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Job Definition
Cast, anneal, solder, hammer, or shape gold, silver, pewter or other metals to form jewelry or other metal items such as goblets or candlesticks.
Job Zone

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Interests
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Knowledge
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Skills
Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Technology Design - Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
Tasks
Anneal precious metal objects such as coffeepots, tea sets, and trays in gas ovens for prescribed times to soften metal for reworking.
Assemble molds, wrap molds in heat-resistant cloth, and ladle molten alloy into mold openings, repeating casting processes as necessary to produce specified numbers of parts.
Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
Determine placement of auxiliary parts, such as handles and spouts, and mark locations of parts.
Engrave decorative lines on items, using engraving tools.
Examine articles to determine the nature of defects requiring repair, such as dents, uneven bottoms, scratches, or holes.
Form concavities in bottoms of articles to improve stability, using tracing punches and hammers.
Glue plastic separators to handles of coffeepots and teapots.
Hammer out dents and bulges, selecting and using hammers and dollies with heads that correspond in curvature to article surfaces.
Heat ingots or alloy mixtures to specified temperatures, stir mixtures and skim off impurities, and then fill molds to form ingots from which parts are cast.
Peen edges of scratches or holes to repair defects, using peening hammers.
Pierce and cut open designs in ornamentation, using hand drills and scroll saws.
Polish articles by hand or by using a polishing wheel.
Position and align auxiliary parts in jigs, and join parts using solder and blowtorches.
Position articles over snarling tools and then raise design areas, using foot-powered hammers.
Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was $34,290.00.

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $17,850.00 and $52,680.00.

Outlook

During 2006, there were approximately 5,700 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 5,800 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 10 openings due to growth and about 100 replacement openings for approximately 110 total annual openings. This occupation .

Colleges and Training
Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.
Precision Production Trades, General - A program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in creating products using precision crafting and technical illustration.
Similar Occupations
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers - Repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic - Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.
Tool and Die Makers - Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists' hand tools.
Solderers and Brazers - Braze or solder together components to assemble fabricated metal parts, using soldering iron, torch, or welding machine and flux.
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers - Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles.
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers - Draw and construct sets of precision master fabric patterns or layouts. May also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.
Jewelers - Fabricate and repair jewelry articles. Make models or molds to create jewelry items.
Etchers and Engravers - Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials for identification or decorative purposes. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
Molding and Casting Workers - Perform a variety of duties such as mixing materials, assembling mold parts, filling molds, and stacking molds to mold and cast a wide range of products.
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Job Openings
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