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Best states for a gemologist
Quoted expert
Peter Harts
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like gemologists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for gemologists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Oregon is the best state in the country for gemologists.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for gemologists.We found that Oregon is the best state for gemologist jobs, whereas Hawaii is the worst.
10 best states for gemologists in 2025
1. Oregon
Total gemologist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $95,072 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 5.522. Minnesota
Total gemologist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $91,773 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 3.443. Pennsylvania
Total gemologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $105,421 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 04. Wyoming
Total gemologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $87,189 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 05. New York
Total gemologist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $88,762 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 2.676. Alabama
Total gemologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $84,732 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 07. Rhode Island
Total gemologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $85,149 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 08. Connecticut
Total gemologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $85,032 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 09. Massachusetts
Total gemologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $85,003 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 010. New Hampshire
Total gemologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $84,349 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 0
Gemologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a gemologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a gemologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $95,072 | $66,000 | 4,142,776 | 2 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $91,773 | $65,000 | 5,576,606 | 2 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $105,421 | $74,000 | 12,805,537 | 0 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $87,189 | $61,000 | 579,315 | 0 |
| 5 | New York | $88,762 | $62,000 | 19,849,399 | 3 |
| 6 | Alabama | $84,732 | $58,000 | 4,874,747 | 0 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $85,149 | $60,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $85,032 | $60,000 | 3,588,184 | 0 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $85,003 | $60,000 | 6,859,819 | 0 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $84,349 | $59,000 | 1,342,795 | 0 |
| 11 | Delaware | $83,488 | $58,000 | 961,939 | 0 |
| 12 | Vermont | $82,779 | $58,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 13 | Florida | $78,744 | $55,000 | 20,984,400 | 0 |
| 14 | Nevada | $75,991 | $52,000 | 2,998,039 | 0 |
| 15 | Maryland | $82,371 | $57,000 | 6,052,177 | 0 |
| 16 | Maine | $74,824 | $53,000 | 1,335,907 | 0 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $77,743 | $54,000 | 9,005,644 | 0 |
| 18 | Indiana | $67,738 | $47,000 | 6,666,818 | 1 |
| 19 | Utah | $67,546 | $47,000 | 3,101,833 | 1 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $81,872 | $57,000 | 693,972 | 0 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $68,433 | $49,000 | 755,393 | 0 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $68,536 | $48,000 | 5,795,483 | 0 |
| 23 | Iowa | $67,929 | $47,000 | 3,145,711 | 0 |
| 24 | Virginia | $72,059 | $50,000 | 8,470,020 | 0 |
| 25 | Michigan | $67,260 | $47,000 | 9,962,311 | 0 |
| 26 | Illinois | $70,650 | $49,000 | 12,802,023 | 1 |
| 27 | California | $72,536 | $50,000 | 39,536,653 | 3 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $66,620 | $46,000 | 3,930,864 | 0 |
| 29 | Arizona | $65,383 | $45,000 | 7,016,270 | 1 |
| 30 | Washington | $66,816 | $47,000 | 7,405,743 | 1 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $65,668 | $45,000 | 10,273,419 | 0 |
| 32 | Kansas | $65,511 | $45,000 | 2,913,123 | 0 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $62,545 | $43,000 | 1,815,857 | 0 |
| 34 | Idaho | $65,346 | $45,000 | 1,716,943 | 0 |
| 35 | Ohio | $62,708 | $43,000 | 11,658,609 | 1 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $58,729 | $40,000 | 6,715,984 | 2 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $58,263 | $40,000 | 4,454,189 | 0 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $59,995 | $41,000 | 2,088,070 | 0 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $55,995 | $39,000 | 1,920,076 | 2 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $57,648 | $40,000 | 3,004,279 | 0 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $56,465 | $40,000 | 869,666 | 0 |
| 42 | Texas | $57,335 | $39,000 | 28,304,596 | 2 |
| 43 | Missouri | $56,042 | $39,000 | 6,113,532 | 1 |
| 44 | Georgia | $57,064 | $39,000 | 10,429,379 | 0 |
| 45 | Alaska | $58,967 | $45,000 | 739,795 | 0 |
| 46 | Montana | $56,244 | $39,000 | 1,050,493 | 0 |
| 47 | Colorado | $55,097 | $38,000 | 5,607,154 | 2 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $55,385 | $38,000 | 5,024,369 | 0 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $53,919 | $37,000 | 2,984,100 | 0 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $53,664 | $37,000 | 4,684,333 | 0 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $46,405 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 0 |
Highest paying states for gemologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Gemologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $95,072 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $91,773 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $105,421 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $87,189 |
| 5 | New York | $88,762 |
| 6 | Alabama | $84,732 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $85,149 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $85,032 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $85,003 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $84,349 |
| 11 | Delaware | $83,488 |
| 12 | Vermont | $82,779 |
| 13 | Florida | $78,744 |
| 14 | Nevada | $75,991 |
| 15 | Maryland | $82,371 |
| 16 | Maine | $74,824 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $77,743 |
| 18 | Indiana | $67,738 |
| 19 | Utah | $67,546 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $81,872 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $68,433 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $68,536 |
| 23 | Iowa | $67,929 |
| 24 | Virginia | $72,059 |
| 25 | Michigan | $67,260 |
| 26 | Illinois | $70,650 |
| 27 | California | $72,536 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $66,620 |
| 29 | Arizona | $65,383 |
| 30 | Washington | $66,816 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $65,668 |
| 32 | Kansas | $65,511 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $62,545 |
| 34 | Idaho | $65,346 |
| 35 | Ohio | $62,708 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $58,729 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $58,263 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $59,995 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $55,995 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $57,648 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $56,465 |
| 42 | Texas | $57,335 |
| 43 | Missouri | $56,042 |
| 44 | Georgia | $57,064 |
| 45 | Alaska | $58,967 |
| 46 | Montana | $56,244 |
| 47 | Colorado | $55,097 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $55,385 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $53,919 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $53,664 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $46,405 |
Expert opinions on the best states for gemologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for gemologists to find work opportunities?
Peter Harts
Manager of Career Services, GIA
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.
Gemologist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025