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Genetic Counselor

$100,040
median / year
$78,270 – $138,760
what most earn per year (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Assess inherited-condition risk and help patients understand genetic test results and their options.

You may also see this posted as: Certified Genetic Counselor, Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor, Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator, Medical Science Liaison.

Where you work

Hospitals, clinics, and labs.

The hours

Regular full-time weekday schedule

The day to day

What you'd actually spend time doing

  • 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.

Good fit if you like…

Investigative

solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work

Social

helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people

Conventional

organizing information, following systems, and getting details right

O*NET job zone 5 of 5

Extensive preparation—often graduate education and significant experience—is common.

Work styles that matter most

EmpathyAttention to DetailDependabilityCooperation

Software that shows up in the work

Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.

Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Word

By the numbers

May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$100,040
per year
Hourly median
$48.09
per hour
What most earn
$78,270–$138,760
yearly, 10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~300
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+9.3%
Much faster than average
Working in the U.S.
3,740
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

BLS estimates 8.1% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.

What it pays in your state

Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.

BLS state wage tables

How you get in

Typical starting education

Master's degree

Training path: Master's degree + certification.

Related work experience: None.

On-the-job training: None.

License or certification

Genetic counselors are board-certified, and many states also require a license.

Check the path where you live

Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.

What it takes

Risk assessmentPatient counselingGenetics knowledgeClear communication

The honest take

A growing niche where science meets counseling, with pay that rewards the master's investment.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-9092. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.