| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: 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. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Engage in research activities related to the field of medical genetics or genetic counseling. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Design and conduct genetics training programs for physicians, graduate students, other health professions or the general community. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Refer patients to specialists or community resources. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Prepare or provide genetics-related educational materials to patients or medical personnel. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in genetics. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Interpret laboratory results and communicate findings to patients or physicians. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Interview patients or review medical records to obtain comprehensive patient or family medical histories, and document findings. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Determine or coordinate treatment plans by requesting laboratory services, reviewing genetics or counseling literature, and considering histories or diagnostic data. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Write detailed consultation reports to provide information on complex genetic concepts to patients or referring physicians. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Provide counseling to patient and family members by providing information, education, or reassurance. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Analyze genetic information to identify patients or families at risk for specific disorders or syndromes. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Discuss testing options and the associated risks, benefits and limitations with patients and families to assist them in making informed decisions. |
| Importance: 96 (%) | Description: Provide genetic counseling in specified areas of clinical genetics, such as obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology and neurology. |
| Importance: 96 (%) | Description: Collect for, or share with, research projects patient data on specific genetic disorders or syndromes. |
| Importance: 96 (%) | Description: Evaluate or make recommendations for standards of care or clinical operations, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, ethics, legislation, or policies. |
| Importance: 91 (%) | Description: Provide patients with information about the inheritance of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and various forms of cancer. |
| Importance: 91 (%) | Description: Explain diagnostic procedures such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS), ultrasound, fetal blood sampling, and amniocentesis. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Identify funding sources and write grant proposals for eligible programs or services. |
Masters Degree Entry Level Careers and Jobs
Explore Careers and Jobs Predominantly Filled by Those with a Masters Degree, having 1 year or less of work experience - All On One Page
Sorted by median annual U.S. salary, including % with Masters Degree, and % with 1 year experience (or less).
These entry-level roles are suited to new master's degree graduates entering specialized or advanced practice positions. For recent graduates ready to apply advanced coursework to their first professional role. Compare starting salaries and degree-holder percentages, then access preparation resources built for new graduates.
Here is a short Helper Video 
.
This page will take you through 4 steps, relative to an Masters Degree, to (1) Select an entry-level career, (2) Find active job listings, (3) Prepare for the career you chose, and (4) Provide web resources specific to the career you chose.
Step 1: Select a Career: You will be presented with a listing of Masters Degree entry-level careers. The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of careers below
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover entry-level careers that might be of interest.
Once you have identified a career of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the career you selected. Information includes core and supplemental duties, general and specific work activities, knowledge required, essential and transferable skills required, day-in-the-life summaries, knowledge required, software skills required, preparation required, educational requirements, training and work experience required, local salary information, certifications, professional associations, current job listings for the job selected along with multiple similar job titles, and related careers (related to what they do, what they know, and what they're called).
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that will provide detailed (updated) links to occupational information specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career
Leading Books About Master Degree Jobs
What entry level jobs can you get with a Master's Degree? Scroll through the picklist (below). These are entry level careers (1 year or less work experience) related to the Master's Degree level, with at least 30% of job holders having a Master's Degree. - 44 specific careers are listed. Select those careers that may be of interest - you will then get links to matching active job listings, and detailed resources to help you prepare.
You can use this form two ways:
1) Enter a Keyword - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the listing to those occupations that contain the keyword entered
2) Browse the list (Don't enter a keyword) - You can simply browse the list of occupations. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover jobs that might be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title - Sorted by Annual Salary -(scroll and Select) :
Legend: Career Title Link / (% having Masters Degree) / (% having less than 1 year experience) / (Median Annual U.S. Salary)
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Job Listings for: Genetic Counselors.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Prepare for the "Genetic Counselors" Career
The details below will provide a pathway to your specific job goal and help you to identify an appropriate career ladder.
Genetic Counselors
Description: 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.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Genetic Counselors":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
2,400U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
3,100
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
600 (26.2%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
300
Core Duties
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Communicating with People Outside the Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 78 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Providing Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Advise medical personnel regarding healthcare issues. | |
| Advise patients on effects of health conditions or treatments. | |
| Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals. | |
| Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment. | |
| Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals. | |
| Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members. | |
| Conduct health or safety training programs. | |
| Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues. | |
| Develop healthcare quality and safety procedures. | |
| Develop medical treatment plans. | |
| Evaluate patient functioning, capabilities, or health. | |
| Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members. | |
| Gather medical information from patient histories. | |
| Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care. | |
| Interact with patients to build rapport or provide emotional support. | |
| Maintain medical or professional knowledge. | |
| Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests. | |
| Prepare healthcare training materials. | |
| Prepare proposals or grant applications to obtain project funding. | |
| Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities. | |
| Record patient medical histories. | |
| Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources. | |
| Train medical providers. | |
| Write grant proposals. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Biology: Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment. |
| Importance: 90 (%) | Description: Psychology: Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Medicine and Dentistry: Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Therapy and Counseling: Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Sociology and Anthropology: Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
Essential Skills
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. |
Transferable Skills
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Instructing: Teaching others how to do something. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Advise others on healthcare or wellness issues. |
| Activity: Advise patients or clients on medical issues. |
| Activity: Analyze health or medical data. |
| Activity: Assist others to access additional services or resources. |
| Activity: Collect information about patients or clients. |
| Activity: Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient care. |
| Activity: Develop patient or client care or treatment plans. |
| Activity: Develop safety standards, policies, or procedures. |
| Activity: Evaluate patient or client condition or treatment options. |
| Activity: Explain medical information to patients or family members. |
| Activity: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise. |
| Activity: Maintain health or medical records. |
| Activity: Order medical tests or procedures. |
| Activity: Prepare health or medical documents. |
| Activity: Prepare informational or instructional materials. |
| Activity: Prepare proposals or grant applications. |
| Activity: Provide support or encouragement to others. |
| Activity: Research healthcare issues. |
| Activity: Train others on health or medical topics. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
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| High-Priority Tech Skills | |||||||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft Outlook | |||||||||||||
| Office suite software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft Office software | |||||||||||||
| Presentation software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft PowerPoint | |||||||||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft Excel | |||||||||||||
| Emerging Tech Skills | |||||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft Access | |||||||||||||
| Word processing software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft Word | |||||||||||||
| General Software Tools | |||||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | |||||||||||||
| Ftree Pedigree drawing and management software | |||||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||||||||||
| Database software FileMaker Pro | |||||||||||||
| Internet browser software: | |||||||||||||
| Web browser software | |||||||||||||
| Medical software (scroll table below): | |||||||||||||
|
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed |
| Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. |
| Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). |
| Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training. |
| These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, physician assistants, and veterinarians. |
Education Required
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 100.0 (%) | Level of Education: Master's Degree |
Training and Experience Required
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 60.9 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 17.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 13.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 8.7 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Professional Associations
| Professional Associations These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities? |
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American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC)
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National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC)
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Job Listings
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated)
This section contains detailed resources appropriate to "Genetic Counselors". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Genetic Counselors
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
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