Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Peer-group outlier SOC 29-9092

Genetic Counselors

Median pay sits 70% below the mid peer in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations (neighbors include Pediatric Surgeons, Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric, Radiologists, Physicians, Pathologists).

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Genetic Counselors: Pediatric Surgeons ($559K) , Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric ($300K) , Radiologists ($421K) , Physicians, Pathologists ($312K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Genetic Counselors publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 29-9092 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Interpret laboratory results and communicate findings to patients or physicians
  2. 2. Discuss testing options and the associated risks, benefits and limitations with patients and families to assist them in making informed d…
  3. 3. Analyze genetic information to identify patients or families at risk for specific disorders or syndromes
  4. 4. Provide counseling to patient and family members by providing information, education, or reassurance
  5. 5. Write detailed consultation reports to provide information on complex genetic concepts to patients or referring physicians
  6. 6. Provide genetic counseling in specified areas of clinical genetics, such as obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology and neurology
  7. 7. Determine or coordinate treatment plans by requesting laboratory services, reviewing genetics or counseling literature, and considering h…
  8. 8. Interview patients or review medical records to obtain comprehensive patient or family medical histories, and document findings
  9. 9. Assess patients' psychological or emotional needs, such as those relating to stress, fear of test results, financial issues, and marital…
  10. 10. Provide patients with information about the inheritance of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and…
  11. 11. Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of development…
  12. 12. Prepare or provide genetics-related educational materials to patients or medical personnel

Genetic Counselors: O*NET ranks Reading Comprehension first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 29-9092 - lead skill Reading Comprehension at 4.1 ; lead knowledge Biology. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Reading Comprehension 4.1
  2. 2. Active Listening 4.0
  3. 3. Complex Problem Solving 4.0
  4. 4. Writing 3.9
  5. 5. Speaking 3.9
  6. 6. Critical Thinking 3.9
  7. 7. Active Learning 3.9
  8. 8. Social Perceptiveness 3.9

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Biology 4.8
  2. 2. Psychology 4.6
  3. 3. Medicine and Dentistry 4.4
  4. 4. Therapy and Counseling 4.3
  5. 5. English Language 4.1
  6. 6. Customer and Personal Service 3.9
Pay vs Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations peers
-70%
vs mid peer median $335,550
This role $100,040/yr
$100K
National median
↑ +9%
Growth 2024-2034
300
Annual openings
3,740
Estimated US jobs
Pediatric Surgeons
Highest-pay peer · $559K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Master's degree

Top Paying States for Genetic Counselors

1. California $137,650
2. Arizona $102,730
3. New Jersey $117,750
4. Florida $102,330
5. Delaware $106,010
6. Washington $102,920
7. Connecticut $101,640
8. Colorado $106,100
9. New York $107,450
10. Minnesota $102,010

Other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations titles

  1. 1. Radiologists $420,860
  2. 2. Physicians, Pathologists $312,400
  3. 3. Dermatologists $328,730
  4. 4. Pediatric Surgeons $559,030
  5. 5. Anesthesiologists $391,490
  6. 6. Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric $300,080

Among Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations peers on this card, Genetic Counselors sits 70% below the mid peer median ($335,550). Its own median is $100,040.

Employment Projections expect +9% change between 2024 and 2034 (much faster than average vs baseline 3.1%). About 300 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns Master's degree as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: California at $137,650. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Pediatric Surgeons at $559,030. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Genetic Counselors pay-rank #37 in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

Genetic Counselors sits at pay-rank #37 of 71 detailed Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations, the middle third of the major-group median table. ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.

Other mid-table titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

SOC 29-9092 · national median $100,040 · middle third of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations (#37/71). Open the full OEWS map or a named state before treating the card median as a local ask.

Genetic Counselors salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 29-9092

California · top state for Genetic Counselors

$138K published median

Arizona · #2 state pay

$103K · behind California

Pediatric Surgeons

Highest-pay peer vs Genetic Counselors · $559K

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric

Lower-pay peer beside Genetic Counselors · $300K

Compare Genetic Counselors

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Genetic Counselors with another occupation →

Peer-comparison next reads

Compare Genetic Counselors

Against another occupation

Pediatric Surgeons card

Top peer in this major group

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Genetic Counselors mid-table among Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations? ▼
Yes: pay-rank #37 of 71 detailed Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations, the middle third. Mid-table neighbors: Occupational Therapists ($100K), Nuclear Medicine Technologists ($101K), Dental Hygienists ($98K), Speech-Language Pathologists ($98K). ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.
What do genetic counselors do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Genetic Counselors. Leading ones include: 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 d…; 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. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for genetic counselors? ▼
For SOC 29-9092, O*NET importance scores lead with Reading Comprehension (4.1), Active Listening (4.0), Complex Problem Solving (4.0), Writing (3.9). Knowledge areas emphasize Biology, Psychology, Medicine and Dentistry. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Genetic Counselors? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $100,040 as the national median for Genetic Counselors. The published 10th-90th range is $78,270 to $138,760. Beside Pediatric Surgeons ($559,030), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
What employment change does BLS publish for Genetic Counselors? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Genetic Counselors is +9%. Projected annual openings: about 300. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: much faster than average.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Genetic Counselors? ▼
BLS assigns Master's degree as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Genetic Counselors. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Genetic Counselors? ▼
California ($137,650), Arizona ($102,730), New Jersey ($117,750) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Genetic Counselors card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 29-9092. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Genetic Counselors. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics