# Genetic Counselors

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/genetic-counselors
- SOC code: 29-9092.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $100,040 (10th percentile $78,270, 90th percentile $138,760)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +10.4%
- Openings a year: 300
- Typical entry education: Master's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ISC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 11 |
| Investigative (I) | 81 |
| Artistic (A) | 22 |
| Social (S) | 74 |
| Enterprising (E) | 29 |
| Conventional (C) | 48 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 99/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 99/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 97/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 95/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 94/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 93/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 91/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 89/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 88/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 88/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination

## Knowledge

Biology, Therapy and Counseling, English Language, Medicine and Dentistry, Psychology, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Mathematics, Sociology and Anthropology, Computers and Electronics

## Also called

Cancer Genetic Counselor, Cancer Program Consultant, Cardiovascular Genetics Counselor, Certified Genetic Counselor (CGC), Chromosomal Disorders Counselor, Clinical Genetic Counselor, Clinical Reviewer, Genetic Coordinator, Genetic Counseling Medical Specialist, Genetic Services Coordinator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5115) (CIP 5115, 969 colleges)
- [Public Health](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5122) (CIP 5122, 836 colleges)
- [Genetics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2608) (CIP 2608, 91 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Utah State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-state-university-3102) | Public Health | $77,239 | $93,161 | not reported |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Public Health | not reported | $89,522 | $17,279 |
| [University of New Hampshire-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-new-hampshire-main-campus-2980) | Genetics | $57,059 | $87,608 | $27,000 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Public Health | $55,305 | $87,217 | $19,500 |
| [Montana Technological University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/montana-technological-university-1758) | Public Health | not reported | $86,855 | $25,200 |
| [Oakland University-Michigan](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oakland-university-michigan-1984) | Public Health | $75,782 | $85,266 | $21,000 |
| [Illinois State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/illinois-state-university-1264) | Public Health | $72,984 | $84,790 | $16,533 |
| [Rutgers University-New Brunswick Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rutgers-university-new-brunswick-main-campus-2279) | Genetics | $37,361 | $83,484 | $18,883 |

## Related careers

- [Psychiatrists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/psychiatrists): $281,870 median pay
- [Family Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/family-medicine-physicians): $244,180 median pay
- [Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/advanced-practice-psychiatric-nurses): $97,550 median pay
- [Pediatricians, General](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pediatricians-general): $210,040 median pay
- [Clinical Nurse Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-nurse-specialists): $97,550 median pay
- [Neurologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/neurologists): $248,560 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.