Also called: Gem Cutter, Gemstone Faceter
Cuts and polishes rough stones into sparkling gems and polished stone objects.
You study a rough sapphire under a loupe, decide how to cut it to keep the most color, then grind dozens of tiny flat facets on a spinning wheel. A single stone can take hours.
Self-employed cutters vary widely; skilled custom faceters earn more.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
No formal education, about 0 years after high school. No degree required; learned through apprenticeships, workshops or gemology courses.
Ways in: Apprenticeship, Self-taught, Certification. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Gemology (GIA courses).
Growing slowly. Small craft field; jewelers and gem dealers hire a few.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. CNC gem cutters handle commercial stones, but custom hand cutting stays a craft, often self-employed.
Classes: Art or jewelry class, Geometry, Earth science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-9071.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.