To become a jeweler, you'll usually need a high school diploma and then learn the craft through on-the-job training, an apprenticeship or a trade school course. BLS says training to become proficient often lasts at least a year. In the UK you can also take a college or university course or a Level 3 jewellery apprenticeship.
Jewelers design, make, repair and resize jewelry, and some specialize in setting stones, casting or engraving. It's a hands-on trade where the quality of your work speaks for you. Here's how to get in on both sides of the Atlantic, using the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) handbook and the UK National Careers Service, both read in October 2026.
US vs UK routes at a glance
| US (BLS) | UK (National Careers Service) | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | High school diploma, usually | GCSEs or A levels, depending on the course |
| Main routes | On-the-job training, apprenticeship or trade school | University, college course, apprenticeship or specialist short courses |
| Apprenticeship | Paid on-the-job training plus technical instruction | Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades Professional Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship |
| Certification | Optional, for example in gemology | Not required |
| Training time | Often at least a year to become proficient | Depends on the course |
How to become a jeweler in the US
- Finish high school. Some employers hire people without formal education, and others prefer education beyond high school.
- Pick your training route. Trade schools teach gems and metals, resizing, repair and computer-aided design (CAD), plus how to design, cast, set and polish. An apprenticeship mixes paid on-the-job training with technical instruction.
- Or start in a store. BLS says some people learn by working alongside a bench jeweler or gemologist while working as a salesperson in a retail jewelry store.
- Choose a specialty. Training usually focuses on casting, setting stones, making models or engraving, and it often takes at least a year to become proficient.
- Consider certification. It's optional, but it shows expertise in an area such as gemology.
How to become a jeweller in the UK
The National Careers Service lists the job as jewellery designer-maker and gives four routes in:
- University: a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in jewellery design, jewellery and silversmithing, design crafts, art and design or fine art. You'll usually need a foundation diploma in art and design and 2 to 3 A levels for a degree.
- College: courses such as art and design, design crafts or the T Level in Craft and Design, or short courses at a college or private jewellery studio.
- Apprenticeship: the Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades Professional Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. The Goldsmiths' Company offers apprenticeships for 16 to 24 year olds in London and the south-east.
- Specialist courses: short courses run by organisations such as the British Academy of Jewellery, which can lead on to apprenticeships or further study.
The National Careers Service is blunt that the field is very competitive and not all vacancies are advertised, so it suggests trade fairs, jewellery and craft exhibitions and online craft forums to make contacts.
What jewelers earn in the US
As of October 2026, BLS gives a median annual wage of $52,540 for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in May 2025, a little above the $50,980 median for all occupations. The lowest 10% earned less than $35,580 and the highest 10% more than $87,540.
| Employer type (US, May 2025) | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Merchant wholesalers, durable goods | $58,320 |
| Jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers | $53,990 |
| Jewelry and silverware manufacturing | $48,800 |
| Personal and household goods repair and maintenance | $46,390 |
Jewelers in retail stores may also earn commission on what they sell, which is worth asking about at interview.
The catch: fewer jobs, but still openings
Here's the honest part. BLS projects jeweler employment to fall 3% from 2025 to 2035, from 32,800 jobs to 31,800, as 3D printing and robotic polishing make each worker more productive and imports reduce demand for jewelry made at home.
But BLS still expects about 3,700 openings a year, all from people retiring or moving to other work. So there's room for new jewelers, especially skilled bench workers. And self-employed workers are the second-biggest group of jewelers after jewelry retailers, so plenty of people build their own brand instead of waiting for a vacancy:
| Employer type (US, 2025) | Share of jeweler jobs (%) |
|---|---|
| Jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers | 35 |
| Self-employed workers | 32 |
| Jewelry and silverware manufacturing | 15 |
| Merchant wholesalers, durable goods | 6 |
| Personal and household goods repair and maintenance | 4 |
That's why I'd think about the business side early. If you're working for yourself, you'll be selling as well as making, and BLS says self-employed jewelers often sell at trade and craft shows at weekends, while some work from home.
If you go that way, CAD is worth learning early, since trade school programs already teach it. My roundup of jewelry design software shows the tools people use, and my ChatGPT prompts for jewellery sellers can help with product descriptions once you're selling.
What the work is like
BLS says jewelers spend much of their time sitting at a workbench or standing at a polishing station. You'll be around fumes and caustic chemicals, so goggles, masks and gloves are normal. Because the materials are valuable, there are security routines too, and retail jewelers often work evenings, weekends and holidays when shoppers are out. It isn't a job you'll rush, and that's what many people love about it.
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Skills that help
- a steady hand and good attention to detail
- design skills, including CAD
- patience for fine, repetitive work at a bench
- customer service, especially in retail and repair
- care with tools such as a jeweler's torch or laser, and with chemicals and fumes
Readers weighing their options often ask about the next one, which the piano tuner career guide answers.
My verdict
Becoming a jeweler doesn't need a degree, but it does need time at the bench, usually a year or more before you're proficient. Go in knowing the US job count is shrinking slightly, aim for a specialty like stone setting or repair, and build CAD skills, because those are what keep you employable or let you sell your own work.
To see how another profession recruits and trains, read the machinist career guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a degree to be a jeweler?
No. BLS says jewelers typically need a high school diploma and learn on the job, through an apprenticeship or at a trade school. In the UK a degree is one route, but college courses and apprenticeships work too.
How long does it take to become a jeweler?
BLS says training to become proficient often lasts at least a year, depending on how difficult the specialty is.
How much do jewelers make?
As of October 2026, BLS gives a median annual wage of $52,540 for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in May 2025.
Is there a jewellery apprenticeship in the UK?
Yes. The National Careers Service lists the Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades Professional Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, and the Goldsmiths' Company offers apprenticeships for 16 to 24 year olds in London and the south-east.
Is jewelry making a dying trade?
Not dying, but shrinking slightly. BLS projects a 3% fall in jobs from 2025 to 2035, yet still expects about 3,700 openings a year from retirements and people changing careers.
