How To Become A Gemologist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a gemologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a gemologist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $30.21 an hour? That's $62,830 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 1% and produce 600 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreGemologistUS Average

Salary

4.9

Avg. Salary $62,830

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.4

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 4.02%

Asian 12.02%

Black or African American 2.00%

Hispanic or Latino 13.24%

Unknown 4.38%

White 64.34%

Gender

female 58.18%

male 41.82%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.3

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a gemologist

Explore gemologist education requirements

Most common gemologist degrees

Bachelor's

53.6 %

Associate

14.3 %

Diploma

10.7 %

Start to develop specific gemologist skills

Skills	Percentages
Gem	50.03%
Customer Service	23.40%
GIA	7.37%
Jewelry Items	5.24%
Inventory Control	3.54%

Complete relevant gemologist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New gemologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a gemologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real gemologist resumes.

Research gemologist duties and responsibilities

Ensure gem quality of diamonds as they are manufactured from rough into polished goods.
Display unsurpassed expertise in performing all jewelry appraisal functions for the store and clients.
Experience with GemGuide, appraisal software using the GIA grading system for colore stones and diamonds.
Personalize jewelry through engraving metals or resetting gems.

Apply for gemologist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a gemologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do gemologists rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Gemologist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2021

Pros

I love everything about it from looking at gems evaluating and shapes and size.

Cons

The salary