Genetic Counselors — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$100,040
United States, 2025
Employment
3,740
United States, 2025
Typical education
Master's Degree
Job Zone 5
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 29-9092.00
- Job zone
- 5
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- Provide counseling to patient and family members by providing information, education, or reassurance.
- Analyze genetic information to identify patients or families at risk for specific disorders or syndromes.
- Provide genetic counseling in specified areas of clinical genetics, such as obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology and neurology.
- Discuss testing options and the associated risks, benefits and limitations with patients and families to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Interview patients or review medical records to obtain comprehensive patient or family medical histories, and document findings.
- Provide patients with information about the inheritance of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and various forms of cancer.
- Interpret laboratory results and communicate findings to patients or physicians.
- Write detailed consultation reports to provide information on complex genetic concepts to patients or referring physicians.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$78,270
25th percentile
$88,900
75th percentile
$116,140
90th percentile
$138,760
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Active Listening4.1
- Speaking4.0
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Active Learning4.0
- Writing4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Instructing3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
- Learning Strategies3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 20 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
20
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 | 5.0 | Not selected | 5.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Active Listening | 4.1 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Instructing | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Science | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $265,930
Compare with Genetic CounselorsSupplemental
National median $256,560
Compare with Genetic CounselorsSupplemental
National median $100,580
Compare with Genetic CounselorsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $177,990 | 120 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $165,920 | 80 | 2025 |
| CA | $137,650 | 440 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $120,560 | 130 | 2025 |
| NJ | $117,750 | 240 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $109,130 | 390 | 2025 |
| NY | $107,450 | 240 | 2025 |
| CO | $106,100 | 40 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $106,010 | 130 | 2025 |
| DE | $106,010 | 40 | 2025 |
| WA | $102,920 | 100 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $102,920 | 80 | 2025 |
| AZ | $102,730 | 50 | 2025 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $102,710 | 40 | 2025 |
| FL | $102,330 | 100 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $102,010 | 80 | 2025 |
| MN | $102,010 | 160 | 2025 |
| CT | $101,640 | 50 | 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | $101,390 | — | 2025 |
| OH | $100,670 | 120 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Genetic Counselors to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.