Healthcare practitioners
Genetic counselor
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.
Median pay
$100,040
Growth to 2035
+10%
faster than average
Openings a year
300
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Genetic counselor
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Exposure to disease
Genetic counselor: 38% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Provide counseling to patient and family members by providing information, education, or reassurance.
- Analyze genetic information to identify patients or families at risk for specific disorders or syndromes.
- Provide genetic counseling in specified areas of clinical genetics, such as obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology and neurology.
- Discuss testing options and the associated risks, benefits and limitations with patients and families to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Interview patients or review medical records to obtain comprehensive patient or family medical histories, and document findings.
- Provide patients with information about the inheritance of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and various forms of cancer.
- Interpret laboratory results and communicate findings to patients or physicians.
- Write detailed consultation reports to provide information on complex genetic concepts to patients or referring physicians.
Also called: Cardiovascular Genetics Counselor · Certified Genetic Counselor (CGC) · Clinical Genetic Counselor · Genetic Services Coordinator · Hereditary Cancer Program Coordinator · Lab Genetic Counselor (Laboratory Genetic Counselor) · Medical Science Liaison · Pediatric Genetics Clinical Coordinator
Outlook and AI
Genetic counselors held 4,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 4,600 by 2035 (+10%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Demand change, productivity change - share increases as advances in genetic research and technology and the growing recognition of the role genetics plays in health increase the demand for genetic counseling services. This demand will be partially offset by the growing use of chatbots to handle routine tasks.
Compare with
- Genetic counselor vs. Psychiatrist
- Genetic counselor vs. Family doctor
- Genetic counselor vs. Registered nurse
- Genetic counselor vs. Pediatricians, general
- Genetic counselor vs. Neurologist
- Genetic counselor vs. Cardiologist
- Genetic counselor vs. Pediatric surgeon
- Genetic counselor vs. Psychologists, all other
- Genetic counselor vs. Physician (other specialties)