Continued......(got interrupted)
Who you work for depends. It's really tough to open your own business, right off the bat, and make a living doing it. Some start a "basement" business and build up the trade until they can open a store-front. Many of the "Big Boys" started out this way, and grew.
Jobs can sometimes be had as a large city police department armorer. There are a few openings now and then working for a Bill Wilson or Les Baer.
Jobs can also be found working for gun companies.
Gunsmith's and watchmaker's jobs are easier to find once you've attended a good school, and when you've been in the business for a while.
My experience with both trades is that people who go to the schools fall in several groups:
The ones who's Daddy is in the business. (They may not WANT to follow Daddy, but...)
The one's who won't actually work at the trade. These people usually aren't really serious about it, they're hobbyist. You check up on them in a year or so and they're funeral directors, and salesmen, etc.
The group who are there because they don't know what the hell to do, and this sounded interesting.
The group who just don't have the talent. A gunsmith HAS to have a certain "eye" for what looks right. I've seen any number of Master machinist who tried their hand at gunsmithing, and STUNK. They had the machine skills, but lacked the talent. I've also seen some people who had the "eye", but just lacked the hand-eye cordination to execute it. Gunsmithing is as much an art as a skill. But, it's also a manual skill. There are any number of people who can recognize high grade work, but can't use a file.
Then there are the pro's, who are stone cold serious, and will work in the trade. These are the smallest group.
It IS a worthwhile job, with a LOT of job satisfaction, and respect. Minus's are you probably won't get rich, there can be a lot of stress, and you're probably going to have to deal with the public. The public can be real assholes, which adds stress.
All told, If you understand what you're getting into, and you have the talent, it's a wonderful way to make a living.