Jewelers of America

A career in gem and jewelry management offers enormous opportunities – whether you are managing a consumer-facing store or web-based business, working for a supplier, or working for a larger business or corporation.

Depending on the size of the business, managers may be actively involved in every part of its success. Jewelry management jobs include many roles from managing on the store level, to operations, production, human resources, people and culture management, merchandising, and more.

There are many exciting career opportunities available in gem and jewelry management

Key Skills

• Strong business and analytical skills learned through education or on the job
• Well-developed communication skills, including the ability to inspire, motivate, and encourage others
• In some cases, targeted skills that fit a particular role. For example, a finance or IT manager should have expertise and training in those areas.
• Training and sales knowledge
• Building and managing teams, relationships with customers and communities
• Natural leaders who are self-motivated and able to motivate others
• Good at setting goals for themselves and others and great at multitasking
• Active listeners and creative problem solvers
• Critical thinkers and decision makers
• Good negotiator
• Trustworthy and ethical

Possible Job Titles in this Pathway

• Retail Store Manager
• Customer Service Manager
• Sales Manager
• Operations Manager
• Regional Manager
• General Manager
• Production Manager
• Account Manager
• Human Resources Management
• People & Culture Management
• Training Management
• Merchandising Manager
• Laboratory Manager
• Inventory Manager

Salary Expectations

Data is from Jewelers of America’s Jewelry Industry Salary Study conducted April-June 2023 and includes data from 2022. Compensation varies based on experience, specific job responsibilities, company size and location, among other distinctions. Given these variables within a career pathway, data is presented as such: The 25th Percentile indicates 25% of the data fall below this percentile; the Median (50th Percentile) represents the middle number where 50% of answers are lower and 50% are higher; the 75th Percentile indicates 75% of the data fall below this percentile.

Experience & Training

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, retail management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience may be required, depending on the organization and position. Advancement within larger companies may require an MBA.
• Leadership and/or management experience.
• A gemology diploma is helpful, as is some bench experience. Computer literacy and experience with programs for fiscal management are expected.
• Trade experience is critical, although many store owners, managers and jewelry professionals find themselves also learning “on the job.”

Related Education or Certification

• Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
• Jewelers of America Management Professional Certification

On the Job

Managerial roles within jewelry companies vary, but leadership, communications skills, and the ability to motivate others are critical—whether consumer or trade facing, managing staff, working with vendors or partners. With management also comes the responsibility to stay current on issues that impact your business and keep others informed.

Depending on the size of the store or business, managers may be solely responsible for specific departments (like sales, IT, finance, or marketing), supervise dedicated staff in a specific area, or in charge of multiple—and in some cases all — aspects of the business. Successful jewelry managers thrive when overcoming challenges that require creative thinking, like providing leadership, setting, and achieving performance goals, and creating an experience for their clients that sets their store or business apart from its competition.

Growing in the Industry

Larger businesses often seek to promote from within. For instance, a major retailer may encourage sales, operations and store managers to move into divisional or corporate management. Managers of smaller businesses, like single-stores or small manufacturers, may stay at their jobs or start businesses of their own. Some managers also move on to find success in other parts of the industry.