Genetic counselor demographics and statistics in the US
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Genetic counselor demographics by:
Genetic counselor gender statistics
88.1% of genetic counselors are women and 11.9% of genetic counselors are men.
- Female, 88.1%
- Male, 11.9%
Genetic counselor gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 88.1% |
| Male | 11.9% |
Genetic counselor gender pay gap
Women earn 98¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$80,195
Female income
$78,303
Genetic counselor gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in genetic counselor positions over time. Currently, 88.1% of genetic counselors are female.
Genetic counselor gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 24.14% | 75.86% |
| 2011 | 23.73% | 76.27% |
| 2012 | 25.44% | 74.56% |
| 2013 | 28.38% | 71.62% |
| 2014 | 23.83% | 76.17% |
| 2015 | 22.79% | 77.21% |
| 2016 | 20.71% | 79.29% |
| 2017 | 17.89% | 82.11% |
| 2018 | 11.63% | 88.37% |
| 2019 | 10.46% | 89.54% |
| 2020 | 9.77% | 90.23% |
| 2021 | 11.86% | 88.14% |
Genetic counselor related jobs gender ratio
We compared genetic counselors with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, certified industrial hygienist and chief safety officer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Midwife | 7% | 93% |
| Genetic Counselor | 12% | 88% |
| Utilization Review Coordinator | 17% | 83% |
| Construction Safety Consultant | 91% | 9% |
| Chief Safety Officer | 91% | 9% |
| Certified Industrial Hygienist | 96% | 4% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Genetic counselor demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among genetic counselors is White, which makes up 61.4% of all genetic counselors. Comparatively, 15.1% of genetic counselors are Hispanic or Latino and 9.5% of genetic counselors are Black or African American.
- White, 61.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 15.1%
- Black or African American, 9.5%
- Asian, 8.4%
- Unknown, 4.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
Genetic counselor race
| Genetic counselor race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 61.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15.1% |
| Black or African American | 9.5% |
| Asian | 8.4% |
| Unknown | 4.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.5% |
Genetic counselor race and ethnicity over time
See how genetic counselor racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Genetic counselor race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 71.72% | 9.48% | 4.43% | 11.12% |
| 2011 | 68.35% | 12.26% | 3.96% | 12.41% |
| 2012 | 68.98% | 11.74% | 4.07% | 12.02% |
| 2013 | 67.92% | 11.36% | 4.82% | 12.26% |
| 2014 | 68.65% | 11.31% | 4.45% | 12.12% |
| 2015 | 70.13% | 11.04% | 5.03% | 10.72% |
| 2016 | 69.80% | 10.36% | 5.27% | 12.37% |
| 2017 | 65.05% | 13.35% | 6.43% | 11.49% |
| 2018 | 65.74% | 11.76% | 5.80% | 13.87% |
| 2019 | 68.90% | 10.82% | 5.69% | 11.55% |
| 2020 | 65.63% | 10.08% | 5.57% | 13.26% |
| 2021 | 61.39% | 9.47% | 8.39% | 15.12% |
Genetic counselor wage gap by race
According to our data, asian genetic counselors have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White genetic counselors have the lowest average salary at $75,999.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $81,036 |
| White | $75,999 |
| Black or African American | $78,748 |
| Asian | $83,014 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $82,390 |
Average genetic counselor age
See how the average age of genetic counselors varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Genetic counselor age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 44 | 41 |
| Unknown | 40 | |
| Asian | 32 | 43.5 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35 | 41 |
| White | 37 | 38 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 46 |
Genetic counselor age breakdown
The average age of genetic counselors is 40+ years years old, representing 47% of the genetic counselor population.
Genetic counselor age breakdown
| Genetic Counselor Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 47% |
| 30-40 years | 34% |
| 20-30 years | 19% |
Genetic counselor educational attainment
The most common degree for genetic counselors is bachelor's degree, with 56% of genetic counselors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 38% and master's degree degree at 3%.
- Bachelor's, 56%
- Master's, 38%
- Doctorate, 3%
- Associate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 1%
Genetic counselors by degree level
| Genetic counselor degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 56% |
| Master's | 38% |
| Doctorate | 3% |
| Associate | 2% |
| Other Degrees | 1% |
Genetic counselor jobs you might like
Genetic counselor wage gap by degree level
According to the data, genetic counselors with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $94,132 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, genetic counselors earn a median annual income of $80,907 compared to $71,531 for genetic counselors with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $94,132 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $80,907 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $71,531 |
Genetic counselor employment statistics
Most genetic counselors work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where genetic counselors work
Below, you can see the size of companies where genetic counselors work.
Genetic counselor jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 8% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 15% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 38% |
| > 10,000 employees | 28% |
Genetic counselor jobs by company type
Employees with the genetic counselor job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most genetic counselors prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Genetic counselor jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 37% |
| Public | 8% |
| Private | 51% |
| Government | 4% |
Genetic counselor jobs by industry
The most common industries for genetic counselors are health care, education and professional.
Genetic counselor industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 58% |
| Education | 28% |
| Government | 3% |
| Professional | 3% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Fortune 500 | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Genetic counselor turnover and employment statistics
Genetic counselor unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for genetic counselors between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Genetic counselor unemployment rate by year
| Year | Genetic counselor unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.00% |
| 2011 | 4.18% |
| 2012 | 5.08% |
| 2013 | 4.21% |
| 2014 | 2.96% |
| 2015 | 2.44% |
| 2016 | 2.78% |
| 2017 | 2.65% |
| 2018 | 1.74% |
| 2019 | 1.91% |
| 2020 | 2.85% |
| 2021 | 3.60% |
Average genetic counselor tenure
The average genetic counselor stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 203 genetic counselors resumes in Zippia's database.
Genetic counselor tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 17% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 16% |
Genetic counselor LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of genetic counselors that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Float Pharmacist | 5.03% | 51,231 |
| Medical Records Supervisor | 8.20% | 54,508 |
| Health And Safety Technician | 9.57% | 69,768 |
| Genetic Counselor | 10.20% | - |
| Anesthesia Technician | 10.59% | 78,132 |
| Optometrist | 13.47% | 20,993 |
| Nuclear Medicine Internship | 23.99% | 59,100 |
Similar genetic counselor jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Float Pharmacist | 5.03% | 51,231 |
| Medical Records Supervisor | 8.20% | 54,508 |
| Health And Safety Technician | 9.57% | 69,768 |
| Anesthesia Technician | 10.59% | 78,132 |
| Optometrist | 13.47% | 20,993 |
| Nuclear Medicine Internship | 23.99% | 59,100 |
Foreign languages spoken by genetic counselors
The most common foreign language among genetic counselors is Spanish at 54.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 18.2% and German is the third-most popular at 9.1%.
- Spanish, 54.5%
- French, 18.2%
- German, 9.1%
- Korean, 9.1%
- Carrier, 9.1%
Genetic counselor languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 54.5% |
| French | 18.2% |
| German | 9.1% |
| Korean | 9.1% |
| Carrier | 9.1% |
