How long does jewelry designer training take in Illinois?

Most people become a Jewelry Designer in Illinois through a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role.

Do jewelry designers need a license in Illinois?

No statewide license is required for jewelry designers in Illinois. See the licensing section above for the credential path.

How to Become a Jewelry Designer in Illinois (2026)

Q: How much do jewelry designers earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), jewelry designers in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $54,990. Employment concentration in Illinois is roughly 0.70 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for jewelry designers in Illinois?

Illinois currently employs approximately 610 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -5.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois jewelers and precious stone and metal workers earn a median annual wage of $54,990 ($26.44/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 610 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 4.7% above the national median of $52,540 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $54,990 ($26.44/hr)
25th percentile: $42,650 per year
75th percentile: $67,620 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $78,580 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $32,430 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 610
Versus national median: 4.7% above the U.S. median of $52,540
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.70 - this occupation is less concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Illinois employs about 610 jewelry designers earning a median $54,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Jewelry Designer here means completing a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role.

Compare Jewelry Designer Schools in Illinois

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Gem City College	53.5	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	87%	—	149 mi
2	Haywood Community College	51.1	$2,580 in-state / $8,724 out-of-state	$41,095	34%	Yes*	500 mi
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3	Paris Junior College	32.4	$2,700 in-state / $5,700 out-of-state	$45,220	38%	—	624 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Illinois employs approximately 610 jewelry designers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $54,990 ¹. Nationally, jewelry designer employment is projected to grow -5.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 4,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Jewelry Designer in Illinois, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: short course, certificate, or self-directed portfolio work (find programs)
Typical timeline: a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role
Median wage (Illinois): $54,990 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Jewelry Designer in Illinois

How to become a Jewelry Designer in Illinois? Complete a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Illinois? Licensing varies. See the licensing section below for the Illinois path.

What do jewelry designers earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for jewelry designers in Illinois is $54,990 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $32,430 and experienced professionals can earn $78,580 or more ¹.

How to Become a Jewelry Designer in Illinois

Build skills and a portfolio. Complete a short course or certificate if you want structured training, then assemble a portfolio. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Optional industry credentials. Tool or association credentials can help hiring. They are not a state occupational license.
Most states do not license this role. Do not apply to a licensing board. Confirm employer expectations, not a state credential that does not exist.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Jewelry Designer License Requirements in Illinois

Most states do not license this role. The path is a portfolio and a short course or certificate, not a licensing board.

Typical path

Build skills through a short course, certificate, or OJT.
Assemble a portfolio.
Do not apply to a licensing board for this role.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Jewelry Designer Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), jewelers and precious stone and metal workers wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	460	$54,990	$58,260	$32,210	$81,400
St. Louis	N/A	$56,140	$56,120	$44,480	$61,270

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for jewelry designers in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 610 jewelry designers ¹. Nationally, jewelry designer employment is projected to grow -5.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois.

How much do jewelry designers earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for jewelry designers in Illinois is $54,990, which is $5,850 above the national median of $49,140 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Illinois

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)