How to hire a genetic counselor

How to hire a genetic counselor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step genetic counselor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a genetic counselor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new genetic counselor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a genetic counselor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the genetic counselor you need to hire. Certain genetic counselor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect genetic counselor also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of genetic counselors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Genetic Counselor	Description	Hourly rate
   Genetic Counselor	Genetic counselors assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. They provide information and support to other healthcare providers, or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions.	$18-68
   Counselor	Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being... Show more	$9-32

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Test Results
   • Family History
   • Genetic Disorders
   • Informed Consent
   • Genetic Services
   • Educational Materials
   • Clinical Research
   • Public Health
   • Primary Care
   • Cancer Genetics
   • Research Studies
   • Clinical Genetics
   • Educational Programs

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain IRB and human subjects data.
   • Coordinate, interpret and summarize results of DNA linkage analysis and chromosome studies.
   • Maintain all documents including regulatory binders, IRB protocols, consent forms, and other study relate material.
   • Coordinate and facilitate genetic testing for all patients interest in pursuing testing.
   • Provide patients with case management and disease management including community resources, advocacy, and education.
   • Study the molecular link between carcinoma, melanoma, and inflammation using different nonclinical model systems.

   More genetic counselor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your genetic counselor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A genetic counselor salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, genetic counselors' average salary in hawaii is 53% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level genetic counselors earn 73% less than senior-level genetic counselors.
   • Certifications. A genetic counselor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a genetic counselor's salary.

   Average genetic counselor salary

   $74,761yearly

   $35.94 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level genetic counselor salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average genetic counselor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$131,310	$63
   2	New York	$95,774	$46
   3	New Hampshire	$90,349	$43
   4	Oregon	$88,078	$42
   5	Washington	$87,797	$42
   6	District of Columbia	$87,080	$42
   7	Connecticut	$85,996	$41
   8	Massachusetts	$85,684	$41
   9	Maryland	$83,243	$40
   10	Minnesota	$82,111	$39
   11	Pennsylvania	$79,071	$38
   12	Indiana	$79,062	$38
   13	Texas	$78,240	$38
   14	Colorado	$73,960	$36
   15	Utah	$73,326	$35
   16	Michigan	$73,077	$35
   17	Illinois	$72,509	$35
   18	Ohio	$72,273	$35
   19	Missouri	$71,884	$35
   20	Arizona	$70,635	$34

   Average genetic counselor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Hoag	$203,678	$97.92
   2	UCI Health	$202,666	$97.44
   3	UC Health	$199,427	$95.88	4
   4	Valley Children's	$199,020	$95.68
   5	Billings Clinic	$198,104	$95.24	4
   6	Essentia Health	$196,723	$94.58	11
   7	Sanford Health	$193,625	$93.09	3
   8	Saint Luke's Health System	$193,549	$93.05	1
   9	Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc.	$185,179	$89.03	1
   10	UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital	$179,638	$86.36
   11	Kaiser Permanente	$179,027	$86.07	24
   12	Community Medical Center	$174,657	$83.97	1
   13	Atrium Health Floyd	$174,140	$83.72	9
   14	Capital Health	$171,546	$82.47	1
   15	Piedmont Healthcare	$170,989	$82.21	1
   16	Baptist Health Care	$163,365	$78.54
   17	OSF HealthCare	$158,106	$76.01	1
   18	Northside Hospital	$156,863	$75.41
   19	Children's Hospital & Medical Center	$154,093	$74.08
   20	Stanford Health Care	$143,649	$69.06	1

4. Writing a genetic counselor job description

   A good genetic counselor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a genetic counselor job description:

   Genetic counselor job description example

   US-OR-Portland
   
   Type: Regular Full-Time
   Emanuel Medical Ctr campus
   
   Overview
   
   

   Patients receiving genetic counseling at Legacy look to experts in the field not just for advice, but also for compassionate, ethical communication that respects their dignity. If these are the attributes you strive to maintain as a Genetic Counselor, you may be an ideal candidate for this opportunity.

   The Genetic Counselor in our Maternal Fetal Medicine group is responsible for direct patient care and patient care coordination for Medical Genetics patients.

   Duties include taking family histories, teaching genetic concepts, explaining risks and benefits of various diagnostic procedures, facilitating a decision-making process for clients, documenting sessions in letters to referring care providers, calling lab results, and providing supportive, nondirective counseling. Also responsible for data collections as directed.

   
   
   Responsibilities
   
   

   Patient Care

   Provides genetic counseling to patients. Utilizes genetic counseling process to provide patient care that recognizes and responds to individual needs; provides current information; and adheres to NSGC guidelines, code of ethics and department protocols. Provides counseling in a complete, comprehensive, and non-directive manner.
   
   

   Planning and Coordination of Care

   Collects data and assists in the preparation of clinical case plans for patients scheduled for genetic counseling. Prepares three generation pedigrees; anticipates needs and obtains information for case management, such as medical records. Conducts literature search as appropriate. Coordinates care with appropriate departments (e.g. Ultrasound and Lab).

   Communication and Documentation

   Provides written and/or verbal communications so that patients and referring care providers have the information to meet their needs. Provides results of normal tests to families within 24 hours and notifies primary care providers of abnormal results within 24 hours. Maintains communications with families through decision making and resolution. Writes consultation letters within 48 hours after meeting with patients. Reviews intake forms and documents all verbal communication and correspondence.

   Participation in Community and Professional Education

   Acts as a resource to both hospital and community; develops goals for professional development. Remains active in professional organizations; provides staff education as requested.

   
   
   Qualifications
   
   

   Education:

   Master's degree in genetic counseling

   Skills:

   Keyboard skills and ability to navigate electronic systems applicable to job functions

   LEGACY'S VALUES IN ACTION:

   Follows guidelines set forth in Legacy's Values in Action

   Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled

   
   
   

   PI193358970

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find genetic counselors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any genetic counselors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level genetic counselors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your genetic counselor job on Zippia to find and attract quality genetic counselor candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit genetic counselors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new genetic counselor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the genetic counselor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new genetic counselor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a genetic counselor?