Best Paying Jobs in Precious Metals

Updated on January 31, 2024

The precious metals industry, encompassing the mining, crafting, and trading of valuable metals like gold, silver, and platinum, offers a variety of lucrative career paths. Here’s a detailed look at the top ten jobs in this field.

Precious Metals Worker

  • Average Salary: $47,140/year
  • Job Description: These professionals engage in crafting items and components from precious metals, employing techniques like shaping, molding, and finishing to ensure high-quality results.
  • Responsibilities: Crafting and working with precious metals to create jewelry, decorative items, or industrial components.
  • Required Education: High school diploma

Jewelry Salesperson

  • Average Salary: $30,750/year
  • Job Description: Jewelry salespeople specialize in selling jewelry, providing customer service, and handling retail transactions within jewelry stores.
  • Responsibilities: Selling jewelry, assisting customers, handling transactions, and processing returns and exchanges.
  • Required Education: High school diploma

Goldsmith

  • Average Salary: $47,140/year
  • Job Description: Goldsmiths are artisans who design and create gold jewelry, handling tasks from engraving to setting stones.
  • Responsibilities: Designing, crafting, and adjusting gold jewelry.
  • Required Education: High school diploma

Gemologist

  • Average Salary: $87,480/year
  • Job Description: Gemologists analyze and evaluate gemstones, determining their authenticity, quality, and value.
  • Responsibilities: Evaluating gemstones, providing insights for buyers and sellers.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree

Lapidary

  • Average Salary: $47,140/year
  • Job Description: Lapidaries cut, polish, and engrave gemstones, shaping them into desired designs.
  • Responsibilities: Working with precious gemstones to create designs.
  • Required Education: High school diploma

Jeweler

  • Average Salary: $47,140/year
  • Job Description: Jewelers craft and repair various jewelry pieces, from designing to cleaning and restoring.
  • Responsibilities: Designing jewelry, cleaning, and repairing pieces.
  • Required Education: High school diploma

Jewelry Designer

  • Average Salary: $76,700/year
  • Job Description: Jewelry designers conceptualize and create patterns for jewelry, overseeing the production of prototypes and testing for wear.
  • Responsibilities: Designing jewelry pieces, creating prototypes, and testing designs.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree

Precious Metals Analyst

  • Average Salary: $85,720/year
  • Job Description: These analysts study market trends and factors in the precious metals industry to forecast future market directions.
  • Responsibilities: Researching and analyzing precious metals markets.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree

Jewelry and Coin Specialist

  • Average Salary: $47,140/year
  • Job Description: Specialists in this area inspect, value, and test jewelry and collectible coins.
  • Responsibilities: Examining and valuing jewelry and rare coins.
  • Required Education: High school diploma

Precious Metals Advisor

  • Average Salary: $85,720/year
  • Job Description: Advisors provide expert opinions on buying or selling in the precious metals market, considering market timing and trends.
  • Responsibilities: Advising clients on precious metals investments.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree

Final Thoughts

Careers in precious metals offer diverse opportunities across creative, analytical, and advisory roles. Whether you’re interested in hands-on crafting or market analysis, this industry provides a rewarding path with competitive salaries and the chance to work with valuable materials.

Other Jobs in Diverse and Miscellaneous Opportunities

Sources

For detailed salary information, refer to the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.

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I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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