Jeweler vs gemologist

The differences between jewelers and gemologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a jeweler and a gemologist. Additionally, a gemologist has an average salary of $62,830, which is higher than the $43,022 average annual salary of a jeweler.

The top three skills for a jeweler include customer service, CAD and laser welding. The most important skills for a gemologist are gem, customer service, and GIA.

Jeweler vs gemologist overview

	Jeweler	Gemologist
Yearly salary	$43,022	$62,830
Hourly rate	$20.68	$30.21
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	359	309
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

Jeweler vs gemologist salary

Jewelers and gemologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Jeweler	Gemologist
Average salary	$43,022	$62,830
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $69,000	Between $45,000 And $86,000
Highest paying City	Minnetonka, MN	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania
Best paying company	Tesoro	Everything But The House (ebth)
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between jeweler and gemologist education

There are a few differences between a jeweler and a gemologist in terms of educational background:

	Jeweler	Gemologist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common major	Fine Arts	Business
Most common college	-	-

Jeweler vs gemologist demographics

Here are the differences between jewelers' and gemologists' demographics:

	Jeweler	Gemologist
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5%	Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 11.7% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.9%	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%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between jeweler and gemologist duties and responsibilities

Jeweler example responsibilities.

Process and manage blanket purchase order for tier one customer.
Create releases, update pricing and resolve accounting issues between BPA and customer invoice.
Create customized jewelry by engraving gems
Assist primary jeweler with minor repairs, polishing and machine engraving
Demonstrate time management skills via maintenance of appointment itineraries for Medicare and Medicaid patients.
Identify process and systems improvements for order management, supply chain and planning.

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.

Jeweler vs gemologist skills

Common jeweler skills

Customer Service, 27%
CAD, 16%
Laser Welding, 12%
Laser Machine, 12%
Product Knowledge, 8%
Engraving, 5%

Common gemologist skills

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

Updated January 8, 2025

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