Genetic Counselors · California

Genetic Counselors Salary in California

Genetic Counselors in California earn a median annual wage of $137,650 —37.6% above the national median of $100,040. That ranks CA #1 of 28 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$137,650
Median hourly
$66.18
Entry level (P10)
$105,810
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$178,040
90th percentile
Employment
440
0.0 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+37.6%
U.S. $100,040

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$105,810
$117,700
$137,650
$170,450
$105,810$137,650$178,040
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $137,650.

Employment concentration (1.02×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for genetic counselors

All 28 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$137,650$66.184401.02
2New Jersey$117,750$56.612402.35
3New York$107,450$51.662401.04
4Colorado$106,100$51.01400.54
5Delaware$106,010$50.97403.21
6Washington$102,920$49.481001.16
7Arizona$102,730$49.39500.64
8Florida$102,330$49.201000.43
9Minnesota$102,010$49.041602.24
10Connecticut$101,640$48.87501.18

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Registered Nurses$140,270$97,550
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,750$64,400
Pharmacy Technicians$55,110$45,750
Physicians, All Other$281,590$265,930
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$76,010$62,930
Nurse Practitioners$168,520$132,300

Frequently asked questions

How much do genetic counselors make in California?

The median annual wage for genetic counselors in California is $137,650, or $66.18 per hour. That is 37.6% above the national median of $100,040.

What is the entry-level genetic counselors salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $105,810 per year ($50.87/hour). The 25th percentile is $117,700.

How many people work as genetic counselors in California?

About 440 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.0 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for genetic counselors?

California ranks #1 of 28 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.02x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays genetic counselors the most?

California has the highest median wage at $137,650 per year, followed by New Jersey ($117,750) and New York ($107,450).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes