Best states for a genetic counselor

Q: What is the best state for genetic counselors?

The best state to be a genetic counselor is Alaska based on genetic counselor salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for genetic counselors?

The highest paying state for genetic counselors is Hawaii based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for genetic counselors?

The worst state for genetic counselors is Alabama, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for genetic counselors in the United States. Genetic counselor positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for genetic counselors.We wanted to look at the best states for genetic counselors -- where there are plenty of genetic counselor jobs to go around and genetic counselors get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.

To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for genetic counselors. Alaska is the best state for genetic counselors, where the median salary is $99,171.We found that Alaska is the best state for genetic counselor jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.

10 best states for genetic counselors in 2026

1. Alaska
Total genetic counselor jobs: 49
Average annual salary: $99,171
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Genetic counselor jobs in Alaska
2. North Dakota
Total genetic counselor jobs: 48
Average annual salary: $103,336
Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Genetic counselor jobs in North Dakota
3. New York
Total genetic counselor jobs: 916
Average annual salary: $95,627
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000
Location Quotient:
1.49
Genetic counselor jobs in New York
4. California
Total genetic counselor jobs: 1,338
Average annual salary: $121,969
Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Genetic counselor jobs in California
5. Rhode Island
Total genetic counselor jobs: 67
Average annual salary: $91,739
Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Genetic counselor jobs in Rhode Island
6. Maine
Total genetic counselor jobs: 58
Average annual salary: $93,695
Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Genetic counselor jobs in Maine
7. Nevada
Total genetic counselor jobs: 99
Average annual salary: $91,003
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Genetic counselor jobs in Nevada
8. Delaware
Total genetic counselor jobs: 64
Average annual salary: $89,338
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000
Location Quotient:
1.06
Genetic counselor jobs in Delaware
9. Connecticut
Total genetic counselor jobs: 224
Average annual salary: $85,878
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000
Location Quotient:
1.41
Genetic counselor jobs in Connecticut
10. New Hampshire
Total genetic counselor jobs: 67
Average annual salary: $90,705
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000
Location Quotient:
0.8
Genetic counselor jobs in New Hampshire

Genetic counselor jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a genetic counselor

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a genetic counselor

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$99,171	$59,000	739,795	49
2	North Dakota	$103,336	$61,000	755,393	48
3	New York	$95,627	$57,000	19,849,399	916
4	California	$121,969	$73,000	39,536,653	1,338
5	Rhode Island	$91,739	$54,000	1,059,639	67
6	Maine	$93,695	$54,000	1,335,907	58
7	Nevada	$91,003	$51,000	2,998,039	99
8	Delaware	$89,338	$53,000	961,939	64
9	Connecticut	$85,878	$51,000	3,588,184	224
10	New Hampshire	$90,705	$53,000	1,342,795	67
11	Washington	$86,814	$48,000	7,405,743	376
12	New Jersey	$87,995	$52,000	9,005,644	422
13	Oregon	$88,622	$49,000	4,142,776	175
14	Pennsylvania	$78,589	$46,000	12,805,537	1,036
15	District of Columbia	$87,126	$51,000	693,972	90
16	Wisconsin	$86,212	$50,000	5,795,483	203
17	Wyoming	$77,351	$43,000	579,315	37
18	Vermont	$83,811	$48,000	623,657	34
19	New Mexico	$81,530	$45,000	2,088,070	84
20	Minnesota	$83,495	$48,000	5,576,606	292
21	Idaho	$81,267	$45,000	1,716,943	69
22	Indiana	$79,730	$46,000	6,666,818	265
23	West Virginia	$83,320	$48,000	1,815,857	49
24	Maryland	$82,798	$48,000	6,052,177	317
25	Massachusetts	$85,700	$50,000	6,859,819	326
26	North Carolina	$80,881	$45,000	10,273,419	329
27	Arizona	$70,469	$39,000	7,016,270	430
28	Texas	$77,633	$42,000	28,304,596	752
29	Illinois	$72,076	$42,000	12,802,023	638
30	Kentucky	$75,826	$43,000	4,454,189	134
31	Michigan	$73,763	$43,000	9,962,311	308
32	Colorado	$73,951	$41,000	5,607,154	271
33	Montana	$66,303	$37,000	1,050,493	107
34	Louisiana	$65,325	$35,000	4,684,333	193
35	Missouri	$71,892	$41,000	6,113,532	214
36	Arkansas	$70,176	$39,000	3,004,279	95
37	Florida	$64,117	$35,000	20,984,400	973
38	Utah	$74,066	$40,000	3,101,833	100
39	Ohio	$71,198	$41,000	11,658,609	334
40	Mississippi	$68,674	$38,000	2,984,100	77
41	Nebraska	$69,738	$39,000	1,920,076	79
42	Kansas	$67,516	$38,000	2,913,123	115
43	Iowa	$63,685	$36,000	3,145,711	155
44	South Dakota	$64,040	$36,000	869,666	42
45	Virginia	$67,968	$39,000	8,470,020	378
46	South Carolina	$61,268	$34,000	5,024,369	210
47	Hawaii	$57,736	$35,000	1,427,538	43
48	Tennessee	$61,645	$34,000	6,715,984	251
49	Georgia	$59,715	$33,000	10,429,379	523
50	Oklahoma	$62,869	$35,000	3,930,864	105
51	Alabama	$60,343	$33,000	4,874,747	155

Highest paying states for genetic counselors

Rank	State	Avg. Genetic Counselor Salary
1	Alaska	$99,171
2	North Dakota	$103,336
3	New York	$95,627
4	California	$121,969
5	Rhode Island	$91,739
6	Maine	$93,695
7	Nevada	$91,003
8	Delaware	$89,338
9	Connecticut	$85,878
10	New Hampshire	$90,705
11	Washington	$86,814
12	New Jersey	$87,995
13	Oregon	$88,622
14	Pennsylvania	$78,589
15	District of Columbia	$87,126
16	Wisconsin	$86,212
17	Wyoming	$77,351
18	Vermont	$83,811
19	New Mexico	$81,530
20	Minnesota	$83,495
21	Idaho	$81,267
22	Indiana	$79,730
23	West Virginia	$83,320
24	Maryland	$82,798
25	Massachusetts	$85,700
26	North Carolina	$80,881
27	Arizona	$70,469
28	Texas	$77,633
29	Illinois	$72,076
30	Kentucky	$75,826
31	Michigan	$73,763
32	Colorado	$73,951
33	Montana	$66,303
34	Louisiana	$65,325
35	Missouri	$71,892
36	Arkansas	$70,176
37	Florida	$64,117
38	Utah	$74,066
39	Ohio	$71,198
40	Mississippi	$68,674
41	Nebraska	$69,738
42	Kansas	$67,516
43	Iowa	$63,685
44	South Dakota	$64,040
45	Virginia	$67,968
46	South Carolina	$61,268
47	Hawaii	$57,736
48	Tennessee	$61,645
49	Georgia	$59,715
50	Oklahoma	$62,869
51	Alabama	$60,343

Expert opinions on the best states for genetic counselors

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for genetic counselors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Sociology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Graduates will have the opportunity to shape the future and help solve problems. Numerous organizations are attempting to solve social issues and environmental challenges. The world needs, and subsequently, employment is available for passionate graduates ready to invest their energy into solving problems.

Genetic counselor best states FAQs

What is the best state for genetic counselors?

What is the highest paying state for genetic counselors?

What is the worst state for genetic counselors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Genetic Counselor
Best states for Genetic Counselors

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total genetic counselor jobs:	49
Average annual salary:	$99,171
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$59,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$164,000
Location Quotient:	1.22

Best states for a genetic counselor

10 best states for genetic counselors in 2026

1. Alaska

2. North Dakota

3. New York

4. California

5. Rhode Island

6. Maine

7. Nevada

8. Delaware

9. Connecticut

10. New Hampshire