🏥
Hospitals & Health Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Genetic Counselors
Genetic counselors help people understand whether an inherited condition could affect them or their family, and what a genetic test can and cannot tell them. The work is a mix of science and conversation: one day you may be tracing family history and reviewing lab results, and the next you may be helping someone process fear, uncertainty, or bad news. The main tradeoff is that the job is highly personal and intellectually demanding, but it often deals in probabilities instead of clear-cut answers.
Also known as Clinical Genetic CounselorCancer Genetic CounselorPrenatal Genetic CounselorPediatric Genetic CounselorMedical Genetic Counselor
Median Salary
$98,910
Mean $102,890
U.S. Workforce
~4K
0.3K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+9.3%
4K to 4.3K
Entry Education
Master's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Genetic Counselors sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~4K workers, with a median annual pay of $98,910 and roughly 0.3K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 4 K in 2024 to 4.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's degree in genetic counseling, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Genetic Counseling Trainee and can progress toward Lead Genetic Counselor. High-value skills usually include Genetic Testing Interpretation & Pedigree Analysis, Epic, Cerner & Clinical EHR Documentation, and ClinVar, OMIM & GeneReviews Research, paired with soft skills such as Reading comprehension, Active listening, and Critical thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Review family histories, medical records, and test results to figure out whether a genetic disorder might run in a family.
- Meet with patients and relatives to walk through testing choices, explain possible results, and spell out the limits of what the test can show.
- Listen for stress, fear, money concerns, or family conflict and connect people with counseling, social work, or other support when needed.
- Work with doctors and laboratories to order the right tests and help shape follow-up care based on the findings.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Review family histories, medical records, and test results to figure out whether a genetic disorder might run in a family.
02 Meet with patients and relatives to walk through testing choices, explain possible results, and spell out the limits of what the test can show.
03 Listen for stress, fear, money concerns, or family conflict and connect people with counseling, social work, or other support when needed.
04 Work with doctors and laboratories to order the right tests and help shape follow-up care based on the findings.
05 Keep careful notes, share approved patient data with research teams, and make sure records are handled correctly.
06 Teach other clinicians, students, or community groups about genetics, and help update clinic procedures and care standards.
Industries That Hire
🎗️
Cancer Centers
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
🤰
Prenatal & Fertility Clinics
Kindbody, Shady Grove Fertility, US Fertility
🎓
Academic Medical Centers
Stanford Medicine, UCSF Health, Penn Medicine
🧬
Genomics & Diagnostic Testing Labs
Natera, Myriad Genetics, GeneDx
🧒
Children's Hospitals
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Boston Children's Hospital, Seattle Children's
Pros and Cons
Advantages
+
The pay is strong for a master's-level healthcare job, with a $98,910 median annual wage and a $102,890 mean.
+
You can enter the field without prior work experience or on-the-job training, so the graduate degree is the main hurdle.
+
Employment is projected to grow 9.3%, from about 4.0K jobs to 4.3K jobs, with roughly 300 openings a year.
+
The work mixes science, problem-solving, and one-on-one conversations, so the day rarely feels repetitive.
+
You can specialize in cancer, prenatal, pediatric, or rare-disease counseling, and some jobs include research or teaching.
Challenges
-
The occupation is small, with only 3,510 jobs nationwide, so openings can be limited and clustered around major medical centers.
-
A big part of the job is helping people through frightening test results or family conflict, which can be emotionally exhausting.
-
You often have to explain probabilities instead of giving a simple yes-or-no answer, which leaves some families feeling unsettled.
-
Because the standard credential is already a master's degree, career growth often means moving into supervision, education, or management rather than a long promotion ladder.
-
The pay is solid, but it may lag behind some other clinical jobs with similar education requirements, especially in expensive metro areas.
Career Progression
Genetic Counseling Trainee
0-2 years
$45K-$60K
Usually works under supervision, learning how to build family histories, observe counseling sessions, and handle intake paperwork.
Genetic Counselor
2-5 years
$90K-$110K
Runs patient consultations, explains testing options and results, and coordinates follow-up with doctors and labs.
Senior Genetic Counselor THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$111K-$135K
Handles more complex cases, mentors newer counselors, and may take the lead on specialty clinics like cancer or prenatal care.
Lead Genetic Counselor
9+ years
$136K-$165K
Oversees workflows, trains staff, helps shape policy, and may manage a genetics service line or multi-site program.
Education Paths
Master's degree in genetic counseling
This is the standard entry route, and 100.0% of workers in the occupation hold a master's degree.
Related master's degree with accredited genetic counseling coursework and supervised clinical training
Some candidates build toward the role through closely related graduate study, then complete the specialized clinical training needed for the profession.
Master's degree plus ABGC board certification
Board certification from the American Board of Genetic Counseling is the credential employers usually expect after graduate school.
Key Skills
Technical
Genetic Testing Interpretation & Pedigree Analysis 94%
Epic, Cerner & Clinical EHR Documentation 92%
ClinVar, OMIM & GeneReviews Research 89%
Lab Test Ordering & Result Tracking 86%
REDCap, IRB Data Handling & Research Compliance 82%
Clinical Genetics Education Materials & Presentation Tools 78%
Soft Skills
Reading comprehensionActive listeningCritical thinkingSpeaking clearlyWriting clearlyEmpathy Job Outlook and Trends
+9.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.3K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 4K to 4.3 K over the next decade, representing 9.3% growth. Around 0.3 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.