The average salary for a genetic counselor in California is around $137,650 per year.
Avg Salary
Genetic counselors earn an average yearly salary of $137,650.
Wages typically start from $105,810 and go up to $178,040.
77% above national average Updated in 2025
Genetic counselor earnings by seniority
Top-level genetic counselor earnings begin at:
$85.60 per hour
$178,040 per year
Senior-level genetic counselor earnings begin at:
$81.95 per hour
$170,450 per year
Mid-level genetic counselor earnings begin at:
$66.18 per hour
$137,650 per year
Junior-level genetic counselor earnings begin at:
$56.59 per hour
$117,700 per year
Starting level genetic counselor earnings begin at:
$50.87 per hour
$105,810 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Genetic counselor salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $99,960 |
| Kentucky | $99,770 |
| Texas | $99,450 |
| Utah | $98,430 |
| Massachusetts | $97,240 |
| Illinois | $95,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,930 |
| Tennessee | $94,380 |
| Maryland | $94,050 |
| South Carolina | $93,600 |
| North Carolina | $93,570 |
| Nevada | $92,600 |
| Wisconsin | $92,170 |
| Indiana | $89,640 |
| Michigan | $84,970 |
| Missouri | $83,980 |
| Georgia | $82,750 |
| Oregon | $79,250 |
| Alabama | $35,180 |
| California | $137,650 |
| New Jersey | $117,750 |
| New York | $107,450 |
| Colorado | $106,100 |
| Delaware | $106,010 |
| Washington | $102,920 |
| Arizona | $102,730 |
| Florida | $102,330 |
| Minnesota | $102,010 |
| Connecticut | $101,640 |
| Ohio | $100,670 |
| District of Columbia | $100,380 |
How do genetic counselor salaries compare to similar careers?
Genetic counselors earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than health services managers but more than dental hygienists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Health services manager salary | $141K |
| Acute care nurse practitioner salary | $140K |
| Registered nurse salary | $140K |
| Clinical nurse specialist salary | $140K |
| Optometrist salary | $136K |
| Genetic counselor salary | $138K |
| Neuropsychologist salary | $158K |
| Biomedical engineer salary | $128K |
| Informatics nurse specialist salary | $128K |
| Dental hygienist salary | $125K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)