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Job outlook for gemologists in the United States
Are gemologist jobs in demand?
Gemologist job and salary trends over time
Gemologist jobs over time
Gemologist job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,360 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,041 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,317 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,447 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,436 | 0.00% |
Average gemologist salary over time
Gemologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $62,830 | $30.21 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $61,286 | $29.46 | +3.6% |
| 2023 | $59,142 | $28.43 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $56,922 | $27.37 | --0.6% |
| 2021 | $57,282 | $27.54 | +3.1% |
Gemologist jobs by state
Most common states for gemologists
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 19,849,399 | 3 | 0% |
| 2 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 2 | 0% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2 | 0% |
| 4 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1 | 0% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1 | 0% |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 0 | 0% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 0 | 0% |
| 8 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 0 | 0% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 0 | 0% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 0 | 0% |
| 11 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 0 | 0% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 0 | 0% |
| 13 | Delaware | 961,939 | 0 | 0% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 0 | 0% |
| 15 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 0 | 0% |
| 16 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 0 | 0% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 0 | 0% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 0 | 0% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 0 | 0% |
Most common cities for gemologists
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duluth | 1 | 3% | $57,597 |
| 2 | San Antonio | 2 | 0% | $56,794 |
Gemologist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of gemologist experts
GIA
What type of skills will young Gemologists need?
Peter Harts: Employers are looking to hire graduates who are resourceful and demonstrate a balanced mix of hard skills and soft skills. Though hard skills can show off graduates’ experience and understanding of a specific, quantifiable ability, soft skills indicate a graduate’s ability to work with others and grow within an organization. Graduates also need to be well versed in global citizenship, with an appreciation and understanding of other cultures. This is particularly true in the gem and jewelry industry, as new markets emerge and technology improves efficiency in the supply chain process from business to consumer. Ultimately, a balanced mix of hard and soft skills can help graduates gain confidence—an invaluable trait in the business world.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Gemologists to find work opportunities?
Peter Harts: Major metropolitan cities and international trading ports provide an abundance of opportunities in various roles within the gem and jewelry industry. This is why GIA offers comprehensive education in many of the world’s top gem trading and jewelry manufacturing centers.
Graduates can find opportunities with national retail chains, independent businesses, and manufacturing in all parts of the world, both rural and metropolitan. Additionally, more than ever before, people are working in places outside of a conventional office or place of business. E-commerce and the design field provide burgeoning opportunities with advances in technology and remote options – allowing employees the freedom to work where they choose.
How do you envision technology impacting Gemologists in the next 5 years?
Peter Harts: With the emergence of new technology, we are seeing new ways in which companies are building brand awareness, acquiring talent, and increasing efficiencies. The increase in jewelry manufacturers adopting technology to increase accuracy and automation in various processes will play a large role in the next five years in the gem and jewelry industry.
A great example of this is the recent partnership between the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and IBM Research to develop an advanced artificial intelligence system, based on data from tens of millions of stones graded by GIA, to evaluate diamond clarity. Advancements such as this revolutionize the diamond grading sector.
It’s no secret, technology changes (and will continue to change) the jewelry industry. As systems and technologies are scaled to meet market demand, the entire industry is set to bring new excitement to the products, processes, and customer experiences like never before.