Occupation · SOC 29-9092

Genetic Counselors: pay and where the jobs are

What genetic counselors earn in the U.S., how pay varies across workers and states, and tools to plan around it.

BLS May 2025 data · methodology

National pay, May 2025

$100,040 median annual wage

Mean (average) annual wage
$104,620
Median hourly wage
$48.09
Mean hourly wage
$50.30
Employment
3,740

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 29-9092.

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How much do genetic counselors make?

The median annual wage for genetic counselors was $100,040 in May 2025, so half of workers earned more and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $78,270 and the highest-paid 10% more than $138,760. As an hourly rate, the median is $48.09. About 3,740 people work in this occupation nationwide. The highest state medians are in California ($137,650), New Jersey ($117,750) and New York ($107,450). California also comes out on top after taxes and local prices.

Pay ladder

What each step of the pay range for genetic counselors looks like per month. Take-home here includes federal tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer; add your state in the paycheck calculator.

Genetic Counselors: pay at each percentile
StepAnnualHourlyMonthly grossMonthly after federal tax & FICA
10th percentile$78,270$37.63$6,523$5,324
25th percentile$88,900$42.74$7,408$5,948
Median$100,040$48.09$8,337$6,601
75th percentile$116,140$55.84$9,678$7,545
90th percentile$138,760$66.71$11,563$8,842

Genetic Counselors: pay by state

28 states and territories have a published median, sorted from highest to lowest. The last two columns are our estimates: the median after 2026 federal and state taxes, and that take-home restated in national-average prices.

1

California

$85,806 take-home in national prices

2

Kentucky

$83,900 take-home in national prices

3

Ohio

$83,342 take-home in national prices

Where a median genetic counselor paycheck goes furthest after 2026 taxes and BEA price levels.

Annual wages by state, May 2025, with after-tax and price-adjusted estimates
StateEmploymentMedian10th pct.90th pct.Median after tax*In national prices†
California440$137,650$105,810$178,040$95,004$85,806
New Jersey240$117,750$59,000$164,060$85,671$78,739
New York240$107,450$88,530$141,430$78,679$72,904
Colorado40$106,100$77,700$125,920$79,045$76,704
Delaware40$106,010$83,850$146,450$77,328$77,477
Washington100$102,920$65,470$133,410$79,807$74,577
Arizona50$102,730$81,560$138,830$78,926$78,395
Florida100$102,330$74,860$124,950$80,819$78,151
Minnesota160$102,010$82,580$111,520$74,732$75,777
Connecticut50$101,640$72,290$129,990$74,977$72,365
Ohio120$100,670$80,860$108,940$77,320$83,342
District of Columbia40$100,380$77,450$114,960$73,884$67,227
Virginia100$99,960$73,610$134,220$74,218$73,408
Kentucky50$99,770$80,410$114,290$75,644$83,900
TexasNot published$99,450$76,380$118,840$78,793$81,182
Utah50$98,430$84,170$134,920$73,695$74,542
Massachusetts200$97,240$81,510$145,310$72,149$68,222
Illinois90$95,880$83,840$116,140$71,680$71,710
Pennsylvania230$94,930$81,790$121,120$72,632$74,440
Tennessee340$94,380$94,380$94,380$75,226$81,883
Maryland50$94,050$81,800$130,870$70,893$67,543
South Carolina40$93,600$79,240$114,110$70,787$75,507
North Carolina80$93,570$79,540$111,840$71,432$75,729
Wisconsin110$92,170$55,090$112,270$69,709$74,083
Indiana40$89,640$50,900$115,250$69,277$74,229
Michigan80$84,970$73,750$107,960$65,246$67,811
Missouri40$83,980$78,090$110,260$64,900$71,463
GeorgiaNot published$82,750$40,450$131,150$63,664$66,115

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 29-9092. *Our estimate for a single filer paid biweekly with no pre-tax deductions or local tax, 2026 federal and state rules. †Take-home ÷ BEA Regional Price Parity × 100 (2024 price levels).

Sources

  1. OEWS May 2025 (oesm25nat.zip) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-09.
  2. OEWS May 2025 (oesm25st.zip) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-09.