# Gem and Diamond Workers

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/gem-and-diamond-workers
- SOC code: 51-9071.06
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $52,540 (10th percentile $35,580, 90th percentile $87,540)
- Projected growth: Decline, -3.2%
- Openings a year: 3,700
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers".

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 74 |
| Investigative (I) | 35 |
| Artistic (A) | 31 |
| Social (S) | 2 |
| Enterprising (E) | 19 |
| Conventional (C) | 52 |

## What you'd do

- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 87/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 80/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 79/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 78/100)
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (importance 77/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 75/100)
- Processing Information (importance 73/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 73/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 71/100)

## Skills

Quality Control Analysis, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Production and Processing, Administration and Management, Sales and Marketing, Economics and Accounting, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, English Language, Mechanical, Communications and Media

## Also called

Brilliandeer, Brilliandeer Lopper, Clarity Expert, Diamond Assorter, Diamond Cleaner, Diamond Cleaver, Diamond Cutter, Diamond Die Driller, Diamond Die Polisher, Diamond Driller

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Fine and Studio Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5007) (CIP 5007, 1,455 colleges)
- [Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4704) (CIP 4704, 33 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Fine and Studio Arts | $32,077 | $72,428 | $19,875 |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Fine and Studio Arts | not reported | $68,523 | not reported |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Fine and Studio Arts | $38,697 | $66,846 | $19,708 |
| [Vassar College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vassar-college-3116) | Fine and Studio Arts | $40,754 | $63,418 | not reported |
| [Connecticut College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/connecticut-college-700) | Fine and Studio Arts | $37,971 | $61,321 | not reported |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Fine and Studio Arts | not reported | $60,985 | $17,420 |
| [Fordham University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fordham-university-990) | Fine and Studio Arts | $36,007 | $60,515 | $27,000 |
| [Binghamton University SUNY](https://www.collegesref.com/college/binghamton-university-suny-249) | Fine and Studio Arts | $37,995 | $60,299 | $15,875 |

## Related careers

- [Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/jewelers-and-precious-stone-and-metal-workers): $52,540 median pay
- [Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-and-polishing-workers-hand): $42,660 median pay
- [Etchers and Engravers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/etchers-and-engravers): $43,310 median pay
- [Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tool-grinders-filers-and-sharpeners): $50,060 median pay
- [Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/stone-cutters-and-carvers-manufacturing): $46,170 median pay
- [Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-lapping-polishing-and-buffing-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal): $46,550 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.