Genetic Counselors
SOC Code: 29-9092 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. Provide information to other healthcare providers or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions. Advise individuals and families to support informed decisionmaking and coping methods for those at risk. May help conduct research related to genetic conditions or genetic counseling.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Genetic Counselors. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $121,410 | $136,323 | $151,258 | $166,171 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $121,493 | $136,365 | $151,216 | $166,088 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $121,992 | $136,614 | $151,258 | $165,880 |
| Modesto, CA | $121,805 | $136,490 | $151,154 | $165,838 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,198 | $137,322 | $151,445 | $165,568 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $117,957 | $133,432 | $148,928 | $164,403 |
| Vallejo, CA | $115,606 | $131,706 | $147,784 | $163,883 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $114,899 | $131,123 | $147,326 | $163,550 |
| Merced, CA | $115,752 | $131,165 | $146,557 | $161,970 |
| Fresno, CA | $115,190 | $130,624 | $146,078 | $161,512 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| SHARP HEALTHCARE | 5 | $140,254 |
| MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER | 3 | $93,111 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | 3 | $108,392 |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | 3 | $77,993 |
| Baptist Health South Florida, Inc. | 3 | $88,559 |
| UCSF MEDICAL CENTER | 3 | $127,795 |
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago | 3 | $73,896 |
| H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Inc. | 2 | $75,671 |
| IHC Health Services, Inc. | 2 | $97,687 |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | 2 | $90,658 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 | $98,856 |
| 2021 | 7 | $92,823 |
| 2022 | 8 | $90,473 |
| 2023 | 16 | $87,313 |
| 2024 | 25 | $92,398 |
| 2025 | 27 | $94,359 |
| 2026 | 8 | $93,161 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 | |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 | |
| Speaking | 3.9 | |
| Active Learning | 3.9 | |
| Writing | 3.9 | |
| Science | 3.2 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.2 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Biology | 4.8 |
| Psychology | 4.6 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 4.4 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 4.3 |
| English Language | 4.1 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.9 |
| Mathematics | 3.7 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 3.4 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 100.0% |
Typical Tasks
- Analyze genetic information to identify patients or families at risk for specific disorders or syndromes.
- Explain diagnostic procedures such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS), ultrasound, fetal blood sampling, and amniocentesis.
- Provide genetic counseling in specified areas of clinical genetics, such as obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology and neurology.
- Assess patients' psychological or emotional needs, such as those relating to stress, fear of test results, financial issues, and marital conflicts to make referral recommendations or assist patients in managing test outcomes.
- Provide counseling to patient and family members by providing information, education, or reassurance.
- Determine or coordinate treatment plans by requesting laboratory services, reviewing genetics or counseling literature, and considering histories or diagnostic data.
- Discuss testing options and the associated risks, benefits and limitations with patients and families to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Interpret laboratory results and communicate findings to patients or physicians.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word BRCAPRO Benetech PRA Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool CancerGene CyrillicSoftware Cyrillic Database software FileMaker Pro Ftree Jurek Software Pedigree-Draw
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