All careersHealthcare

Genetic Counselor

$98,910
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

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

Where you work

Hospitals, clinics, and labs.

The hours

Regular full-time weekday schedule

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$98,910
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~300
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+9%
Much faster than average
Working in the U.S.
4,000
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.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Master's degree

Training path: Master's degree + certification.

License or certification

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

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, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.