diff --git a/migrations/20131108_add_gems_for_contribs.js b/migrations/20131108_add_gems_for_contribs.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..03ff44e721
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/20131108_add_gems_for_contribs.js
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+// Increase everyone's gems per their contribution level
+db.users.find({'contributor.level':{$gt:0}},{contributor:1, balance:1}).forEach(function(user){
+  db.users.update({_id:user._id}, {$inc: {balance: (user.contributor.level * .5)} });
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/controllers/groups.js b/src/controllers/groups.js
index 8632d6e48d..08829344b4 100644
--- a/src/controllers/groups.js
+++ b/src/controllers/groups.js
@@ -55,8 +55,11 @@ api.updateMember = function(req, res) {
     },
     function(member, cb){
       if (!member) return res.json(404, {err: "User not found"});
-      if (req.body.contributor.level > (member.contributor && member.contributor.level || 0)) member.flags.contributor = true;
-      _.merge(member, _.pick(req.body, ['contributor', 'balance']));
+      if (req.body.contributor.level > (member.contributor && member.contributor.level || 0)) {
+        member.flags.contributor = true;
+        member.balance += (req.body.contributor.level - member.contributor.level)*.5 // +2 gems per tier
+      }
+      _.merge(member, _.pick(req.body, 'contributor'));
       if (!member.items.pets) member.items.pets = [];
       var i = member.items.pets.indexOf('Dragon-Hydra');
       if (!~i && member.contributor.level >= 6) member.items.pets.push('Dragon-Hydra');
diff --git a/views/options/admin.jade b/views/options/admin.jade
index aded591834..e53f537161 100644
--- a/views/options/admin.jade
+++ b/views/options/admin.jade
@@ -16,9 +16,6 @@ script(id='partials/options.admin.html', type="text/ng-template")
         br
         small [1-7] this determines which items, pets, and mounts are available. Also determines name-tag coloring. 
         a(target='_blank', href='https://trello.com/c/wkFzONhE/277-contributor-gear') More details.
-      .control-group.option-medium
-        input.option-content(type='number', step="any", ng-model='profile.balance')
-        span.input-suffix $ (Gems/4)
       .control-group.option-medium
         label.checkbox
           input(type='checkbox', ng-model='profile.contributor.admin')