Industry Information

  • U.S. jewelry manufacturers shipped $8.3 million worth of goods in 2007, the latest statistics available. That’s comparable in value to U.S. output of railroad rolling stock. (U.S. Census Bureau)
  • Jewelry manufacturing employs 52,000 people. Over half of them are self-employed; many operate their own store or repair shop, and some specialize in designing and creating custom jewelry. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  • Nearly 8,000 jobs are in jewelry  and silverware manufacturing production. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  • Tens of thousands of related companies and jobs are affected by the jewelry industry’s fate: Precious metals refiners and suppliers, manufacturing equipment makers, gem suppliers, software and other high-tech companies involved in CAD/CAM and laser welding, wholesalers, retailers.
  • MJSA members are a major source of jobs in New York (16,000), Rhode Island (5,000), and Massachusetts (4,000).
  • In the Los Angeles Jewelry District, an estimated 9,000 people make their living in jewelry manufacturing. (state statistics)
  • Median annual earnings for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers were $32,940 in May 2008, the latest statistics available. The middle 50 percent earned between $24,370 and $43,440. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $55,130. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  • U.S. precious metal jewelry exports totaled $3.9 billion in 2009. The leading destinations were Hong Kong, Mexico, Japan, Netherland Antilles, and Switzerland. (U.S. Commerce Department and International Trade Commission)
  • U.S. precious metal jewelry imports totaled nearly $5.6 billion in 2009. The leading sources were India, China, Thailand, and Italy. (U.S. Commerce Department and International Trade Commission)
  • U.S. fashion (costume) jewelry imports totaled $1.4 billion in 2009. China accounted for $1.08 billion of that total. (U.S. Commerce Department and International Trade Commission)
  • U.S. fashion (costume) jewelry exports totaled $154 million in 2009. The leading destinations were the Dominican Republic, Canada, Mexico, and Japan. (U.S. Commerce Department and International Trade Commission)