Genetic Counselors Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for genetic counselorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- California$143,090
- New York$112,230
- New Jersey$111,660
- Washington$110,030
- Delaware$107,970
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $143,090 | $137,650 | $69 | +36.8% | 440 |
| 2 | New York | $112,230 | $107,450 | $54 | +7.3% | 240 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $111,660 | $117,750 | $54 | +6.7% | 240 |
| 4 | Washington | $110,030 | $102,920 | $53 | +5.2% | 100 |
| 5 | Delaware | $107,970 | $106,010 | $52 | +3.2% | 40 |
| 6 | Virginia | $105,870 | $99,960 | $51 | +1.2% | 100 |
| 7 | Colorado | $105,700 | $106,100 | $51 | +1% | 40 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $104,140 | $101,640 | $50 | -0.5% | 50 |
| 9 | Arizona | $104,110 | $102,730 | $50 | -0.5% | 50 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $102,680 | $97,240 | $49 | -1.9% | 200 |
| 11 | Utah | $102,130 | $98,430 | $49 | -2.4% | 50 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $100,880 | $102,010 | $49 | -3.6% | 160 |
| 13 | Maryland | $100,000 | $94,050 | $48 | -4.4% | 50 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $98,720 | $94,930 | $47 | -5.6% | 230 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $98,700 | $99,770 | $47 | -5.7% | 50 |
| 16 | Florida | $98,590 | $102,330 | $47 | -5.8% | 100 |
| 17 | Illinois | $96,580 | $95,880 | $46 | -7.7% | 90 |
| 18 | Texas | $96,470 | $99,450 | $46 | -7.8% | — |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $95,450 | $100,380 | $46 | -8.8% | 40 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $95,400 | $93,600 | $46 | -8.8% | 40 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $93,790 | $94,380 | $45 | -10.4% | 340 |
| 22 | Ohio | $93,710 | $100,670 | $45 | -10.4% | 120 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $93,010 | $93,570 | $45 | -11.1% | 80 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $90,140 | $92,170 | $43 | -13.8% | 110 |
| 25 | Missouri | $89,090 | $83,980 | $43 | -14.8% | 40 |
| 26 | Michigan | $88,280 | $84,970 | $42 | -15.6% | 80 |
| 27 | Indiana | $85,690 | $89,640 | $41 | -18.1% | 40 |
| 28 | Georgia | $78,870 | $82,750 | $38 | -24.6% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 20 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $177,990 | $159,680 | 120 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $165,920 | $155,940 | 80 |
| 3 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $120,560 | $126,530 | 130 |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $109,130 | $115,310 | 390 |
| 5 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $106,010 | $106,340 | 130 |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,920 | $111,730 | 80 |
| 7 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $102,710 | $104,420 | 40 |
| 8 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $102,010 | $101,210 | 80 |
| 9 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $101,390 | $97,940 | — |
| 10 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $100,380 | $107,650 | 80 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing genetic counselorss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Outpatient Care Centers | $143,620 | $142,860 | 230 |
| 2 | Insurance Carriers | $113,460 | $109,490 | 40 |
| 3 | Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers | $113,460 | $109,490 | 40 |
| 4 | Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $109,000 | $108,180 | 50 |
| 5 | Sector 52 - Finance and Insurance | $109,000 | $108,180 | 50 |
| 6 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $108,740 | $122,530 | 60 |
| 7 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $108,740 | $122,530 | 60 |
| 8 | Sector 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises | $108,740 | $122,530 | 60 |
| 9 | Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $108,640 | $111,510 | 180 |
| 10 | Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals, Privately Owned | $107,130 | $109,270 | 80 |
| 11 | Educational Services, Privately Owned | $106,710 | $102,940 | 150 |
| 12 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, Privately Owned | $106,710 | $102,940 | 150 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do genetic counselors make in the U.S.?
The median genetic counselors salary in the United States is $100,040 per year (mean $104,620), and about 80% earn between $78,270 and $138,760.
How much do genetic counselors make per hour?
Roughly $50 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $104,620 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays genetic counselors the most?
California has the highest average pay for genetic counselors at $143,090 per year (median $137,650).
What is the job outlook for genetic counselors?
Employment is projected to change +9.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Much faster than average), with about 300 openings per year.