How much does a Genetic Counselor make?
Genetic Counselors in the United States bring home a median salary of $100,040 a year, or around $48.10 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $78,270, while the top 10% earn $138,760.
That is $38,650 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Genetic Counselor salary range by percentile
Half of all Genetic Counselors earn between $88,900 and $116,140 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,270 | $37.63 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $88,900 | $42.74 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $100,040 | $48.10 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $116,140 | $55.84 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,760 | $66.71 |
Highest-paying states for Genetic Counselor
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Genetic Counselor pay at $137,650 a year, followed by New Jersey ($117,750) and New York ($107,450). At the other end, Georgia posts the lowest median at $82,750 — a gap of $54,900 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $137,650 | $66.18 | +38% |
| 2 | New Jersey | $117,750 | $56.61 | +18% |
| 3 | New York | $107,450 | $51.66 | +7% |
| 4 | Colorado | $106,100 | $51.01 | +6% |
| 5 | Delaware | $106,010 | $50.97 | +6% |
Genetic Counselor salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 28 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 4,000 people work as Genetic Counselors in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $104,620 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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