A reference page from Fairlight by Moriarty
Handmade jewelry statistics: U.S. market & maker data
A small, well-sourced collection of numbers about the U.S. jewelry trade and the people who make it. Kept tidy for writers, curious shoppers, and fellow makers.
Last updated September 25, 2026 · Data years are shown beside each stat.
Browse the numbersA necessary little caveat
Handmade jewelry is a craft, not a neat government category.
There is no single official count for every independent maker, bead artist, or small-batch jewelry studio. This page therefore brings together the closest trustworthy public figures: the U.S. jewelry-store sector and the occupation that includes jewelers, gem workers, and precious-metal workers. Each number says exactly what it measures, with no fog machine required.
The numbers
Six citable facts about the jewelry world
Use the linked sources for the full definitions, tables, and methodology behind every figure.
19,837
U.S. jewelry-store establishments
The 2022 Economic Census counted 19,837 jewelry-store establishments in the United States.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census$41.159B
Jewelry-store sales in 2022
Those establishments reported $41,159,040,000 in sales, value of shipments, or revenue in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census32,800
Jeweler jobs in 2025
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers held about 32,800 jobs in the United States in 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 202532%
Self-employed in the occupation
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 32% of jewelers and precious stone and metal workers were self-employed in 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025$52,540
Median annual pay
The occupation's median annual wage was $52,540 in May 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 20253,700
Average annual openings
The Bureau projects about 3,700 openings each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035, largely as workers change roles or leave the workforce.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025–2035 projectionHow to read these figures
The Census figures describe jewelry stores, a retail category that includes more than handmade work. The labor figures describe an occupation, which includes people who design, construct, adjust, repair, appraise, and sell jewelry and related products. Together, they offer a grounded view of the commercial landscape around independent jewelry making, without claiming to count every creative path through it.
Fairlight by Moriarty is a one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry business, not a survey publisher. These figures are shared as a starting point for accurate conversation, citation, and context.
Method & sources
Where these numbers come from
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census, Jewelry Stores (NAICS 44831). Used for the 2022 establishment count and sales figure. The table compares 2022 and 2017 U.S. results.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers. Used for 2025 employment, self-employment share, median pay, and projected openings.
We list the source date with every statistic and will refresh this page when a primary source releases a newer relevant table or projection.
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