Genetic Counselor Jobs in the United States

Genetic Counselor Jobs Overview

Some of healthcare’s most impactful specialists are those with genetic counselor jobs. As a genetic counselor, you’ll see patients full of expectations—and concerns—as they plan to start families. You’ll also help patients cope with family histories that put them at risk for various health conditions. Combining your knowledge of science with your capacity for empathy, you’ll assess risks and educate patients about the probability of an inherited health condition affecting them or their children.

Most genetic counselors work to identify risk factors for genetic health disorders such as sickle cell disease and congenital disabilities like Down syndrome. Other genetic counselors pursue additional training to specialize in cancer, cardiovascular genetics, genomic medicine, and psychiatry.

The process you follow as you counsel patients starts with an interview to uncover any health conditions in their family histories. After evaluating that information, you may suggest genetic testing. You’ll then write a final report and discuss it with the patients to give them the information they need to make decisions about their own and their children’s health.

You’ll find genetic counselors in a variety of workplaces. You may work at a university, medical center, private or public hospital, diagnostic laboratory, or physician’s office.

Now is an ideal time to pursue a career in genetic counseling. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that genetic counselor jobs will grow by 18% over the next 10 years, which is much faster than other jobs.

If you feel that healthcare support jobs are a good fit for you, here are some other related jobs you might consider:

• diabetes educator jobs
• health educator jobs
• medical illustrator jobs

Genetic Counselor Education and Skills

If you plan to become a genetic counselor, you’ll need an undergraduate degree in any life science discipline, such as biology, followed by a master’s degree in genetic counseling or genetics. A genetic counselor master’s degree curriculum includes:

• Public health
• Epidemiology
• Psychology
• Developmental biology

You’ll also need to do a clinical rotation that gives you experience working with patients while a certified genetic counselor supervises you. After you obtain your master’s degree, you’ll need board certification from the American Board of Genetic Counseling to practice as a genetic counselor.

After you’ve begun working in a genetic counselor job, you’ll be required to attend continuing education classes to maintain your certification. You’ll also want to attend conferences and belong to organizations that will keep you current on research into genetics and genomics advancements. One such organization is the National Society of Genetic Counselors.

Along with your education, becoming a successful genetic counselor takes a set of qualities that include:

• Communication skills.
• Critical-thinking skills.
• Decision-making skills.

Update Your Genetic Counselor Resume

You’re ready to look for genetic counselor jobs, but is your resume up to the task? You can give your resume a checkup with the Monster resume critique checklist. It will help you evaluate whether your resume makes a good first impression.

You know that a genetic counselor needs to be an expert in genetics and an excellent communicator. But did you know there are other ways to express those strengths without using the same tired language that appears on the resumes of hundreds of applicants? Monster has some advice about the resume buzzwords to include and avoid.

Are you at a loss for what to write in a cover letter? We have eight tips to get you started. Check out all kinds of tips, resume templates, and cover letter samples in the Monster library.

Interviewing for a Genetic Counselor Job

A large part of your job involves interviewing prospective parents and families. But how do you feel when it’s your turn to be interviewed? Thinking about what questions your interviewer may ask and taking some time to craft your responses can put you at ease. We’ve put together a list of common interview questions for healthcare professionals to help.

Here are three of the most common healthcare interview questions:

• What do you do if a patient is worried about a procedure or test?
• How do you think healthcare will change in the future?
• How do you manage stress?

How Much Do Genetic Counselor Jobs Pay?

According to Monster, the median pay for a genetic counselor in the U.S. is $66,569, with a top salary of $78,128. You can get a closer look into what you might make in your location by using Monster’s Salary Tools. The salary page will also show you where genetic counselors are in high demand and some of the current job postings for genetic counselors.

Want to Learn More About a Company You’re Interested In?

As you know, research is essential when predicting outcomes. You might want to research companies before you apply or interview to see if they might be a good fit. Monster can help you do that with our company profiles. Look up a company, and if they’re in our database, you’ll learn things like:

• their mission statement.
• the number of employees in each of their locations.
• what year they started the business.

Give Yourself a Healthy Start on Your Job Search

Are you ready to dive right in to see listings for the latest genetic counselor jobs? Make your search easier by completing your profile on Monster. Your profile connects you to recruiters and hiring managers looking for someone like you. Then while you’re exploring jobs, we’ll gather the latest job openings in genetic counseling to send straight to your inbox.