What Does A Precious Metal Worker Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Precious Metal Workers

Precious Metal Workers cast, anneal, solder, hammer, or shape gold, silver, pewter or other metals to form jewelry or other metal items such as goblets or candlesticks.

Salary
$48050
Becoming One
Medium
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Precious Metal Workers cast, anneal, solder, hammer, or shape gold, silver, pewter or other metals to form jewelry or other metal items such as goblets or candlesticks.

  • Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
  • Solder parts together or fill holes and cracks with metal solder, using gas torches.
  • Anneal precious metal objects such as coffee pots, tea sets, and trays in gas ovens for prescribed times to soften metal for reworking.
  • Polish articles by hand or by using a polishing wheel.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Precious Metal Workers carry castings or finished items to storage areas or to different work stations. They cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.

A typical day for a Precious Metal Worker will also include:

  • Hammer out dents and bulges, selecting and using hammers and dollies with heads that correspond in curvature to article surfaces.
  • Weigh completed items to determine weights and record any deviations.
  • Sand interior mold parts to remove glaze residue, apply new glaze to molds, and allow it to dry for mold assembly.
  • Examine articles to determine the nature of defects requiring repairs, such as dents, uneven bottoms, scratches, or holes.
  • Strike articles with small tools, or punch them with hammers, to indent them or restore embossing.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Precious Metal Workers also anneal precious metal objects such as coffee pots, tea sets, and trays in gas ovens for prescribed times to soften metal for reworking. They may also research reference materials, analyze production data, and consult with interested parties to develop ideas for new products.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Precious Metal Workers glue plastic separators to handles of coffeepots and teapots. They might also peen edges of scratches or holes to repair defects, using peening hammers.

In addition, they secure molded items in chucks of lathes and activate lathes to finish the inner and outer surfaces of items.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them trim gates and sharp points from cast parts, using band saws.

To some Precious Metal Workers, it is also their responsibility to weigh and mix alloy ingredients, using formulas and knowledge of ingredients’ chemical properties.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

53% said they were satisfied with their job and 28% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want job security and a good working condition.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

Salary is below average.

Demand for this career is declining.

How much do they make

Average salary

$48050 per year

Average hourly wage

$23 per hour

Entry-level Precious Metal Workers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $26,050 to $32,650 per year or $13 to $16 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $77,330 $37
Senior (Top 25%) $56,730 $27
Median $41,900 $20
Junior (Bottom 25%) $32,650 $16
No experience (Bottom 10%) $26,050 $13

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Precious Metal Workers based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Nondepository Credit Intermediation $64880 $31.19
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods $58580 $28.16
Management of Companies and Enterprises $50280 $24.17
Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores $48520 $23.33
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing $43260 $20.80
Employment Services $43210 $20.78
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services $42740 $20.55
Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance $41710 $20.05
Nonferrous Metal Production and Processing $39310 $18.90
Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses $37960 $18.25

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Precious Metal Workers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Precious Metal Workers including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores 7670 $48520 $23.33
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing 5150 $43260 $20.80
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods 2940 $58580 $28.16
Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance 750 $41710 $20.05
Specialized Design Services 450 $37720 $18.14
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 240 $42740 $20.55
Nondepository Credit Intermediation 230 $64880 $31.19
Employment Services 100 $43210 $20.78
Management of Companies and Enterprises 70 $50280 $24.17
Nonferrous Metal Production and Processing $39310 $18.90

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
19%

40 hours
50%

More than 40 hours
31%

Working schedule

66%

14%

20%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
4%

Every day
7%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
21%

Every day
38%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
12%

Every day
71%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
70%

Once a year
22%

Once a month
8%

Once a week
0%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
33%

Slightly competitive
2%

Moderately competitive
27%

Highly competitive
15%

Extremely competitive
22%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
30%

Once a year or more
2%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
12%

Every day
55%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
67%

Once a year or more
2%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
9%

Every day
21%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
91%

Once a year or more
7%

Once a month or more
1%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
88%

Once a year or more
8%

Once a month or more
2%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Medium
You will need previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an Associate’s degree, and one or two years of on-the-job training. Similar careers include Travel Agents, Agricultural Technicians, Court Reports, and Medical Assistants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
15%

High School Diploma or equivalent
35%

Post-Secondary Certificate
28%

Some College Courses
20%

Associate’s Degree or similar
1%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
9%

1 month
1%

1 to 3 months
2%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
23%

1 to 2 years
33%

2 to 4 years
2%

4 to 6 years
25%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
5%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
14%

1 to 3 months
9%

3 to 6 months
6%

6 months to 1 year
34%

1 to 2 years
1%

2 to 4 years
26%

4 to 10 years
9%

Over 10 years
1%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
24%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
43%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
14%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
19%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
33%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
48%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
50%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
43%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
38%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
43%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
33%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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