Jewelry Stores Revenue Benchmarks
The average jewelry stores business in the United States generates $2.4M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 13,873 jewelry stores businesses in the U.S., employing 96,349 workers with an average profit margin of 4.0%.
What Does a Jewelry Stores Business Actually Do?
Retailers selling fine jewelry, watches, and gems. Independent jewelers often earn 40–50% of revenue from bridal (engagement + wedding). Many also repair, resize, and appraise.
Who buys: Consumers buying gifts, bridal, self-purchase, watch enthusiasts.
Average Revenue
$2.4M
per year
Profit Margin
4.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$344K
per year
Total Businesses
13,873
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$95K
small business avg
Labor Cost
14.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
4.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Jewelry Stores Charge?
Jewelry retailers earn very high gross margins on markup — often 100–300% over wholesale.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Diamond engagement ring markup | 100–200% over wholesale |
Fine jewelry markup | 100–300% |
Fashion jewelry markup | 200–500% |
Repair services | $20–150 per repair |
Appraisals | $50–150 per item |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete jewelry stores business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a jewelry stores business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the jewelry stores industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Cost of goods sold | $61 | $1.5M | Wholesale cost of merchandise purchased for resale. Retail's biggest expense. |
Wages & benefits | $14 | $334K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $8 | $196K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $98K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $8 | $196K | Utilities, POS fees, shrinkage, insurance, store maintenance. |
Net profit | $4 | $95K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
7.68%
openings/year
Closure Rate
6.26%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+1.66%
annual
Businesses Closed
871
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Jewelry Stores Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $400K
Break-Even
30 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a jewelry stores business do?
- Retailers selling fine jewelry, watches, and gems. Independent jewelers often earn 40–50% of revenue from bridal (engagement + wedding). Many also repair, resize, and appraise. Consumers buying gifts, bridal, self-purchase, watch enthusiasts.
- How much do jewelry stores charge?
- Jewelry retailers earn very high gross margins on markup — often 100–300% over wholesale. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average jewelry stores make per year?
- The average jewelry stores business generates $2.4M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $95K per year at a 4.0% profit margin.
- How many jewelry stores businesses are there in the US?
- There are 13,873 jewelry stores businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 96,349 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a jewelry stores business?
- Startup costs for a jewelry stores business typically range from $75K to $400K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The jewelry stores industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of 1.7%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 7.7% and 6.3% respectively.
Approximately 72% of jewelry stores businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 871 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The jewelry stores industry has declined 32% since 2000 (from 19,020 to 12,994 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Jewelry Stores revenue with other industries: