Pay, location & work-life context
Genetic Counselor Salary Map by State (2026)
Median genetic counselor pay across 10 states from real job listings — switch views to adjust for cost of living or overlay burnout scores. Medians blend permanent salaries with annualized locums/contract rates. National median: $99,175.
Highest median
Minnesota
$120,255
Best real purchasing power
Minnesota
$121,937 adjusted
Best lifestyle score
North Carolina
7.6/10 avg burnout score
Compare state markets
Choose a metric, then select a state to see its figures and available breakdown.
Tile positions are approximate, not geographic boundaries. Selection adds an outline without changing the metric color. Work-life scores describe listings, not surveyed clinician burnout.
Genetic Counselor pay by state
Sorted by median advertised pay. On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to compare all metrics.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Take-home, COL-adj. | Work-life score | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $120,255 | $121,937 | $109,926 | 7.5/10 | 11 |
| California | $119,028 | $107,504 | $97,506 | 5.9/10 | 28 |
| Washington | $110,983 | $103,710 | $103,710 | 5.6/10 | 10 |
| North Carolina | $104,000 | $110,256 | $105,570 | 7.6/10 | 12 |
| Illinois | $99,175 | $99,217 | $94,305 | 5.0/10 | 18 |
| New York | $98,271 | $91,058 | $84,821 | 5.2/10 | 21 |
| Wisconsin | $93,392 | $99,253 | $93,992 | 6.7/10 | 7 |
| New Jersey | $90,865 | $83,512 | $78,192 | 4.5/10 | 7 |
| Maryland | $87,671 | $83,529 | $78,726 | 5.5/10 | 9 |
| Massachusetts | $83,018 | $78,499 | $74,574 | 4.5/10 | 15 |
Common questions
Which state pays genetic counselors the most?
Minnesota currently has the highest median genetic counselor salary at $120,255, based on 11 real job listings.
Which state offers the best after-tax genetic counselor pay?
Minnesota currently leads the take-home view at $109,926 — the state median after its state income tax (Tax Foundation state income tax rates (2025)), divided by the local cost-of-living index. No-income-tax states like Texas, Florida and Tennessee often outrank nominally higher-paying states here.
Why adjust genetic counselor salaries for cost of living?
Prices differ across states. The adjusted view divides each state's pay benchmark by its regional price index (U.S. average = 100). Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (2024). This is a state-level comparison, not a personal budget or a city-level cost estimate. Missing price data is shown as unavailable.
Which state has the best genetic counselor lifestyle scores?
North Carolina currently has the highest average WeekdayDoc burnout score (7.6/10, higher is better) for genetic counselor listings — a measure of call burden, weekend requirements, and schedule flexibility across postings.
More salary maps
See the full percentile breakdown on the Genetic Counselor salary page.