Although there is much opportunity in the mining sector, newcomers may have trouble breaking in without the right contacts and knowledge. For example, gold and silver are seldom mined directly from their source. Therefore most jobs in the industry are in refining these precious metals to determine their purity and worth.
A refined material results from melting ore to eliminate impurities. The assaying process verifies the purity and weight of your metals. These are two essential steps in working with precious metals since they determine their market value.
Careers in the precious metals market are just as varied as those in the financial sector, spanning retail, wholesale, institutional, and commercial activity. Those interested in the precious metals industry have various job options, from working for a prominent investment firm to running their own company or clinic. Just as there is a wide variety of occupations, there is also a wide range of motivations for choosing any of them.
There are numerous benefits of choosing precious metals as a career path. Before we look at them, first, let’s explain what precious metals are.
What Are Precious Metals?
Precious metals are rare metallic chemical elements of considerable economic worth. Some common examples are silver, gold, and platinum. Precious metals may be utilized for different reasons, such as industrial activities, jewelry creation, technology, and photography.
Let’s look at two of these precious metals in more detail:
-
Gold
When compared to other precious metals, gold’s price is the highest. Since ancient times, its durability and scarcity have made it acceptable as currency. Gold is now used in several areas, including the electronic component business, the beauty and fashion industries, the fabrication of dental instruments, etc.
-
Silver
Although silver is less costly than gold, its scarcity and durability make it a valuable metal. Because it didn’t rust as regular steel would have in the heat of combat, the need for this metal skyrocketed during the Second World War when troops’ helmets were made from it. Mirrors and glassware are two frequent applications.
Is Precious Metals a Good Profession?
Investing in precious metals is a great field to work in. If you’re the kind of worker that gets bored quickly and needs a lot of diversity in their work, this is your career path. Depending on your background and interests, you may find a satisfying career in the precious metals sector.
The value and scarcity of precious metals make them a worthwhile investment. They’re a rare capitalization that serves several purposes (in commerce, as adornment, and more). Silver and gold, two of history’s most cherished metals, have been utilized for centuries because of their durability and portability. Nowadays, it’s simpler than ever to buy gold and silver online, thanks to the internet.
Investing in precious metals is a good career path since they are a stable investment used to safeguard wealth in times of economic uncertainty because of their intrinsic worth independent of stock markets or currency fluctuations. You may feel more confident about your financial future working in the gold market than in any other field since many people see it as a safe haven from the ups and downs of other markets, such as equities and mutual funds.
Jobs in the Precious Metals Industry
Numerous high-paying positions may be found in the precious metals industry. Listed below are the top five highest-paid professions in the precious metals industry:
-
Precious Metal Workers
The average hourly wage for a worker in the precious metals industry is $19.89. He deals in a wide variety of precious metals and metalwork. Mining, jewelry manufacturing, furniture building, antique restoration, and similar industries employ people who work with precious metals.
-
Goldsmiths
The term “goldsmith” is often used to describe a skilled artisan who deals with gold and other precious metals. Primarily, they work with precious metals, shaping them into new designs, repairing broken pieces, soldering them back together, repairing expensive stones, adjusting ring sizes, cleaning, and polishing jewelry. The average annual pay is $56,281. They make between $37,313 and that amount. However, the typical salary for a goldsmith in the United States is about $45,559.
-
Metal Production Experts
They are in charge of determining the chemical composition of the alloys, as well as identifying the most efficient method for processing the ore. The average annual salary of a metal production expert is $68.106.
-
Quality Control Experts
A quality assurance expert in the precious metals industry may count on an annual salary of $116,187. As part of their duties, they conduct quality assurance testing on precious metals to guarantee their production meets all applicable norms. The production process couldn’t function without them.
-
Precious Metal Brokers
In most cases, a broker’s annual salary will be about $110,000. Most of them are secondhand merchants who buy precious metals to resell them. They provide a monetary settlement based on an assessment of the metal’s worth determined by its current retail or market value.
Benefits of Working With Precious Metals
There are several benefits of working with precious metals that you should think about if you are pursuing a career in this field.
High Income – One of the first benefits is a decent income. The average annual pay for a teacher of industrial arts is estimated at $56,000 by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and that’s just one of many potential outcomes of a degree in industrial arts.
Extensive Network – In addition to gaining a sufficient understanding of the sector and its development, you will have several chances to meet and interact with other working experts in the area, expanding your professional network and perhaps enhancing your professional development.
Ubiquity – Working with precious metals has a distinct benefit: they may be found almost everywhere. Humans first added ornaments of gold to their goods and clothes centuries ago, and they have been a staple ever since. Gold was considered a precious commodity by numerous civilizations throughout many countries (think Egyptian mummies). Today we find similar tendencies: Because silver and gold are both attractive and quite valuable, they continue to be popular choices for jewelry.
Highly Profitable – Profitability is high in the industry. There are always openings in the labor market, and the stability of the business bodes well for newcomers. Jobs in the precious metals business often pay well and are pretty stable. It doesn’t matter what happens to the economy or the stock market. The precious metals business will continue to develop and flourish because it is integral to modern living. Gold, silver, and other precious metals are used in everything from mobile phones to medical instruments.
Stable Employment – The need for labor in the industry is substantial. This ensures that there will always be a need for workers, regardless of the time of year, the state of the economy, or any other circumstance that would impact the availability of jobs in other sectors. There is also a low chance of being laid off in today’s employment environment. Your expertise will be in demand as long as there is a need to replace the metals utilized in production. Because of this, there will always be a need for trained individuals who are familiar with and able to deal with precious metals. One might find excellent employment prospects in the precious metals business.
Safe Investment Opportunity – Gold, silver, and other precious metals may provide solid returns over the long run for several reasons. First, precious metals have been highly prized for millennia. Gold and silver have a long history of usage as money, jewelry, and industrial metals. As a result of their scarcity relative to more great staples like wheat or maize, these metals were often exchanged for one another in ancient times. Due to their limited supply, they are less susceptible to inflation than government-issued paper currencies (when prices rise).
Precious metals investment may help strengthen your portfolio and protect your profits from the ups and downs of the market.
Do Precious Metals Have a Promising Future?
Precious metals have a promising future. The demand for precious metals is expected to rise in tandem with the global economy as it matures and expands. In addition, more individuals will look at this investment opportunity since it is simple to grasp; they know exactly what they’re getting.
Precious metal investment is the next obvious step for individuals seeking to diversify their holdings. Investing in silver, gold, and other metals puts you in a safe market.
Regardless of the state of the economy, there will always be a need for precious metals, which means there will be opportunities for employment in this sector. Some claim that buying precious metals was one of the best investment decisions they ever made. Their investment portfolio rose in value over time, and their monthly income was guaranteed because of their employment in the constantly expanding precious metals business.