The average salary for a genetic counselor in California is around $137,650 per year.
Avg Salary
Genetic counselors earn an average yearly salary of $137,650.
Wages typically start from $105,810 and go up to $178,040.
76% above national average Updated in 2025
Genetic counselor earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level genetic counselor earnings begin at:
$85.60 per hour
$178,040 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level genetic counselor earnings begin at:
$81.95 per hour
$170,450 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level genetic counselor earnings begin at:
$66.18 per hour
$137,650 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level genetic counselor earnings begin at:
$56.59 per hour
$117,700 per year
10th percentile
Starting level genetic counselor earnings begin at:
$50.87 per hour
$105,810 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Genetic counselor salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $99,960 |
| Kentucky | $99,770 |
| Texas | $99,450 |
| Utah | $98,430 |
| Massachusetts | $97,240 |
| Illinois | $95,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,930 |
| Tennessee | $94,380 |
| Maryland | $94,050 |
| South Carolina | $93,600 |
| North Carolina | $93,570 |
| Nevada | $92,600 |
| Wisconsin | $92,170 |
| Indiana | $89,640 |
| Michigan | $84,970 |
| Missouri | $83,980 |
| Georgia | $82,750 |
| Alabama | $35,180 |
| California | $137,650 |
| New Jersey | $117,750 |
| New York | $107,450 |
| Colorado | $106,100 |
| Delaware | $106,010 |
| Washington | $102,920 |
| Arizona | $102,730 |
| Florida | $102,330 |
| Minnesota | $102,010 |
| Connecticut | $101,640 |
| Ohio | $100,670 |
| District of Columbia | $100,380 |
| Oregon | $100,060 |
How do genetic counselor salaries compare to similar careers?
Genetic counselors earn 23% more than similar careers in California. On average, they make more than school counselors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Genetic counselor salary | $138K |
| Counseling psychologist salary | $116K |
| Clinical psychologist salary | $116K |
| Nurse educator salary | $82K |
| School counselor salary | $86K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)