How to Become A Jewelry Designer in New Jersey

New Jersey employs approximately 780 jewelry designers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,480 1. The state’s concentration of jewelry designer jobs is 1.27x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 New Jersey, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Jewelry Designer in New Jersey

How do I become a jewelry designer in New Jersey? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for jewelry designers in New Jersey.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do jewelry designers earn in New Jersey? The median annual wage for jewelry designers in New Jersey is $59,480 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,790 and experienced professionals can earn $93,350 or more 1.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
  • Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
  • Median wage (New Jersey): $59,480 per year 1

Jewelry Designer Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), jewelers and precious stone and metal workers wages in New Jersey vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City4,440$61,360$66,840$37,160$101,350
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington340$57,290$58,980$43,170$91,690

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 2025.

Explore More Trades in New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for jewelry designers in New Jersey? New Jersey currently employs approximately 780 jewelry designers 1. Nationally, jewelry designer employment is projected to grow -5.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in New Jersey? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New Jersey.

How much do jewelry designers earn in New Jersey compared to the national average? The median annual wage for jewelry designers in New Jersey is $59,480, which is $10,340 above the national median of $49,140 according to BLS data 1.

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


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

  2. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)