Genetic Counselor Salary

Genetic counselors working in the United States typically report earning salaries in the range from $49,480 to $93,334 a year including bonuses according to the salary information provided by Payscale.

The basic annual salary for genetic counselors is generally in the range from $49,362 to $89,867 a year, and the yearly bonus earnings can amount to up to $3,020. Professionals with 1 to 4 years of experience get $1,000 a year on average in bonuses.



Counselors with a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling typically make between $46,369 and $100,836 a year according to Payscale’s salary data.

Professionals employed in the health care industry earn an annual income in the range from $49,579 to $87,000, and those working at hospitals are paid between $51,923 and $63,465 a year. Genetic counselors employed at general hospitals typically make between $56,160 and $90,973 a year according to Payscale.

Based on the salary data reported by Salary.com, 10% of the best paid genetics counselors earn an annual pay of $77,248 or more, while the 10% on the lower end of the pay scale make $53,133 a year or less. The middle 50% of genetic counselors working in the U.S. earn a yearly income in the range from $59,072 to $71,695 not including bonuses.

Average salary

The average salary for genetic counselors employed in the United States is $60,769 a year according to Payscale, $65,595 a year according to Salary.com, and $75,000 a year according to the salary information reported by Indeed.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides a mean annual salary of $55,820 and a median yearly wage of $56,800 for this occupation. 10% of the best paid genetic counselors earn a salary of $85,790 a year or more, and the 10% on the lower end of the pay scale are paid $25,540 or less annually. The middle 50% of genetic counselors earn an annual income in the range from $38,210 to $71,610 according to the BLS.


The average annual salary of genetic counselors working in the U.S. can vary considerably from industry to industry. Based on the BLS salary data, the top paying industries for this profession are medical and diagnostic laboratories, where genetic counselors earn an average yearly salary of $71,350, followed by specialty hospitals (not including psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals), where the median salary for this occupation is $68,120 a year, and universities, colleges, and professional schools, where genetic counselors earn $63,230 a year on average according to the BLS salary figures.

Other industries with a high average annual wage for this profession are general medical and surgical hospitals, where genetic counselors are paid $60,720 a year on average, and offices of physicians, where counselors earn an average yearly income of $52,960. Genetic counselors employed at outpatient care centers earn $52,320 a year on average according to the BLS.

Salary range

Genetic counselors’ annual salary can vary depending on a number of factors, including work experience. Counselors with 1 to 4 years of experience typically earn an annual income in the range from $48,722 to $71,310 and those with 5 to 9 years of professional experience under their belt are generally paid between $48,892 and $79,182 annually.



Genetic counselors with 10 to 19 years of experience usually report earning salaries in the range from $68,600 to $101,973 a year according to Payscale’s salary data.

Genetic counselors’ annual salaries also vary depending on the type of employer. For example, counselors employed at hospitals typically make between $49,933 and $78,565 a year, those employed by companies are generally paid an income in the range from $54,750 to $83,353 a year, and professionals employed by universities and colleges usually report earning an annual pay in the range from $50,868 to $75,663 based on Payscale’s salary figures.

Salary by state

Genetic counselors’ annual pay depends on geographical location among other factors, and can vary considerably from state to state. For example, counselors employed in California generally earn salaries in the range from $58,892 to $102,490 a year, those based in New York make between $53,062 and $60,025 a year, and professionals working in Pennsylvania are paid between $50,916 and $64,645 annually based on the salary data reported by Payscale.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that the top paying states for genetic counselors are Nevada, where these professionals earn an average yearly salary of $78,130, followed by New Jersey, where the median annual wage for this occupation is $71,510, and Washington, where counselors are paid $69,800 a year on average. Other states with a high average annual income for genetic counselors are Wisconsin, with an average annual wage fo $64,570, and Minnesota, where counselors earn $64,510 a year on average according to the BLS salary data.

Genetic counselors based in California are paid around $55,580 annually, those working in Ohio earn an average annual salary of $54,970, and professionals working in Massachusetts earn around $64,080 a year. Counselors employed in North Carolina make $54,190 a year on average and those based in Texas earn an average annual wage of $48,810 according to the BLS.

Salary by city

Genetic counselors’ annual salary can also vary from city to city. For instance, counselors employed in New York typically report earning an annual income in the range from $51,923 to $58,082, while professionals based in Philadelphia generally earn an annual pay in the range from $52,381 to $67,407 according to Payscale.

Hourly wage

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a mean hourly salary of $26.84 and a median hourly wage of $27.31 for this profession. 10% of genetic counselors earn $12.28 per hour or less, and the 10% on the higher end of the pay scale make $41.24 per hour or more. The middle 50% of genetic counselors employed in the U.S. are paid an hourly wage in the range from $18.37 to $34.43 according to the BLS.

The hourly rate for genetic counselors varies from industry to industry. Counselors employed at physicians’ offices make $25.46 per hour on average, those working at medical and diagnostic laboratories earn around $34.30 per hour, and professionals employed at general medical and surgical hospitals earn an average hourly salary of $29.19. Genetic counselors working at outpatient care centers make $25.15 per hour on average, those employed by universities, colleges, and professional schools earn an average hourly pay of $30.40, and professionals working at specialty hospitals (not including psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals) are paid $32.75 per hour on average based on the BLS salary data.

The hourly salary for these professionals also varies from state to state. Genetic counselors based in California make $26.72 per hour on average, those working in Texas are paid around $23.47 per hour, and professionals employed in Ohio earn an average hourly pay of $26.43. Counselors working in North Carolina earn around $26.05 per hour, those employed in Massachusetts are paid $30.81 per hour on average, and professionals based in Minnesota earn a median hourly wage of $31.02.

Genetic counselors employed in Washington are paid around $33.56 per hour, and those based in Nevada earn $37.56 per hour on average. Professionals working in New Jersey earn an average salary of $34.38 per hour, and those employed in Wisconsin are paid $31.04 per hour on average according to the salary figures reported by the BLS.

Based on the salary data reported by Payscale, genetic counselors with 1 to 4 years of experience typically earn an hourly wage in the range from $22 to $35.50. Those employed in the health care sector are generally paid between $24.74 and $41.71 per hour. Counselors employed at hospitals earn an hourly salary in the range from $25.62 to $42.11.

Benefits

Along with the basic yearly salary and annual bonus earnings, genetic counselors typically get a wide range of perks and benefits, and these can sometimes reflect their annual income.

Genetic counselors who have paid vacations and holidays typically earn between $48,177 and $89,647 a year, those who have paid sick leave generally make between $42,894 and $98,850 annually, and professionals who have life and disability insurance are paid an income in the range from $48,177 to $89,647 a year according to Payscale’s salary statistics.

Counselors who have 403(b) plans as part of their benefits package generally report earning salaries in the range from $51,500 to $97,028 a year, those with 401(k) plans are paid between $49,806 and $70,000 annually, and professionals who get reimbursement for certification, professional training, education or tuition typically earn an annual income in the range from $50,868 to $75,200 based on Payscale’s salary data.

The most popular benefits among genetic counselors, as reported by Payscale, are paid vacations and holidays, life and disability insurance, 403(b) plans, paid sick leave, reimbursement for professional education, training, tuition, and certification, 401(k) plans, and malpractice and liability insurance.