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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The entry-to-senior spread tells you more about this career than any job listing. The national median salary for Genetic Counselors in 2026 is $104,750, with entry-level positions averaging $75,420 and senior roles reaching $148,745. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $190,800, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Healthcare within the broader Healthcare industry, Genetic Counselors typically hold Master's degree. The employment landscape is shaped by very high demand, and the day-to-day is clinical/hybrid. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$116,100 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Genetic Counselor in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $190,800 — $116,100 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($74,700). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The salary distribution for Genetic Counselors reveals a $73,325 spread from entry to senior. At $104,750, the median sits $24,383 above the national median household income of $80,367. That's a strong baseline — and it only includes individual earnings, not household. The P10 floor of $75,420 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $148,745 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $178,200 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $75,300. That $102,900 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Genetic Counselor in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $190,800 — $116,100 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($74,700). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Genetic Counselor is $75,420, while senior-level (P90) earners average $148,745. That $73,325 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Genetic Counselors at $126,428 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $111,150) is $15,278.
At the 90th percentile, Genetic Counselors pull in an average of $148,745. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $75,420 | $104,750 | $148,745 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £39,193 | £54,435 | £77,297 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$60,689 | CA$84,290 | CA$119,692 |
| Australia | 13 | A$70,162 | A$97,447 | A$138,376 |
| Sweden | 24 | 414,190 kr | 575,264 kr | 816,875 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $91,028 | $126,428 | $179,528 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $87,966 | $122,175 | $173,489 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $87,480 | $121,500 | $172,530 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $81,000 | $112,500 | $159,750 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $80,028 | $111,150 | $157,833 |
| Washington | 8 | $78,489 | $109,013 | $154,798 |
| New York | 5 | $73,872 | $102,600 | $145,692 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $73,872 | $102,600 | $145,692 |
| Florida | 22 | $73,312 | $101,823 | $144,588 |
| Colorado | 11 | $72,046 | $100,064 | $142,090 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $71,928 | $99,900 | $141,858 |
| Nevada | 5 | $71,798 | $99,720 | $141,602 |
| Arizona | 12 | $71,442 | $99,225 | $140,900 |
| Oregon | 5 | $71,280 | $99,000 | $140,580 |
| Idaho | 3 | $71,064 | $98,700 | $140,154 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $70,502 | $97,920 | $139,046 |
| Utah | 4 | $70,308 | $97,650 | $138,663 |
| Virginia | 7 | $69,151 | $96,043 | $136,381 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $68,256 | $94,800 | $134,616 |
| Alaska | 1 | $68,040 | $94,500 | $134,190 |
| Illinois | 5 | $67,262 | $93,420 | $132,656 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $65,592 | $91,100 | $129,362 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $64,800 | $90,000 | $127,800 |
| Montana | 1 | $64,800 | $90,000 | $127,800 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $64,584 | $89,700 | $127,374 |
| Texas | 40 | $64,265 | $89,258 | $126,746 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $64,152 | $89,100 | $126,522 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $63,828 | $88,650 | $125,883 |
| Georgia | 6 | $63,612 | $88,350 | $125,457 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $63,504 | $88,200 | $125,244 |
| Kansas | 4 | $63,180 | $87,750 | $124,605 |
| Michigan | 6 | $62,964 | $87,450 | $124,179 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $62,208 | $86,400 | $122,688 |
| Maryland | 1 | $62,208 | $86,400 | $122,688 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $61,560 | $85,500 | $121,410 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $61,560 | $85,500 | $121,410 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $59,940 | $83,250 | $118,215 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $59,616 | $82,800 | $117,576 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $58,806 | $81,675 | $115,979 |
| Missouri | 4 | $58,806 | $81,675 | $115,979 |
| Alabama | 5 | $58,579 | $81,360 | $115,531 |
| Indiana | 3 | $57,672 | $80,100 | $113,742 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $57,672 | $80,100 | $113,742 |
| Iowa | 2 | $57,024 | $79,200 | $112,464 |
| Ohio | 6 | $56,916 | $79,050 | $112,251 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $54,432 | $75,600 | $107,352 |
The state salary map for Genetic Counselors: California at $126,428, Massachusetts at $122,175, Hawaii at $121,500 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($75,600), Ohio ($79,050), Iowa ($79,200) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $50,828.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($190,800 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $90,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $190,800 | 212 | $90,000 | $111,993 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $178,200 | 198 | $90,000 | $105,057 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $165,600 | 184 | $90,000 | $98,120 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $162,900 | 181 | $90,000 | $96,634 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $160,200 | 178 | $90,000 | $95,148 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $159,300 | 177 | $90,000 | $94,652 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $159,300 | 177 | $90,000 | $94,652 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $155,700 | 173 | $90,000 | $92,670 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $155,700 | 173 | $90,000 | $92,670 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $152,100 | 169 | $90,000 | $90,689 |
The $73,325 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Genetic Counselor career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Healthcare sector, very high demand, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Genetic Counselors is $104,750 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $75,420, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $148,745.
The highest-paying city for Genetic Counselors is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $190,800. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($190,800), Santa Clara ($178,200), Irvine ($165,600). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Genetic Counselor salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $74,700. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Genetic Counselors (10th percentile) average $75,420 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $137,376. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Genetic Counselors average $148,745 nationally — $73,325 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Genetic Counselors can earn up to $270,936.
The top-paying states for Genetic Counselors are California ($126,428 median), Massachusetts ($122,175 median), Hawaii ($121,500 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Genetic Counselor involves Master's degree. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is very high demand. Work style is typically clinical/hybrid.
With a national median of $104,750 and representation across 288 metro areas, Genetic Counselor offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $73,325 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: very high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.