SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. Provide information to other healthcare providers or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions. Advise individuals and families to support informed decisionmaking and coping methods for those at risk. May help conduct research related to genetic conditions or genetic counseling.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 29-9092.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $78,270 | $6,522 | $1,505 | $37.63 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $88,900 | $7,408 | $1,710 | $42.74 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $100,040 | $8,337 | $1,924 | $48.09 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $116,140 | $9,678 | $2,233 | $55.84 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $138,760 | $11,563 | $2,668 | $66.71 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Genetic Counselors is $100,040, which is 96% higher. Among the 71 occupations of the field Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks number 37 by median pay. With 3,740 jobs, it makes up about 0.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Genetic Counselors pay by state
The highest median pay was in California ($137,650), New Jersey ($117,750) and New York ($107,450). The lowest was in Georgia ($82,750), Missouri ($83,980) and Michigan ($84,970). The most jobs were in California (440), Tennessee (340) and New Jersey (240). The occupation is most concentrated in Tennessee, where its share of all jobs is 4.4 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 440 | $137,650 | $143,090 | $66.18 |
| New Jersey | 240 | $117,750 | $111,660 | $56.61 |
| New York | 240 | $107,450 | $112,230 | $51.66 |
| Colorado | 40 | $106,100 | $105,700 | $51.01 |
| Delaware | 40 | $106,010 | $107,970 | $50.97 |
| Washington | 100 | $102,920 | $110,030 | $49.48 |
| Arizona | 50 | $102,730 | $104,110 | $49.39 |
| Florida | 100 | $102,330 | $98,590 | $49.20 |
| Minnesota | 160 | $102,010 | $100,880 | $49.04 |
| Connecticut | 50 | $101,640 | $104,140 | $48.87 |
| Ohio | 120 | $100,670 | $93,710 | $48.40 |
| District of Columbia | 40 | $100,380 | $95,450 | $48.26 |
| Virginia | 100 | $99,960 | $105,870 | $48.06 |
| Kentucky | 50 | $99,770 | $98,700 | $47.97 |
| Texas | not published | $99,450 | $96,470 | $47.81 |
| Utah | 50 | $98,430 | $102,130 | $47.32 |
| Massachusetts | 200 | $97,240 | $102,680 | $46.75 |
| Illinois | 90 | $95,880 | $96,580 | $46.10 |
| Pennsylvania | 230 | $94,930 | $98,720 | $45.64 |
| Tennessee | 340 | $94,380 | $93,790 | $45.37 |
| Maryland | 50 | $94,050 | $100,000 | $45.22 |
| South Carolina | 40 | $93,600 | $95,400 | $45.00 |
| North Carolina | 80 | $93,570 | $93,010 | $44.98 |
| Wisconsin | 110 | $92,170 | $90,140 | $44.31 |
| Indiana | 40 | $89,640 | $85,690 | $43.10 |
| Michigan | 80 | $84,970 | $88,280 | $40.85 |
| Missouri | 40 | $83,980 | $89,090 | $40.38 |
| Georgia | not published | $82,750 | $78,870 | $39.78 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Physical Therapists$102,760 a year
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- Dental Hygienists$98,100 a year
- Speech-Language Pathologists$97,870 a year
- Registered Nurses$97,550 a year
Common questions
How much do Genetic Counselors earn in the United States?
The median pay was $100,040 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $78,270 and the highest-paid 10% more than $138,760.
How many people work as Genetic Counselors?
About 3,740 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.
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