Prevailing Wage for Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
The prevailing wage for Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers (SOC 51-9071) is set by DOL and forms the legal wage floor for H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorship. Whether your offer is for a bench jeweler, goldsmith, or gemologist position, DOL establishes four experience-based levels and the floor shifts considerably depending on the city where you'll work.
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Level 1 covers entry-level jewelers and precious stone and metal workers with limited hands-on experience, typically performing routine tasks under direct supervision. Employers filing at this level generally expect training on the job and minimal independent judgment in fabrication or repair work.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers. It applies to qualified candidates who work independently on standard fabrication, repair, or appraisal tasks and bring enough experience to handle most assignments without close supervision.
Level 3 applies to experienced jewelers and precious stone and metal workers who regularly handle complex or non-routine work, mentor junior staff, and exercise significant independent judgment. Employers filing here expect demonstrated proficiency across multiple techniques, such as casting, setting, and metal finishing.
Level 4 covers fully competent professionals in senior or lead roles, including master goldsmiths, senior gemologists, and lead appraisers. These workers set technical standards, oversee shop operations or other craftspeople, and bring specialized expertise that commands the occupation's top wage floor.
Prevailing Wage for Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
Confirm your SOC matches your bench tasks
Titles like 'jewelry designer' or 'appraiser' are sometimes filed under retail or art-related SOC codes, missing the SOC 51-9071 prevailing wage floor entirely. Verify your offer letter's SOC code matches the hands-on fabrication, repair, or appraisal work you'll actually perform.
Watch for signing bonus exclusions in jewelry retail
Large jewelry retailers and chain stores sometimes structure compensation with signing bonuses or store-performance incentives that DOL excludes from the prevailing wage calculation. Only base salary counts toward meeting the wage floor, so confirm the base component clears it independently.
Compare metro wages before accepting a relocation offer
Prevailing wages for bench jewelers and goldsmiths vary sharply by city. Coastal metros in California and Connecticut set floors well above the national median, while markets like McAllen, TX sit significantly lower. The worksite city on the LCA controls which floor applies, not your employer's headquarters.
Find employers sponsoring jewelers on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate lists jobs from employers with verified visa sponsorship history and lets you filter by role and location. You can see which companies have previously sponsored jewelers, goldsmiths, and gemologists before applying, saving time on employers unlikely to sponsor.
Jobs for Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9071.00 alongside Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Appraiser positions fall under SOC 51-9071.00 (Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Artisan Jeweler Prevailing Wage
Artisan Jeweler Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Artisan Jeweler for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9071.00 (Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Bench Jeweler Prevailing Wage
Bench Jeweler Prevailing Wage
Bench Jeweler is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9071.00 (Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Caster Prevailing Wage
Caster Prevailing Wage
Caster positions fall under SOC 51-9071.00 (Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Gemologist Prevailing Wage
Gemologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Gemologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9071.00 (Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Goldsmith Prevailing Wage
Goldsmith Prevailing Wage
Goldsmith is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9071.00 (Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Jeweler Prevailing Wage
Jeweler Prevailing Wage
Jeweler positions fall under SOC 51-9071.00 (Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Polisher Prevailing Wage
Polisher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Polisher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9071.00 (Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Silversmith Prevailing Wage
Silversmith Prevailing Wage
Silversmith is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9071.00 (Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Stone Setter Prevailing Wage
Stone Setter Prevailing Wage
Stone Setter positions fall under SOC 51-9071.00 (Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For SOC 51-9071, the agency calculates four wage levels based on experience and complexity. Employers sponsoring a jeweler, goldsmith, or gemologist must pay at least the level that matches the actual job duties, and they certify this on the Labor Condition Application filed with OFLC.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience and independence. Level 1 is entry-level work under supervision; Level 2 covers qualified workers handling standard tasks independently; Level 3 applies to experienced professionals managing complex assignments; Level 4 covers senior or lead roles with the broadest scope. The level is determined by the actual duties in the job description, not the title, so compare your offer's stated responsibilities against DOL's level definitions to confirm the correct floor.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same jeweler role differ so much between cities?
DOL derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage data reflecting local labor market conditions. For sponsored positions, OFLC requires that the prevailing wage match the city or county listed as the worksite on the LCA, not the employer's main office. Dense markets with higher concentration of fine jewelry studios and retailers, such as major California metros, produce higher survey averages and therefore higher wage floors than smaller or lower-cost markets.
What happens if a sponsored job offer for this occupation is below the prevailing wage?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition, and OFLC will not certify an LCA or PERM application, if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. For an active sponsored position, paying below the certified wage also triggers DOL back-wage liability and can result in debarment from future sponsorships. Candidates should request the LCA wage level and offered salary in writing before accepting a sponsored offer to verify compliance.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location for this occupation?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up current DOL prevailing wages by SOC code 51-9071 and metropolitan area. Select the correct metro based on your actual worksite address, choose the wage level matching your job duties, and confirm the result against your offer. Migrate Mate also lists jeweler and goldsmith roles from employers with documented sponsorship history, so you can cross-reference the employer's filing patterns alongside your independent wage research.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers right now.
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