How much do genetic counselors make in California?
What genetic counselors earn in California and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country (May 2025 BLS data).
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Median pay in California
$137,650
a year, or $66.18 an hour. That is 38% more than the national median of $100,040.
The middle half of genetic counselors in California earn $117,700 to $170,450.
Pay range in California
- Bottom 10% earn under
- $105,810
- 25th percentile
- $117,700
- Median
- $137,650
- 75th percentile
- $170,450
- Top 10% earn over
- $178,040
Rank among states
#1 of 27
California pays genetic counselors more than 26 of the other 26 states.
Jobs in California
440
0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the state, 1.02× the U.S. concentration.
Genetic Counselor pay in California cities
Metro and rural (nonmetropolitan) areas as BLS defines them.. Click a column to sort.
| Area | Pay a year | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $57.96 | 130 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $85.57 | 120 | |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79.77 | 80 |
States with similar genetic counselor pay
New Jersey
$117,750
median a year · −14% vs California
New York
$107,450
median a year · −22% vs California
Colorado
$106,100
median a year · −23% vs California
Delaware
$106,010
median a year · −23% vs California
Washington
$102,920
median a year · −25% vs California
Arizona
$102,730
median a year · −25% vs California
Other healthcare salaries in California
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
$34,320
median a year · 970,150 jobs
Registered Nurses
$140,270
median a year · 338,940 jobs
Medical Assistants
$49,660
median a year · 117,060 jobs
Nursing Assistants
$47,630
median a year · 110,060 jobs
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
$79,750
median a year · 82,850 jobs
Dental Assistants
$50,110
median a year · 56,220 jobs
Pharmacy Technicians
$55,110
median a year · 39,860 jobs
Pharmacists
$164,610
median a year · 34,030 jobs
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
$76,010
median a year · 29,210 jobs
Physical Therapists
$124,190
median a year · 26,580 jobs
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
$60,390
median a year · 26,540 jobs
Physicians, All Other
$281,590
median a year · 25,530 jobs
Questions about genetic counselor pay in California
How much does a genetic counselor make in California?
Genetic Counselors in California earned a median of $137,650 a year ($66.18 an hour) in May 2025, 38% more than the national median of $100,040. The middle half earned $117,700 to $170,450.
Where in California do genetic counselors earn the most?
Among areas in California, pay was highest in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $177,990.
How does California rank for genetic counselor pay?
California ranks #1 of 27 states for genetic counselors pay. No other state pays more. Pay figures don't account for differences in cost of living.
How many genetic counselors work in California?
About 440 people worked as genetic counselors in California in May 2025, or 0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the state.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Median pay is the middle wage; where BLS publishes no median, the average (mean) is shown, marked "(avg)". Values marked "+" are above the most BLS reports exactly. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.