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Job outlook for prenatal genetic counselors in the United States
Are prenatal genetic counselor jobs in demand?
Prenatal genetic counselor job and salary trends over time
Prenatal genetic counselor jobs over time
Prenatal genetic counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 210 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 174 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 183 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 202 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 204 | 0.00% |
Average prenatal genetic counselor salary over time
Prenatal genetic counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,697 | $25.82 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $51,303 | $24.66 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $50,357 | $24.21 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $48,546 | $23.34 | +4.5% |
| 2021 | $46,441 | $22.33 | +2.8% |
Prenatal genetic counselor jobs by state
Most common states for prenatal genetic counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 86 | 12% |
| 2 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 72 | 7% |
| 3 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 220 | 6% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 58 | 6% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 36 | 5% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 36 | 5% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 28 | 5% |
| 8 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 742 | 4% |
| 9 | New York | 19,849,399 | 718 | 4% |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 576 | 4% |
| 11 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 468 | 4% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 363 | 4% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 307 | 4% |
| 14 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 294 | 4% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 266 | 4% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 224 | 4% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 145 | 4% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 57 | 4% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 50 | 4% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 24 | 4% |
Most common cities for prenatal genetic counselors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland | 1 | 0% | $93,109 |
Prenatal Genetic Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of prenatal genetic counselor experts
Saint Xavier University
Case Western Reserve University
University of California, Irvine
Carolina Christian College
National Society of Genetic Counselors
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Angelo State University
What will help Prenatal Genetic Counselors increase their earning potential?
Kristen Toole: Post-pandemic disparities have highlighted the necessity of prioritizing mental health and the
need for more mental health providers (Fink-Samnick, 2023; Health Resources & Services
Administration, 2023). The counseling field is expected to outpace the national average for
occupational growth six-fold over the next ten years (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022). There is
no question that counselors are in demand, but there are still a few strategies for new
professionals to maximize their salary potential.
A growing number of students are entering counseling graduate programs, having completed
undergraduate minors and focus areas in related fields. This is fantastic conceptually and can be
a vital strategy for enhancing their counseling work. Skill building is one way to optimize
success and salary.
Some graduate programs, like Xavier's, offer options for obtaining additional certifications along
the way to a master's degree. In Xavier's counseling program, students can choose courses that
allow them to get certificates in addiction counseling and medical trauma-informed care. For
clinical mental health counselors, this is an excellent way to demonstrate skill mastery, and for
school counselors, it provides a unique opportunity to broaden their scope of practice. Either
way, additional certifications exhibit a commitment that potential employers can appreciate.
Counselors who are well-informed about their market value and earning potential can engage in
informed offer negotiations. Additional skills are one way beginning professionals can increase
their starting salary. However, it is important to remember that total earnings include several
elements, and salary is just one piece of that puzzle.
Counselors are immensely versatile and can find work in various settings, so they need to
understand their options in addition to their earning potential. Benefits, schedule, and location
are other things that can impact the earnings bottom line and are essential to consider. Finally,
counselors must know themselves: personality, interests, work values, and abilities impact job fit
and, ultimately, work satisfaction. These are crucial considerations for mitigating compassion
fatigue (Stamm, 2010), which can limit counselors' longevity.
New professionals must research and reflect as they enter the job market. There are many things
to consider when choosing a job, and it can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, various resources,
such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, O*Net, Glassdoor, and Monster, offer
indispensable tools and information to job seekers.
What will help Prenatal Genetic Counselors increase their earning potential?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: Psychologists should be aware of what others in their field are making for similar positions. It is important to ask for what your work is worth in an initial position to assure raises are based on a solid starting salary. Newer psychologists may also consider asking for an early review that prompts an early conversation around potential raises, bonus, or other job benefits.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Prenatal Genetic Counselor job market given the pandemic?
Hua Lou Ph.D.: Given how Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson are saving the world, biotech companies are very attractive to graduates.
What soft skills should all Prenatal Genetic Counselors possess?
Hua Lou Ph.D.: Communication and teamwork.
How have salaries changed over time for Prenatal Genetic Counselors?
Hua Lou Ph.D.: This is a question that is a little difficult for me to answer for the following reasons. First, I do not usually get the salary information from our graduates. Second, depending on where our graduates go after getting their PhD, there is a rather wide range in salary. If they continue their research training by pursuing a postdoctoral position, their salary would follow the NIH guideline, which is $53.7K for 2021. If they get a position in industry, their salary could be up to $100K.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Prenatal Genetic Counselor job market given the pandemic?
Rebecca LeShay: I think the trends we will see are going to reflect trends in the job market, as a whole, such as reduced availability of jobs and possibly the growth of remote jobs. However, as many genetics services are provided in-person via clinical or lab sites, I think we will continue to see a large proportion of genetics positions that are in person. In addition, as many of these roles are deemed essential services, there continue to be open positions for genetics providers.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Prenatal Genetic Counselors in the next 3-5 years?
Rebecca LeShay: Some technologies being regularly discussed in the genetics community are whole genome sequencing and RNA analysis, both of which may help us improve yield for known pathogenic mutations (disease-causing genetic changes). In the realm of oncology, tumor testing is becoming increasingly important for determining treatment. For prenatal patients, there is ongoing research to effectively expand current tests to evaluate for additional genetic conditions in the fetus, based on fragments of placental DNA in maternal blood.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Prenatal Genetic Counselors in the next 5 years?
Rebecca LeShay: Demand in clinical genetics is expanding faster than graduates can fill jobs, both as genetic counselors and medical geneticists. I do not know as much about laboratory genetics, but I suspect there may be significant growth in that field, as well, as new labs are founded, and existing labs expand. I suspect that we will continue to see increased demand for genetics specialists for the next several years, if not longer.
What type of skills will young Prenatal Genetic Counselors need?
Dr. Andrew Wood: For Biblical Studies, it is vital that graduates have a genuine relationship with Jesus, that they are people of humility and integrity, desire to be lifelong learners, and have open minds to new things they learn that may challenge their original assumptions. They need to have a strong work ethic, organizational, and time management skills to work on their own productively and with integrity.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Prenatal Genetic Counselor job market given the pandemic?
Gillian Hooker Ph.D,: The genetic counseling job market continues to be strong. One of the biggest shifts we've seen during the pandemic is many genetic counselors are shifting to telehealth, making job applicants with experience in this area more valuable than ever. Patients are not only more receptive to these models than ever before; in many cases they are asking for them.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Prenatal Genetic Counselors in the next 3-5 years?
Gillian Hooker Ph.D,: On the clinical practice side, technologies for providing services by telehealth are innovating rapidly and enabling secure, reliable access to genetic counselors.
On the genomic technologies side, the range of different tests available to support patients seeking answers about genetics continues to grow in size and complexity.
-One major area of innovation is in the area of cancer screening tests - over the next few years we will see many tests entering the market aiming to identify patients with cancer biomarkers in their blood. These tests will be used for patients with cancer, to learn more about their tumors, patients who have been treated for cancer, to determine if their cancer has come back, and patients who have never had cancer, to screen for new cancers. Genetic counselors will be well positioned to help patients determine whether they are candidates for these tests and/or to help them identify the right tests for their personal and family history.
-The prenatal testing options also continue to grow and increase in complexity. Many of these tests are becoming more routine and ordered by OB-GYNs. Genetic counselors are increasingly focusing on patients for whom the test results are concerning or require follow up.
-The applications of genetics to human health continue to expand into new areas of medicine. Accordingly, genetic counselors are moving into new areas at a rapid pace, specializing in areas such as neurology, cardiology, nephrology, immunology, ophthalmology, endocrinology, etc. - bringing genetic expertise to the teams of providers caring for patients in these areas. --With new treatments, such as gene therapies, the demand for genetic experts continues to grow.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Prenatal Genetic Counselors in the next 5 years?
Gillian Hooker Ph.D,: All signs are that it will continue to increase. The field of genetic counseling has arisen to help bring innovation into the clinic, bridging the gap between genomic technologies and the human beings who can benefit from them. As long as scientists continue to innovate, opportunities for genetic counselors will continue to grow.
What type of skills will young Prenatal Genetic Counselors need?
Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.: Indeed, the way we work is changing. The skills that young graduates will need are diverse. Transferable skills and soft skills will certainly be marketable. These include traditional crafts such as communication, but I also think the world expects more empathy from its employees. Young graduates with an understanding of racism, sexism, and environmental responsibility will become increasingly important.
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.
Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Program Coordinator, M.S. Professional School Counseling Associate Professor, Curriculum and InstructionAngelo State University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Prenatal Genetic Counselors in the next 3-5 years?
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.: Graduates will need to learn to use technology in which virtual platforms are taking place and web conferencing platforms. Numerous platforms are being used, so the particular platform itself is not as crucial as being well-versed in how virtual education differs from face-to-face environments. Typically, the instructional role in online learning is more of a facilitator, as the educator guides the students to think critically, integrate, and apply new knowledge. This may be difficult for educators who would rather stand in front of a classroom and pass on their knowledge through lecture-based formats. Additionally, being well-versed in various web conferencing platforms will benefit graduates, as they move into a career that is currently requiring communication in virtual environments.