Genetic Counselors: Career Overview
Assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. Provide information to other healthcare providers or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions. Advise individuals and families to support informed decisionmaking and coping methods for those at risk. May help conduct research related to genetic conditions or genetic counseling.
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What Tasks Do Genetic Counselors Do?
Typical responsibilities of genetic counselors cover:
- Interpret laboratory results and communicate findings to patients or physicians.
- Discuss testing options and the associated risks, benefits and limitations with patients and families to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Analyze genetic information to identify patients or families at risk for specific disorders or syndromes.
- Provide counseling to patient and family members by providing information, education, or reassurance.
- Write detailed consultation reports to provide information on complex genetic concepts to patients or referring physicians.
- Provide genetic counseling in specified areas of clinical genetics, such as obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology and neurology.
- Determine or coordinate treatment plans by requesting laboratory services, reviewing genetics or counseling literature, and considering histories or diagnostic data.
- Interview patients or review medical records to obtain comprehensive patient or family medical histories, and document findings.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective genetic counselors rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Cancer Genetic Counselor
- Cancer Program Consultant
- Certified Genetic Counselor
- Chromosomal Disorders Counselor
- Clinical Reviewer
- Genetic Coordinator
- Genetic Counseling Medical Specialist
- Genetic Counselor
How Many Genetic Counselors Are There?
There are roughly 2,900,579 genetic counselors working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +13.4% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Genetic Counselors
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $58,726 |
| Hourly median | $28.23 |
| 10th percentile | $41,578 |
| 25th percentile | $50,152 |
| 75th percentile | $67,299 |
| 90th percentile | $75,873 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Genetic Counselors Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $135,090 |
| New Jersey | $120,550 |
| Virginia | $106,060 |
| Vermont | $106,000 |
| South Carolina | $105,500 |
| Colorado | $104,840 |
| Maryland | $102,960 |
| New York | $100,110 |
| Washington | $99,820 |
| Arizona | $99,270 |
| Florida | $99,110 |
| Minnesota | $99,090 |
| Texas | $97,480 |
| Connecticut | $93,920 |
| Massachusetts | $93,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $92,320 |
| Ohio | $92,310 |
| Utah | $91,620 |
| Tennessee | $90,780 |
| Michigan | $90,660 |
| Illinois | $89,980 |
| Missouri | $88,130 |
| North Carolina | $87,850 |
| District of Columbia | $87,520 |
| Wisconsin | $87,240 |
| Indiana | $81,760 |
Where Genetic Counselors Earn the Most
Pay for genetic counselors differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $127,045 | 19.4% | 1.20 |
| Southeast | $98,895 | 12.6% | 0.97 |
| Middle Atlantic | $98,347 | 29.6% | 1.81 |
| Southwest | $98,076 | 4.1% | 0.36 |
| Plains States | $97,446 | 6.8% | 2.29 |
| Rocky Mountains | $96,577 | 2.7% | 0.93 |
| New England | $95,045 | 10.9% | 2.79 |
| Great Lakes | $89,331 | 13.9% | 0.96 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $159,960 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $149,850 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $130,310 | 100 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | OH | $104,790 | 50 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $104,100 | 90 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $103,060 | 410 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $100,690 | 100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $99,330 | 120 |
Which Industries Hire Genetic Counselors
Most genetic counselors are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,900 | $99,210 |
| Educational Services | 240 | $95,660 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 120 | $93,770 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 70 | $125,960 |
Genetic Counselors work in the following industries:
Software Genetic Counselors Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of genetic counselors is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Written Letters and Memos
- Contact With Others
How to Become Genetic Counselors
Most genetic counselors positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Supplemental)
- Clinical Neuropsychologists (Primary-Long)
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (Primary-Short)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Nurse Midwives (Supplemental)
- Nurse Practitioners (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Future genetic counselors typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 2 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-9092.00 (Genetic Counselors).
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