance to specifications, using magnifying glasses or precision measuring instruments.
Pierce and cut open designs in ornamentation, using hand drills and scroll saws.
Construct preliminary models of wax, metal, clay, or plaster, and form sample castings in molds.
Rotate molds to distribute alloys and to prevent formation of air pockets.
Weigh, mix, and melt metal alloys or materials needed for jewelry models.
Pour molten metal alloys or other materials into molds in order to cast models of jewelry.
Rout out locations where parts are to be joined to items, using routing machines.
Shape and straighten damaged or twisted articles by hand or using pliers.
Soften metal to be used in designs by heating it with a gas torch and shape it, using hammers and dies.
Determine appraised values of diamonds and other gemstones based on price guides, market fluctuations, and stone grades and rarity.
Grade stones based on their color, perfection, and quality of cut.
Plate articles such as jewelry pieces and watch dials, using silver, gold, nickel, or other metals.
Write or modify design specifications such as the metal contents and weights of items.
Buy and sell jewelry, or serve as agents between buyers and sellers.
Create new jewelry designs and modify existing designs, using computers as necessary.
Record the weights and processing times of finished pieces.
Lay out designs on metal stock, and cut along markings to fabricate pieces used to cast metal molds.
Mark, engrave, or emboss designs on metal pieces such as castings, wire, or jewelry, following specifications.
Cut designs in molds or other materials to be used as models in the fabrication of metal and jewelry products.
Design and fabricate molds, models, and machine accessories, and modify hand tools used to cast metal and jewelry pieces.
Research and analyze reference materials, and consult with interested parties in order to develop new products or modify existing designs.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Customer and Personal Service
71%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Production and Processing
71%
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Design
66%
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Mechanical
64%
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Sales and Marketing
59%
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
English Language
58%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics
57%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Administration and Management
53%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Chemistry
52%
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Engineering and Technology
50%
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Top 10 Skills
Critical Thinking
63%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making
62%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving
59%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking
59%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management
59%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Active Listening
58%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring
58%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operations Analysis
57%
Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Quality Control Analysis
57%
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Coordination
54%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Top 10 Abilities
Arm-Hand Steadiness
79%
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Finger Dexterity
79%
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Near Vision
78%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Manual Dexterity
69%
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Control Precision
68%
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Problem Sensitivity
65%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Category Flexibility
64%
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Visualization
64%
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Deductive Reasoning
63%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Information Ordering
63%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Top 10 Work Activities
Thinking Creatively
87%
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
72%
Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Getting Information
72%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
72%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People
70%
Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
70%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
69%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
68%
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Controlling Machines and Processes
67%
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
67%
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Detailed Work Activities
Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
Design jewelry or decorative objects.
Solder parts or workpieces.
Repair precision devices or workpieces.
Clean workpieces or finished products.
Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
Select production input materials.
Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
Estimate costs of products, services, or materials.
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Drill holes in parts, equipment, or materials.
Build production molds.
Place materials into molds.
Reshape small metal components for precision assembly.
Shape metal workpieces with hammers or other small hand tools.
Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
Determine the value of goods or services.
Evaluate quality of materials or products.
Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
Sell products or services.
Purchase products or services.
Record operational or production data.
Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
Engrave designs, text, or other markings onto materials, workpieces, or products.
Confer with customers or designers to determine order specifications.
Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.
Mix ingredients to create specific finishes.
Melt metal, plastic, or other materials to prepare for production.
Adjust position of molds during processing.
Majors
Major
Interests
Realistic
98%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Artistic
67%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Conventional
36%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Enterprising
36%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Investigative
31%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Social
15%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Top 10 Work Styles
Attention to Detail
94%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Integrity
90%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Dependability
84%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Analytical Thinking
83%
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Innovation
83%
Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Initiative
78%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Self Control
78%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Achievement/Effort
77%
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Stress Tolerance
77%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Cooperation
76%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Work Values
Working Conditions
55%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition
46%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Support
46%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships
43%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Independence
36%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
