Annual Salary
variable
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Design or Fashion & textiles or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Design or Fashion & textiles or go back to all job sectors
Jewellery designer-makers create jewellery and decorative products, using materials like gemstones, precious metals, acrylics and enamels.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: weekends; as customers demand
There will be
0.5% more Jewellery designer-maker jobs in 2027.
As a jewellery designer-maker, you would:
You would also market and sell your work, if you're self-employed.
You could work in a creative studio, from home, in a workshop or in a factory.
You can get into this job through:
You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:
You'll usually need:
You can do a college course to start your career in jewellery making, such as:
You can also do short courses in specific types of jewellery making at a college, or with a private course provider like a jewellery studio or workshop.
Short courses vary in content, so it's important to check details carefully to make sure they cover what you want to do.
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
You may be able to start in this job through a Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades Professional Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
The British Academy of Jewellery also offers apprenticeships in jewellery and silversmithing in Birmingham and London.
The Goldsmiths' Company offers apprenticeships for young people aged 16 to 24 in London and the south-east.
You could do short, specialist courses run by organisations like the British Academy of Jewellery and Goldsmiths' Foundation Programme.
Courses like these can lead on to apprenticeships or training in further or higher education.
Jewellery design is very competitive and not all vacancies are advertised. You may find it useful to make contacts within the industry to help find a trainee position or work. You could do this by:going to trade fairs; attending jewellery and craft exhibitions; joining online craft and design forums
You can get more information about working in jewellery design from Discover Creative Careers.
If you're working for a jewellery design or jewellery-making company, you could become a:lead designer; merchandiser; buyer; creative director
You might become self-employed and sell your designs to manufacturers or directly to clients. You could also create products from your designs and sell them through galleries, craft centres, in shops and online.
You'll need: