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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The salary headline is just the beginning — location changes everything. The national median salary for Jewelers in 2026 is $52,375, with entry-level positions averaging $37,710 and senior roles reaching $74,373. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $95,400, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Jeweler falls within the Production & Manufacturing sector, specifically in Production. The typical education path involves Postsecondary training. The career outlook? Declining. Work style is studio — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
$58,050 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Jeweler in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $95,400 — $58,050 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($37,350). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Jewelers average $37,710, the median sits at $52,375, and senior earners pull in $74,373. That $36,663 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $27,992 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $89,100, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $37,650. The $51,450 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Jeweler in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $95,400 — $58,050 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($37,350). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $37,710 | $52,375 | $74,373 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £19,596 | £27,217 | £38,649 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$31,034 | CA$43,103 | CA$61,206 |
| Australia | 13 | A$36,927 | A$51,288 | A$72,829 |
| Sweden | 24 | 220,901 kr | 306,808 kr | 435,667 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $45,514 | $63,214 | $89,764 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $43,983 | $61,088 | $86,744 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $43,740 | $60,750 | $86,265 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $40,500 | $56,250 | $79,875 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $40,014 | $55,575 | $78,917 |
| Washington | 8 | $39,245 | $54,506 | $77,399 |
| New York | 5 | $36,936 | $51,300 | $72,846 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $36,936 | $51,300 | $72,846 |
| Florida | 22 | $36,656 | $50,911 | $72,294 |
| Colorado | 11 | $36,023 | $50,032 | $71,045 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $35,964 | $49,950 | $70,929 |
| Nevada | 5 | $35,899 | $49,860 | $70,801 |
| Arizona | 12 | $35,721 | $49,613 | $70,450 |
| Oregon | 5 | $35,640 | $49,500 | $70,290 |
| Idaho | 3 | $35,532 | $49,350 | $70,077 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $35,251 | $48,960 | $69,523 |
| Utah | 4 | $35,154 | $48,825 | $69,332 |
| Virginia | 7 | $34,575 | $48,021 | $68,190 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $34,128 | $47,400 | $67,308 |
| Alaska | 1 | $34,020 | $47,250 | $67,095 |
| Illinois | 5 | $33,631 | $46,710 | $66,328 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $32,796 | $45,550 | $64,681 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $32,400 | $45,000 | $63,900 |
| Montana | 1 | $32,400 | $45,000 | $63,900 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $32,292 | $44,850 | $63,687 |
| Texas | 40 | $32,133 | $44,629 | $63,373 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $32,076 | $44,550 | $63,261 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $31,914 | $44,325 | $62,942 |
| Georgia | 6 | $31,806 | $44,175 | $62,729 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $31,752 | $44,100 | $62,622 |
| Kansas | 4 | $31,590 | $43,875 | $62,303 |
| Michigan | 6 | $31,482 | $43,725 | $62,090 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $31,104 | $43,200 | $61,344 |
| Maryland | 1 | $31,104 | $43,200 | $61,344 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $30,780 | $42,750 | $60,705 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $30,780 | $42,750 | $60,705 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $29,970 | $41,625 | $59,108 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $29,808 | $41,400 | $58,788 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $29,403 | $40,838 | $57,989 |
| Missouri | 4 | $29,403 | $40,838 | $57,989 |
| Alabama | 5 | $29,290 | $40,680 | $57,766 |
| Indiana | 3 | $28,836 | $40,050 | $56,871 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $28,836 | $40,050 | $56,871 |
| Iowa | 2 | $28,512 | $39,600 | $56,232 |
| Ohio | 6 | $28,458 | $39,525 | $56,126 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $27,216 | $37,800 | $53,676 |
Geography shapes Jeweler pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $63,214 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($95,400 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $45,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $95,400 | 212 | $45,000 | $59,373 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $89,100 | 198 | $45,000 | $55,779 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $82,800 | 184 | $45,000 | $52,184 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $81,450 | 181 | $45,000 | $51,414 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $80,100 | 178 | $45,000 | $50,644 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $79,650 | 177 | $45,000 | $50,387 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $79,650 | 177 | $45,000 | $50,387 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $77,850 | 173 | $45,000 | $49,360 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $77,850 | 173 | $45,000 | $49,360 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $76,050 | 169 | $45,000 | $48,334 |
The $36,663 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Jeweler career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Production & Manufacturing sector, declining, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Jewelers is $52,375 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $37,710, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $74,373.
The highest-paying city for Jewelers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $95,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($95,400), Santa Clara ($89,100), Irvine ($82,800). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Jeweler salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $37,350. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Jewelers (10th percentile) average $37,710 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $68,688. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Jewelers average $74,373 nationally — $36,663 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Jewelers can earn up to $135,468.
The top-paying states for Jewelers are California ($63,214 median), Massachusetts ($61,088 median), Hawaii ($60,750 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Jeweler involves Postsecondary training. The field is in the Production & Manufacturing sector (Production), and the career outlook is declining. Work style is typically studio.
With a national median of $52,375 and representation across 288 metro areas, Jeweler offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $36,663 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: declining.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.