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Genetic Counseling

Types of Degrees Genetic Counseling Majors Are Earning

Those studying Genetic Counseling have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Master’s Degree	378

What Genetic Counseling Majors Need to Know

Studies in Genetic Counseling develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Genetic Counseling graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Genetic Counseling emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Biology — Importance 4.8 / 5; level 5.6 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Therapy and Counseling — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Genetic Counseling program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Complex Problem Solving — Importance 4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Genetic Counseling careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 4 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4 / 5; level 5 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Genetic Counseling graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.7 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.7 / 7
Getting Information	4.7 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.4 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.2 / 7
Communicating with People Outside the Organization	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Genetic Counseling professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Ftree	Analytical or scientific software	—
Wageningen MapChart	Medical software	—
SynDiag	Medical software	—
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool	Medical software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Progeny Software Progeny Clinical	Medical software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
FileMaker Pro	Data base user interface and query software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Genetic Counseling graduates include:

• Cancer Genetic Counselor
• Medical Science Liaison
• Certified Genetic Counselor
• Prenatal Genetic Counselor
• Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor
• Clinical Reviewer
• Pediatric Genetic Counselor
• Mitochondrial Disorders Counselor
• Genetic Counseling Medical Specialist
• Genetic Coordinator
• Genetics Counselor
• Genetic Counselor
• Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator
• Cancer Program Consultant
• Chromosomal Disorders Counselor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Genetic Counseling graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Master’s degree	100%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Genetic Counseling?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 92.9% of Genetic Counseling degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	351	92.9%
Men	27	7.1%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Genetic Counseling graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	222	58.7%
Asian	36	9.5%
Hispanic or Latino	37	9.8%
Black or African American	12	3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	0.3%
Two or More Races	18	4.8%
Race Unknown	27	7.1%
International Students	25	6.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Genetic Counseling Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Genetic Counseling graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$46,066
4 years	$46,824
5 years	$52,641

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $52,641 — roughly 14% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Genetic Counseling Programs

Online study is reported by IPEDS for Genetic Counseling. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Master’s	3	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Genetic Counseling Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Genetic Counseling graduates earn a median of $46,824 four years after completion — roughly 23% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions	33,946
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor	10,855
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling	6,135
Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling	4,476
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other	3,545
Clinical/Medical Social Work	3,296
Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	2,601
Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling	2,298
Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling	187
Trauma Counseling	161
Medical Family Therapy/Therapist	6
Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy	5

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.