John Mullins

John Mullins is 

an economist in 

the Office of 

Occupational 

Statistics and 

Employment 

Projections, BLS. 

He is available at 

(202) 691–6547 

or mullins.

john@bls.gov.

You’re a what ?

Genetic counselor

By the time many parents see Brenda 

Finucane, all they want is an explanation for their child’s puzzling 

problems. It’s Brenda’s job to give parents that 

explanation and help them move forward.

Brenda is a genetic counselor in Elwyn, 

Pennsylvania. Her job is to inform clients 

about genetic disorders and help them to 

understand and manage the disorder. Many 

families have struggled with a child’s problem 

for a long time, and Brenda helps give a name 

to some of their concerns. “For a lot of families,” she says, “it can really be a big relief to 

finally have an answer.”

One of Brenda’s areas of expertise is in 

a disorder called fragile X syndrome. This 

condition can result in physical, intellectual, 

emotional, or behavioral problems—and is 

a common cause of some disorders, such as 

autism.

Like nearly all genetic counselors, Brenda 

begins work on each case by meeting with 

clients and gathering medical and other information. She uses this information to construct 

a “pedigree,” a specialized family tree. The 

pedigree is a health history of an individual’s 

biological family and includes detailed information ranging from family members’ inherited conditions, such as blindness and deafness, to their ages and causes of death.

A pedigree assists genetic counselors in 

mapping genetic patterns within the family. 

For example, Brenda might encounter a child 

whose genetic testing for autism has confirmed fragile X syndrome as the cause, and 

the mother has been identified as a carrier. 

The pedigree shows that a maternal aunt has 

a child with special needs, another maternal 

aunt is being treated for infertility, and the 

maternal grandfather is suffering from Parkinson’s disease. All of these can be attributed to 

the fragile X gene.

Brenda’s role in such cases is multifaceted. First, she must translate the complex 

scientific concepts involved into language that 

the client can understand. Second, she must 

share the news with the client—sometimes the 

most difficult part of her job. “Often, families 

are hoping something will go away,” she says, 

“and I have to tell them that it won’t.”

Finally, Brenda helps the client understand how to deal with the condition. As 

Brenda says, “We help families adapt to the 

information they get from us.” For example, a 

parent might feel guilty about being the carrier of a genetic condition. Brenda helps the 

parent adapt emotionally, assuring him or her 

that guilt is a common reaction and explaining 

that our genetic makeup is not something we 

can control.

In explaining a child’s genetic condition, 

Brenda also makes parents aware of how the 

condition may progress, including its medical, 

educational, and psychological ramifications. 

She then directs clients to other resources, 

such as support organizations and healthcare 

or educational specialists, for more assistance.

Genetic conditions have implications for 

the extended family, but the information often 

is too complex for the client to explain. A 

genetic counselor might write a letter summarizing the condition to help clients share this 

information with other family members.

When it first emerged about 50 years 

ago, genetic counseling focused primarily on 

prenatal testing to detect genetic conditions. 

34 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Summer 2011
Brenda Finucane, left, 

often consults with other 

genetic counselors.

But counseling services have evolved to keep 

pace with a greater knowledge of genetics and 

wider application of genetic diagnostic testing.

Today, there are several types of genetic 

counselors, and their expertise covers thousands of genetic conditions and spans the 

entire human life cycle. Genetic counselors 

work in a variety of specializations, such as 

cancer counseling, prenatal counseling, or 

pediatrics—Brenda’s specialty. And some 

counselors develop specific areas of expertise, 

as Brenda has with fragile X.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does 

not have data on employment or wages for 

genetic counselors. According to the American Board of Genetic Counseling, however, 

there are roughly 2,400 certified genetic 

counselors in the United States. And they earn 

a median annual salary of about $63,000, 

according to data from the National Society of 

Genetic Counselors.

Genetic counselors must have a master’s 

degree in genetic counseling from a program 

accredited by American Board of Genetic 

Counseling. There are currently 30 of these 

master’s programs nationwide, and admission 

to them usually requires completion of significant undergraduate coursework in biological 

science. The programs combine scientific 

aspects of genetics with counseling study and 

take about 2 years to finish. In addition, most 

employers require certification, and some 

states require licensure.

Most genetic counselors work in medical 

offices and hospitals. Brenda, however, works 

for a nonprofit organization that helps people 

who have developmental disabilities. She 

travels around the country to provide consultations in schools, developing behavioral and 

educational plans for students with fragile X 

and other genetic syndromes. She also handles 

most of her own administrative tasks, such as 

scheduling and billing.

All genetic counselors need science 

knowledge and interpersonal skills. That 

blend was what first appealed to Brenda, and 

that appeal has lasted more than 25 years. “I 

love the science, but I didn’t want to work in 

a lab,” she says. “Genetic counseling allows 

me to combine my lifelong interest in science 

with the opportunity to interact with families 

affected by genetic disease.”

Photo courtesy of Genetic Services at Elwyn

Summer 2011 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 35