How Many Jobs Are Available In Precious Metals? (2026 Data)
Quick Answer
There is no single official count of precious metals jobs, but government data shows steady demand, mostly from replacing workers who leave. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 3,700 openings a year for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers, and the U.S. Geological Survey estimates about 13,000 people worked at U.S. gold mines and mills in 2025. Median pay runs from $52,540 for jewelers to $106,220 for mining engineers. The catch: jeweler jobs are projected to shrink 3% by 2035.
Key Takeaways
- Neither the BLS nor the USGS publishes one total for precious metals jobs, so the best estimate comes from adding up the occupations that work with gold, silver, and platinum.
- Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers held about 32,800 jobs in 2025, earned a median $52,540 a year, and face a projected 3% decline from 2025 to 2035.
- The USGS estimates U.S. gold mines produced 160 metric tons in 2025, valued at about $17 billion, with the average gold price up 38% to roughly $3,300 per troy ounce.
- The best-paid technical roles are materials engineers ($112,860), mining and geological engineers ($106,220), and financial analysts ($103,570), all with bachelor’s degree requirements.
- Mining and trading jobs rise and fall with metal prices, and craft jobs are shrinking, so choose your role with care.
If you are wondering how many jobs are available in precious metals, the honest answer is that it depends on which part of the industry you mean. This guide uses the latest federal data to show where the jobs are, what they pay, what you need to get one, and where the risks are.
What The Precious Metals Industry Includes
Precious metals are mainly gold, silver, and the platinum group metals. People who work with them are spread across several sectors:
- Mining and extraction: engineers, geologists, and equipment operators
- Refining and processing: metallurgists and assayers
- Jewelry design and manufacturing: goldsmiths, jewelers, and designers
- Trading and investment: traders, brokers, and analysts
- Retail and sales: jewelry sales staff and appraisers
How Many Jobs Are Available In Precious Metals?
No agency counts “precious metals jobs” as one category, so it helps to look at the pieces. The BLS jewelers and precious stone and metal workers profile shows 32,800 jobs in 2025, a projected 3% decline (about 1,100 fewer jobs) by 2035, and about 3,700 openings a year. All of those openings are expected to come from workers who retire or move to other occupations, not from new positions.
On the mining side, the USGS 2026 Mineral Commodity Summary for gold estimates that about 13,000 people worked at U.S. gold mines and mills in 2025, down slightly from 13,200 in 2024. It reports that more than 40 lode mines operated in 12 states and that the top 25 operations produced about 94% of U.S. gold. Higher prices have raised the value of the metal, but that has not translated into a hiring boom: employment was flat to slightly lower.
The BLS also reports that mining (except oil and gas) employed about 189,600 people in September 2026 (preliminary), but that figure covers all minerals, not just precious metals.
Average Salary By Role In The Precious Metals Industry
The table uses BLS figures: median annual pay from May 2025 and projections for 2025 to 2035. The numbers cover each occupation across all industries, so pay at a specific precious metals employer may be higher or lower.
| Role | Median Pay (May 2025) | Jobs (2025) | Projected Growth (2025–35) | Openings Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials Engineer (includes metallurgical engineers) | $112,860 | 23,800 | 8% | 1,300 |
| Mining And Geological Engineer | $106,220 | 6,200 | 4% | 300 |
| Financial Analyst | $103,570 | 443,100 | 7% | 29,500 |
| Geoscientist | $101,920 | 25,400 | 5% | 1,800 |
| Jeweler Or Precious Stone And Metal Worker | $52,540 | 32,800 | -3% | 3,700 |
The BLS does not publish separate pay figures for precious metals traders, assayers, gemologists, or jewelry designers, so we have not listed numbers for them. Financial analysts are shown as the closest tracked role for metals analysts, but most of them work in other markets.
Top Job Roles In Precious Metals
1. Goldsmiths And Jewelers
They design, make, repair, and appraise jewelry in gold, silver, and platinum. The work needs steady hands, an eye for design, and metalworking skill. This is the only role in the group with a high school diploma as the usual entry requirement, followed by long-term on-the-job training that often lasts at least a year.
2. Precious Metals Traders
Traders buy and sell metals based on market trends. They need to understand commodities, financial markets, and the economic forces that move prices. Most start in finance roles; our guide on whether investment banking and brokerage is a good career path covers how that route works.
3. Mining Engineers
Mining engineers plan how to extract ore safely and efficiently. A bachelor’s degree is the typical requirement. Openings are few, about 300 a year, so competition for each position is real.
4. Metallurgists
Metallurgists study and improve how metals behave and how they are separated from ore. The BLS counts metallurgical engineers within materials engineers, one of the better-paid and faster-growing groups in this guide.
5. Assayers
Assayers test and certify the purity of metals, which sets their market value. The role usually sits in labs and refineries and is not tracked as a separate occupation by the BLS.
Where The Openings Are
For craft jobs, the BLS lists the main employers of jewelers and precious stone and metal workers as jewelry, luggage, and leather goods retailers (35%), self-employed workers (32%), jewelry and silverware manufacturers (15%), and durable goods wholesalers (6%). In other words, most of these jobs are in retail shops and small businesses rather than large factories.
The engineering and science roles are concentrated in mining companies, refiners, and engineering firms. Because the USGS reports that a small number of large operations produce most of the gold, a handful of employers hire most of the technical staff.
Entry Requirements And Skills
According to the BLS, jewelers need a high school diploma plus long-term training, while mining engineers, materials engineers, geoscientists, and financial analysts all typically need a bachelor’s degree. Gemology courses and apprenticeships can help for jewelry and appraisal work. The skills employers look for include:
- Craftsmanship and design: precision, creativity, and hand-eye coordination for jewelers and lapidaries
- Market analysis: reading pricing trends, demand cycles, and investment flows
- Engineering expertise: essential for mining and refining roles
- Materials processing: smelting, alloying, and purification
- Analytical thinking: needed by traders, consultants, and analysts
If you are drawn to the hands-on side, the metalworking skills overlap with other trades, as our guide on whether metal fabrication is a good career path explains.
Best Paying Jobs In Precious Metals
- Materials engineer (metallurgy): median $112,860, with 8% projected growth.
- Mining and geological engineer: median $106,220, with 4% projected growth.
- Financial analyst: median $103,570, with 7% projected growth. Metals specialists advise investors, funds, and corporations.
- Geoscientist: median $101,920, with 5% projected growth.
- Jeweler or precious metal worker: median $52,540. Pay can be higher for custom designers and shop owners, but the BLS has no separate figure for them.
Risks To Know Before You Commit
Precious metals are not a guaranteed safe bet for a career. Mining and trading income follows commodity prices, which can swing sharply: the USGS notes the 2025 gold price rose 38% in a single year, and prices can fall as fast as they rise. Craft jobs are projected to decline, with the BLS forecasting 3% fewer jewelers and precious stone and metal workers by 2035. And technical roles are small fields with few openings, so they reward people who are willing to relocate.
How To Get Hired In Precious Metals
- Pick a path: craft, engineering, science, or finance. Each has different training.
- Get the right credential: an apprenticeship or vocational program for jewelry, or a bachelor’s degree for engineering, geoscience, and analyst roles.
- Add specialist knowledge: gemology, assaying, or metallurgy courses make you stand out.
- Look for internships: mining companies, refiners, and jewelry makers often hire interns and trainees.
- Network: trade shows and industry associations are common hiring channels in small fields.
Final Thoughts
Precious metals offers good pay for engineers and analysts and a stable, if shrinking, craft trade for jewelers. It is not a high-volume hiring industry: openings are modest, and most come from replacing people who leave. If you have the right training and are open to relocating or specializing, there is steady work. If you want fast growth and many openings, other industries may suit you better.
FAQs
How Many Jobs Are Available In Precious Metals?
No single source counts them. The BLS reports 32,800 jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in 2025 with about 3,700 openings a year, and the USGS estimates about 13,000 people worked at U.S. gold mines and mills in 2025.
Do You Need A Degree To Work In Precious Metals?
Not for every role. Jewelers usually need a high school diploma and long-term on-the-job training. Mining engineers, materials engineers, geoscientists, and financial analysts typically need a bachelor’s degree.
What Is The Highest-Paying Job In Precious Metals?
Among the roles the BLS tracks, materials engineers (which include metallurgical engineers) have the highest median pay at $112,860 a year in May 2025, followed by mining and geological engineers at $106,220.
Are Precious Metals Jobs Growing?
It depends on the role. The BLS projects 8% growth for materials engineers and 4% for mining and geological engineers from 2025 to 2035, but a 3% decline for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers.
What Industries Use Precious Metals Outside Jewelry?
Electronics, medical devices, aerospace, catalytic converters, and solar panels all use precious metals, which creates demand for engineers and materials specialists beyond the jewelry trade.
How Can I Get Started In The Precious Metals Industry?
Start with the credential that matches your path: a vocational program or apprenticeship for jewelry, or a bachelor’s degree in mining, materials, geoscience, or finance. Internships and industry networking help you find openings in a small field.
