Gemologist vs burr bench operator

The differences between gemologists and burr bench operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a gemologist and a burr bench operator. Additionally, a gemologist has an average salary of $62,830, which is higher than the $47,670 average annual salary of a burr bench operator.

The top three skills for a gemologist include gem, customer service and GIA. The most important skills for a burr bench operator are part numbers, , and .

Gemologist vs burr bench operator overview

	Gemologist	Burr Bench Operator
Yearly salary	$62,830	$47,670
Hourly rate	$30.21	$22.92
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	309	26,049
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	High School Diploma, 71%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

Gemologist vs burr bench operator salary

Gemologists and burr bench operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Gemologist	Burr Bench Operator
Average salary	$62,830	$47,670
Salary range	Between $45,000 And $86,000	Between $33,000 And $66,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	-
Highest paying state	Pennsylvania	-
Best paying company	Everything But The House (ebth)	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between gemologist and burr bench operator education

There are a few differences between a gemologist and a burr bench operator in terms of educational background:

	Gemologist	Burr Bench Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	High School Diploma, 71%
Most common major	Business	Accounting
Most common college	-	-

Gemologist vs burr bench operator demographics

Here are the differences between gemologists' and burr bench operators' demographics:

	Gemologist	Burr Bench Operator
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2%	Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 12.0% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.0%	Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 12.5% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.2%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between gemologist and burr bench operator duties and responsibilities

Gemologist example 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.
Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations and other relevant economic factors.
Display unsurpassed expertise in performing all jewelry appraisal functions for the store and clients.

Burr bench operator example responsibilities.

Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as gauges or micrometers.
Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them using clamps.

Gemologist vs burr bench operator skills

Common gemologist skills

Gem, 50%
Customer Service, 23%
GIA, 7%
Jewelry Items, 5%
Inventory Control, 4%
Sales Floor, 3%

Common burr bench operator skills

Part Numbers, 100%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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