29 Series · SOC 29-9092
Genetic Counselors Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $100,040
- Median / year
- $138,760
- Top 10% earn
- +9.3%
- Growth '23–'33
- 3,740
- US workers
Genetic Counselors earn a median of $100,040 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $100,040, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $78,270 (10th percentile) to $138,760 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 3,740 US workers. California pays the most ($137,650), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Genetic Counselors earn a median of $100,040, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 83% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #37 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 9.3% by 2033.
- $100,040
- Median annual wage
- Top 17%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #37 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 1.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $137,650. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Genetic Counselors (SOC 29-9092) pays a national median of $100,040 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $78,270 at the 10th percentile to $138,760 at the 90th, with a mean of $104,620 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 3,740 Americans work in this occupation across 28 reporting states and 19 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +9.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 300 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Master's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.7 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $137,650, which is +38% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $177,990 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$100,040
per year
Median Hourly
$48.09/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$104,620
average
Employment
3,740
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Genetic Counselors pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$100,040 Top 17% higher than 83% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Genetic Counselors; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 29-series occupations with growth data, Genetic Counselors sits on the faster-growing side at +9.3% growth and $100,040 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+9.3%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
300
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Master's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Genetic Counselors roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Assess patients' psychological or emotional needs, such as those relating to stress, fear of test results, financial issues, and marital conflicts to make referral recommendations or assist patients in managing test outcomes.
- ▸ Provide patients with information about the inheritance of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and various forms of cancer.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$78,270
25th Percentile
$88,900
Median
$100,040
75th Percentile
$116,140
90th Percentile
$138,760
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 28 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $137,650 | +38% above national |
| 2 | New Jersey | $117,750 | +18% above national |
| 3 | New York | $107,450 | +7% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $106,100 | +6% above national |
| 5 | Delaware | $106,010 | +6% above national |
| 6 | Washington | $102,920 | +3% above national |
| 7 | Arizona | $102,730 | +3% above national |
| 8 | Florida | $102,330 | +2% above national |
| 9 | Minnesota | $102,010 | +2% above national |
| 10 | Connecticut | $101,640 | +2% above national |
| 11 | Ohio | $100,670 | +1% above national |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $100,380 | same as national |
| 13 | Virginia | $99,960 | same as national |
| 14 | Kentucky | $99,770 | same as national |
| 15 | Texas | $99,450 | 1% below national |
| 16 | Utah | $98,430 | 2% below national |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $97,240 | 3% below national |
| 18 | Illinois | $95,880 | 4% below national |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $94,930 | 5% below national |
| 20 | Tennessee | $94,380 | 6% below national |
| 21 | Maryland | $94,050 | 6% below national |
| 22 | South Carolina | $93,600 | 6% below national |
| 23 | North Carolina | $93,570 | 6% below national |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $92,170 | 8% below national |
| 25 | Indiana | $89,640 | 10% below national |
| 26 | Michigan | $84,970 | 15% below national |
| 27 | Missouri | $83,980 | 16% below national |
| 28 | Georgia | $82,750 | 17% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 19 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $177,990 | +78% above national |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $165,920 | +66% above national |
| 3 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $120,560 | +21% above national |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $109,130 | +9% above national |
| 5 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $106,010 | +6% above national |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,920 | +3% above national |
| 7 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $102,710 | +3% above national |
| 8 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $102,010 | +2% above national |
| 9 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $101,390 | +1% above national |
| 10 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $100,380 | same as national |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $99,030 | 1% below national |
| 12 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $98,660 | 1% below national |
| 13 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $98,430 | 2% below national |
| 14 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $97,240 | 3% below national |
| 15 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $97,060 | 3% below national |
| 16 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $95,880 | 4% below national |
| 17 | Madison, WI | $89,600 | 10% below national |
| 18 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $89,190 | 11% below national |
| 19 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $82,230 | 18% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 29 (healthcare practitioners) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Genetic Counselors make? ▼
What state pays Genetic Counselors the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Genetic Counselors? ▼
How dangerous is being a Genetic Counselors? ▼
Is Genetic Counselors a good career? ▼
How does Genetic Counselors pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Genetic Counselors? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Genetic Counselors pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $116,140/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $137,650/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.