What Does it Take to Be a Gem and Diamond Worker?
Example of Gem & Diamond Worker Job Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
Daily Life Of a Gem & Diamond Worker
- Secure gems or diamonds in holders, chucks, dops, lapidary sticks, or blocks for cutting, polishing, grinding, drilling, or shaping.
- Measure sizes of stones' bore holes and cuts to ensure adherence to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- Select shaping wheels for tasks, and mix and apply abrasives, bort, or polishing compounds.
- Replace, true, and sharpen blades, drills, and plates.
- Sort rough diamonds into categories based on shape, size, color, and quality.
- 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.
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Skills Needed to be a Gem & Diamond Worker
These are the skills Gem and Diamond Workers say are the most useful in their careers:
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Listening: 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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Gem and Diamond Worker
- Facetor
- Diamond Die Driller
- Lapidary
- Diamond Die Polisher
- Quality Control Specialist
Job Opportunities for Gem and Diamond Workers
There were about 37,700 jobs for Gem and Diamond Worker in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Gem and Diamond Worker. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 3,500 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Gem & Diamond Worker are Idaho, South Carolina, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Tennessee, New Mexico, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Gem & Diamond Worker
The typical yearly salary for Gem and Diamond Workers is somewhere between $23,530 and $67,250.

Gem and Diamond Workers who work in Kentucky, New Jersey, or Wisconsin, make the highest salaries.
How much do Gem and Diamond Workers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $41,320 |
Alaska | $33,520 |
Arizona | $45,860 |
Arkansas | $43,880 |
California | $40,940 |
Colorado | $42,490 |
Connecticut | $54,280 |
Delaware | $46,690 |
Florida | $41,300 |
Georgia | $36,350 |
Hawaii | $37,560 |
Idaho | $42,040 |
Illinois | $39,030 |
Indiana | $41,220 |
Iowa | $44,390 |
Kansas | $44,200 |
Kentucky | $55,840 |
Louisiana | $36,820 |
Maine | $43,950 |
Maryland | $51,920 |
Massachusetts | $44,480 |
Michigan | $40,580 |
Minnesota | $39,590 |
Mississippi | $27,820 |
Missouri | $38,330 |
Montana | $34,950 |
Nebraska | $30,680 |
Nevada | $46,200 |
New Hampshire | $48,280 |
New Jersey | $54,870 |
New Mexico | $30,480 |
New York | $50,380 |
North Carolina | $40,420 |
North Dakota | $52,090 |
Ohio | $38,180 |
Oklahoma | $41,100 |
Oregon | $52,580 |
Pennsylvania | $42,670 |
Rhode Island | $43,710 |
South Carolina | $40,270 |
South Dakota | $37,330 |
Tennessee | $46,740 |
Texas | $41,450 |
Utah | $36,900 |
Vermont | $40,010 |
Virginia | $48,330 |
Washington | $39,540 |
West Virginia | $39,120 |
Wisconsin | $52,050 |
What Tools & Technology do Gem and Diamond Workers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Gem and Diamond Workers:
- Web browser software
- Inventory tracking software
How to Become a Gem & Diamond Worker
Individuals working as a Gem and Diamond Worker have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Gem & Diamond Worker?

Gem and Diamond Workers Sector

Gem and Diamond Workers work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Gem and Diamond Worker might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Gem and Diamond Worker in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
- Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
- Sewers, Hand
References:
Image Credit: Jorge Royan via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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