Jeweller (Bench Jeweller)

Impact: Creating precious objects that mark the most significant moments in people's lives

Design and fabricate fine jewellery in precious metals and gemstones using bench jewellery techniques including sawing, filing, soldering, setting, and polishing. Produce bespoke engagement rings, wedding bands, and commissions for individual clients; repair and restore antique and vintage jewellery; and work for jewellery designers, retailers, and manufacturers as a skilled bench operative. Develop proficiency in CAD/CAM jewellery design and 3D printing for wax casting.

What the day looks like

People interaction
Moderate
Team vs solo
20% Team / 80% Solo
Client facing
Sometimes
Impact visibility
High
Travel
Minimal
Schedule flexibility
Flexible
Remote work
On-site Only
Typical work hours
38-48 hours/week
Stress level
Moderate

At a glance

Median salary
$48,000
Entry-level
$24,000 - $36,000
Senior
$75,000+
Growth by 2033
4% (bespoke jewellery and engagement ring market stable; CAD skills increasing demand for hybrid makers)
Demand
Stable
Freelance potential
High
Salary growth potential
High -- 100-200% growth from bench operative to master jeweller or designer-maker
Typical student debt
$5,000 - $20,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

  • Precious metal fabrication (gold
  • silver
  • platinum)
  • Gemstone setting (claw
  • bezel
  • pavé
  • channel)
  • Soldering and annealing
  • Polishing and finishing
  • CAD/CAM jewellery design (Rhino/MatrixGold)
  • Wax carving and lost-wax casting

Soft skills

  • Manual dexterity
  • Attention to detail
  • Artistic vision
  • Client communication
  • Patience

Technical complexity: High

How to get there

Minimum education
Certificate or Vocational Training
Licensing
No
Years to mid-career
4-6 years
Years to senior
8-15 years
Career switching
Hard

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

  • Silversmith
  • Watchmaker

Where you can go from here

  • Jewellery Designer-Maker
  • Gemstone Setter

Typical progression

  1. Apprentice
  2. Bench Jeweller
  3. Senior Bench Jeweller
  4. Master Jeweller
  5. Designer-Maker / Studio Owner

Future outlook

Automation probability
18% -- CAD/CAM and 3D printing are changing production but hand-setting and finishing remain manual
AI disruption risk
Low
Demand trend
Stable

How people feel about it

Overall satisfaction
8/10
Meaning
8.5/10
Work-life balance
7.5/10
Prestige
7/10
Social perception
High

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