### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Genetic Counselors Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			genetic counselors imageGenetic counselors assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects.							
						Quick Facts:     Genetic Counselors2023     Median Pay
            						$95,770     per year
										$46.05     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Master's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    3,500Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    16% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    600What Genetic Counselors Do
                                                
                        
                        
Genetic counselors assess clients' risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as birth defects.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Genetic counselors work primarily in hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers, university medical centers, and diagnostic laboratories. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Genetic Counselor
                                                
                        
Genetic counselors typically need a master’s degree in genetic counseling. Nearly all states require genetic counselors to be licensed, and licensure typically requires board certification.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for genetic counselors was $95,770 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of genetic counselors is projected to grow							 16 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 300 openings for genetic counselors are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for genetic counselors.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of genetic counselors with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about genetic counselors by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Genetic Counselors Do 
            

			genetic counselors imageGenetic counselors assess clients' risk for inherited conditions and support decisions made based upon test results.			
Genetic counselors assess clients’ risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as birth defects. They review genetic test results with individuals and families and support them in making decisions based on those results. They also offer information to other healthcare providers.
Duties
Genetic counselors typically do the following:
Collect comprehensive family and medical histories through means such as interviews, discussions with physicians, and reviewing medical records
Evaluate genetic information to identify clients at risk for specific hereditary disorders
Document information from counseling sessions to send to clients or to referring physicians
Discuss testing options and the associated risks, benefits, and limitations with clients and other healthcare providers
Educate clients and provide information about genetic risks and inherited conditions
Provide psychological, emotional, or other support to clients distressed by test results
Research hereditary disorders and developments in the field of geneticsGenetic counselors identify hereditary risks through the study of genetics. Specifically, they study genetic disorders or syndromes that are inherited from one’s family. Prospective parents may consult genetic counselors to assess the risk of having children with hereditary disorders, such as cystic fibrosis. Genetic counselors also assess the risk for an individual to develop a disease, such as certain forms of cancer.
Counselors use DNA testing to identify clients’ inherited conditions. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians perform lab tests, which genetic counselors then evaluate and use for counseling clients. They share this information with other healthcare providers, such as physicians.
Genetic counselors may focus on a particular area of genetic counseling, such as prenatal, cancer, or pediatric. They also may work in one or more specialty fields, such as cardiovascular health, genomic medicine, or psychiatry.
 Work Environment
			genetic counselors imageGenetic counselors work with clients and their families in a variety of settings.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Genetic counselors held about 3,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of genetic counselors were as follows:
        Hospitals; state, local, and private
                42%Offices of physicians
                18Medical and diagnostic laboratories
                9Outpatient care centers
                8Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                7Genetic counselors work with individuals, families, and other healthcare providers.
Work Schedules
Most genetic counselors work full time.
 How to Become a Genetic Counselor

			genetic counselors imageGenetic counselors must be sensitive and compassionate when communicating their findings.			
Genetic counselors typically need a master’s degree in genetic counseling. Nearly all states require genetic counselors to be licensed, and licensure usually requires board certification.
Education
Genetic counselors typically need a master’s degree in genetic counseling. Admission to master’s degree programs varies. Some schools require a bachelor’s degree in a science-related field, such as biology. Other programs require coursework in subjects such as biology, genetics, or statistics. Prospective students should check with an individual school regarding its requirements.
Genetic counseling programs typically take 2 years of postbaccalaureate study. A list of accredited programs is available from the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling.
In addition to medical topics, coursework in genetic counseling focuses on client interaction and research. Students typically complete supervised clinical rotations that provide students an opportunity to work with clients in different clinical environments.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Most states require genetic counselors to be licensed. Although requirements vary by state, licensure typically requires certification. For specific information, contact your state’s medical board.
The American Board of Genetic Counseling offers certification for genetic counselors. To become certified, candidates must complete an accredited master’s degree program and pass an exam. Counselors must complete continuing education courses to maintain board certification.
Even in states that do not require certification, employers may require or prefer that job candidates be certified or receive certification within a specified time after being hired.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Genetic counselors must be able to explain complex information in a way that their clients understand.
***Compassion.*** Genetic counselors must be sensitive and empathetic when discussing clients’ options regarding potentially upsetting test results.
***Critical-thinking skills.*** Genetic counselors recommend the proper test and analyze findings for each client.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Genetic counselors must be able to relate well with clients and their families, as well as to work with other healthcare providers offering services to clients.
***Organizational skills.***Genetic counselors manage multiple clients and must keep accurate, complete records on each of them.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Genetic CounselorsMedian annual wages, May 2023Genetic counselors$95,770  Other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations$61,020  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for genetic counselors was $95,770 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $72,530, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $132,190.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for genetic counselors in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Outpatient care centers
                $124,260Medical and diagnostic laboratories
                107,970Hospitals; state, local, and private
                94,760Offices of physicians
                93,690Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                87,870Most genetic counselors work full time.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Genetic CounselorsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Genetic counselors16%  Other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations11%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of genetic counselors is projected to grow				 16 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 300 openings for genetic counselors are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Employment growth is expected as ongoing technological innovations are giving genetic counselors opportunities to conduct more types of analyses. Developments in cancer genomics, for example, increasingly allow these counselors to determine a patient’s risk for specific types of cancer. In addition, the number and types of lab tests that genetic counselors can evaluate have increased over the past few years. Many of these tests are covered by health insurance providers, which should further strengthen the demand for genetic counseling services.
			

                        Employment projections data for     genetic counselors, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Genetic counselors**
			29-9092
			3,500
			4,000
			16
			600
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Genetic counselors **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of genetic counselors. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Epidemiologists**
            Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury.
            Master's degree
            $81,390**Health Education Specialists**
            Health education specialists develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being.
            Bachelor's degree
            $62,860**Medical Scientists**
            Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $100,890**Marriage and Family Therapists**
            Marriage and family therapists diagnose and treat cognitive, behavioral, or similar disorders in the context of couples and other relationships.
            Master's degree
            $58,510**Physicians and Surgeons**
            Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            This wage is equal to or greater than $239,200 per year.
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about genetic counselors, certification, and schools offering education in genetic counseling, visit
American Board of Genetic Counseling
For more information about genetic counseling career requirements and developments in genetics, including licensure, visit
National Society of Genetic Counselors
For more information about accreditation and schools offering education in genetic counseling, visit
Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling
CareerOneStop
For a career video on genetic counselors, visit
Genetic Counselors

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Genetic Counselors
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Genetic Counselors, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/genetic-counselors.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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