What They Do
Genetic counselors assess clients’ risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as birth defects. They review genetic test results with individuals and families and support them in making decisions based on those results. They also offer information to other healthcare providers.
Duties
Genetic counselors typically do the following:
- Collect comprehensive family and medical histories through means such as interviews, discussions with physicians, and reviewing medical records
- Evaluate genetic information to identify clients at risk for specific hereditary disorders
- Document information from counseling sessions to send to clients or to referring physicians
- Discuss testing options and the associated risks, benefits, and limitations with clients and other healthcare providers
- Educate clients and provide information about genetic risks and inherited conditions
- Provide psychological, emotional, or other support to clients distressed by test results
- Research hereditary disorders and developments in the field of genetics
Genetic counselors identify hereditary risks through the study of genetics. Specifically, they study genetic disorders or syndromes that are inherited from one’s family. Prospective parents may consult genetic counselors to assess the risk of having children with hereditary disorders, such as cystic fibrosis. Genetic counselors also assess the risk for an individual to develop a disease, such as certain forms of cancer.
Counselors use DNA testing to identify clients’ inherited conditions. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians perform lab tests, which genetic counselors then evaluate and use for counseling clients. They share this information with other healthcare providers, such as physicians.
Genetic counselors may focus on a particular area of genetic counseling, such as prenatal, cancer, or pediatric. They also may work in one or more specialty fields, such as cardiovascular health, genomic medicine, or psychiatry.
Work Environment
Genetic counselors held about 4,000 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of genetic counselors were as follows:
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 40% |
| Offices of physicians | 22 |
| Outpatient care centers | 6 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private | 5 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 5 |
Genetic counselors work with individuals, families, and other healthcare providers.
Work Schedules
Most genetic counselors work full time.
How to Become One
Genetic counselors typically need a master’s degree in genetic counseling. Nearly all states require genetic counselors to be licensed, and licensure typically requires board certification.
Pay
The median annual wage for genetic counselors was $98,910 in May 2024.
Job Outlook
Employment of genetic counselors is projected to grow 9 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 300 openings for genetic counselors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.