Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Genetic counselors work in a highly specialized health-related field that combines science, communication, and decision support. The role offers a national median salary of $98,910 and a relatively small workforce of about 4,000 positions nationwide. Employment is projected to grow by 9.3%, indicating expanding demand for this expertise. The career relies on a blend of science knowledge, strong writing and reading abilities, interpersonal skills, and critical and analytical thinking. Professionals in this field also draw on mathematics, computers and information technology, and problem solving and decision making, while remaining detail oriented and adaptable. Opportunity can vary significantly by location, with some states and metro areas offering higher salaries or stronger overall opportunity scores. For people interested in combining rigorous scientific understanding with intensive client interaction and communication, genetic counseling can present a focused, graduate-level career path with defined skill expectations and growing employment needs.
Genetic counselors earn a national median annual salary of $98,910, reflecting solid earning potential for a master’s-level profession. Pay can vary considerably by state and metro area. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $137,650, while other high-paying states include New York at $107,450, Colorado at $106,100, and Washington at $102,920. Massachusetts, at $97,240, sits close to the national median. Metro-level data show even higher salaries in certain locations. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro reports a median salary of $177,990, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports $165,920. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro offers $109,130, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is at $100,380, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH aligns with Massachusetts at $97,240. These figures suggest that geographic choice can significantly influence earnings for this occupation.
Genetic counseling is a relatively small occupation, with national employment of about 4,000 positions. Despite its size, projected employment growth is 9.3%, indicating that the field is expected to expand. This projected growth rate is consistent across the highlighted states and metro areas in the data. Annual openings are listed as 0, which means there is no specific estimate of yearly job openings provided beyond the overall employment and projected growth figures. For career planners, the combination of a modest total employment base and measurable projected growth suggests that opportunities may arise as the profession develops and existing positions turn over. However, the small employment numbers also underline that this is a niche career path. Individuals considering genetic counseling should factor in both the growth projection and the limited total number of roles when assessing long-term opportunities and potential competition for available positions.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for genetic counselors. At the state level, California ranks highest by opportunity score at 67.38, with a median salary of $137,650 and employment of 440. Massachusetts (score 65.87) and New York (65.78) also show strong opportunity, with median salaries of $97,240 and $107,450 and employment of 200 and 240, respectively. Colorado and Washington offer slightly lower opportunity scores in the mid-50s but still feature six-figure median salaries and positive growth projections. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out, both with opportunity scores above 77. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers the highest listed metro salary at $177,990 and a strong opportunity score of 68.75. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also provide meaningful clusters of employment with competitive pay and solid opportunity scores.
Genetic counselors typically need a master’s degree, making this a graduate-level profession. The educational pathway prepares individuals to integrate several key skill areas highlighted for this career. Strong writing and reading are essential, along with clear speaking and listening abilities, supporting complex communication. A solid foundation in science and mathematics underpins the technical aspects of the work. The role also calls for critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making, and being highly detail oriented. Interpersonal skills and adaptability are central, reflecting the need to work closely with others in changing situations. Competence with computers and information technology is also important. Together, these skills describe a profile that blends rigorous academic training with advanced communication and analytical capabilities. Prospective genetic counselors should be ready for a master’s-level program that develops both scientific expertise and the broad skill set needed for success in this specialized field.
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