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Genetic Counseling

A program that prepares individuals to counsel patients and families concerning inherited genetic disorders and diseases; assess risk factors and planning options associated with potential and actual inherited conditions; and serve as patient advocates and provide referral services in relation to private and public support services. Includes instruction in clinical/medical genetics, methods of genetic testing, interviewing and counseling skills, genetic and support services delivery, principles of public health, medical ethics, law and regulations, patient advocacy, and professional standards.

Types of Degrees Genetic Counseling Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Genetic Counseling can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Master’s Degree	378

What Genetic Counseling Majors Need to Know

Studies in Genetic Counseling build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Genetic Counseling graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Genetic Counseling emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Biology — Importance 4.8 / 5; level 5.6 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Therapy and Counseling — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Genetic Counseling program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Complex Problem Solving — Importance 4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Genetic Counseling careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4 / 5; level 5 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 4 / 5; level 4 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Genetic Counseling graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.7 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.7 / 7
Getting Information	4.7 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.4 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.2 / 7
Communicating with People Outside the Organization	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Genetic Counseling professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Wageningen MapChart	Medical software	—
Prognosis Innovation Healthcare ChartAccess	Medical software	—
Jurek Software Pedigree-Draw	Medical software	—
Benetech PRA	Medical software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
PediDraw	Medical software	—
CancerGene	Medical software	—
PedHunter	Medical software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
CyrillicSoftware Cyrillic	Medical software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Genetic Counseling graduates include:

• Cancer Program Consultant
• Chromosomal Disorders Counselor
• Cancer Genetic Counselor
• Prenatal Genetic Counselor
• Certified Genetic Counselor
• Genetic Counselor
• Mitochondrial Disorders Counselor
• Genetic Counseling Medical Specialist
• Genetic Coordinator
• Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator
• Pediatric Genetic Counselor
• Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor
• Genetics Counselor
• Medical Science Liaison
• Clinical Reviewer

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Genetic Counseling graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Master’s degree	100%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Genetic Counseling?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 92.9% of Genetic Counseling degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	351	92.9%
Men	27	7.1%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Genetic Counseling graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	222	58.7%
Asian	36	9.5%
Hispanic or Latino	37	9.8%
Black or African American	12	3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	0.3%
Two or More Races	18	4.8%
Race Unknown	27	7.1%
International Students	25	6.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Genetic Counseling Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Genetic Counseling graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$46,066
4 years	$46,824
5 years	$52,641

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $52,641 — roughly 14% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Genetic Counseling Programs

Distance learning is reported by IPEDS for Genetic Counseling. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Master’s	3	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Genetic Counseling Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Genetic Counseling graduates earn a median of $46,824 four years after completion — roughly 23% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions	33,946
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor	10,855
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling	6,135
Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling	4,476
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other	3,545
Clinical/Medical Social Work	3,296
Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	2,601
Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling	2,298
Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling	187
Trauma Counseling	161
Medical Family Therapy/Therapist	6
Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy	5

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.