[Jewelry making - Article 00224] - Re: [Orchid] Wages going rates

[David L. Huffman]

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    Hello Orchidian: Recently there was a post by a Revere enrollee
    bemoaning the lowball offer he received for a job.  I deleted the
    post, but then thought, why not?  I'll take the flack for risking an
    opinion.  I've done a lot of research on this matter.  Here's a
    profile: 

    First off, let me state that my number one goal at this time is to
    find ways to increase wages for my employees and still pay the
    bills.  That should be every employer's priority, in my opinion. 
    Increases in compensation MUST go hand in hand with business growth,
    or you'll just be training workers for your competition, or worse,
    training them to become your competitors. 

    Fresh apprentices must, of course, be offered minimum wage by law. 
    I pay mine $8.50/hr.  He's part time, and he costs me more than he
    makes for me, but I expect that to change.  I'm not paying for a
    flunkie, I'm investing in a skilled worker.  I have tools that won't
    pay for themselves for a while too.  If I could find the money, I'd
    feel fine about paying him another couple bucks an hour. 

    I have an assistant, very knowledgeable about the trade, also part
    time, and I give him $10.50/hr.  He easily offsets the time I would
    have to spend on what he does for me, so I can get back to the bench
    and charge $40.00/hr. for what I do best.  And he's already learning
    how to do a lot of things like mixing and pouring molds, shooting
    waxes, investing.  I think he's worth $12.00 and full time with
    benefits,  but I haven't got the cash flow to do that yet.  I'm a
    wholesale trade jeweler, by the way. 

    I don't have benefits for anybody yet, including myself.  All I can
    offer these guys at this time is any schedule that they want during
    normal business hours, complete flexibility so they can get other
    work if they need it.  And they are completely involved in the
    business, their opinions are given a lot of weight.  If we find
    extra, unexpected sources of income, I hand over 5% to each of them.
     I'm busting my hump to be able to give them more as soon as I can,
    and I share all my knowledge of this business with them, from
    techniques to finances. 

    An average bench jeweler, able to size rings, set most stones,
    repair chains, in my experience, is getting starting wages of around
    $35,000/yr. even in the middle of nowhere.  In a good market,
    that'll be more like $40-42,000 with benefits. 

    An advanced craftsperson, able to not only repair and set stones,
    but capable of designing and fabricating a piece of jewelry, can
    expect $40,000 and benefits to start in most areas, more where it's
    more expensive to live.  But after a couple years, that should be up
    another $5,000.  One of the problems in this industry is that when
    you start low, you tend to stay low. 

    Someone who can also carve waxes, cast, and render designs, in my
    opinion, should be getting $45-50,000 and benefits to start, as long
    as the product is really tight and they turn around the work quickly
    . Throw in some serious talent for design, and the ability for really
    produce, you should be seeing $50-60,000 and benefits to start. 
    However, there aren't a lot of places that can't afford that, and in
    my opinion, if you fit the bill and can't get that, then you should
    be looking at trying to get your own slice of the pie as an
    independent retailer.  If they haven't got enough sense to hire you,
    then cut into their market.  When they find their cheaper jeweler,
    you'll find him/her driving business right to your door. 

    Now what I'd like to see is JA dare to publish an analysis of what
    jewelers can expect to get according to their JA certification.  Let
    me suggest a starting place . . . 

    Certified Master Bench Jeweler equals $60,000 and benefits to start. 

    And finally, if you are a retailer and you think these wage
    suggestions are high, check out what David Geller suggests store
    owners should be getting from their businesses. 

David L. Huffman


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