Genetic Counselors Salary
The median pay for a genetic counselors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $95,880/year ($46.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $92,557 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 29.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $96K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About genetic counselors
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Genetic counselors pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $96K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for genetic counselors in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | $90K | $92K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level genetic counselors (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Genetic Counselors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Genetic Counselors salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $138K | +38% | 440 |
| New Jersey | $118K | +18% | 240 |
| New York | $107K | +7% | 240 |
| Colorado | $106K | +6% | 40 |
| Delaware | $106K | +6% | 40 |
| Washington | $103K | +3% | 100 |
| Arizona | $103K | +3% | 50 |
| Florida | $102K | +2% | 100 |
| Minnesota | $102K | +2% | 160 |
| Connecticut | $102K | +2% | 50 |
| Ohio | $101K | +1% | 120 |
| District of Columbia | $100K | +0% | 40 |
| Virginia | $100K | -0% | 100 |
| Kentucky | $100K | -0% | 50 |
| Texas | $99K | -1% | N/A |
| Utah | $98K | -2% | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $97K | -3% | 200 |
| Illinois | $96K | -4% | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $95K | -5% | 230 |
| Tennessee | $94K | -6% | 340 |
| Maryland | $94K | -6% | 50 |
| South Carolina | $94K | -6% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $94K | -6% | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $92K | -8% | 110 |
| Indiana | $90K | -10% | 40 |
| Michigan | $85K | -15% | 80 |
| Missouri | $84K | -16% | 40 |
| Georgia | $83K | -17% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 28 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track genetic counselors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a genetic counselor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 30.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for genetic counselors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new genetic counselors typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,087/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is genetic counselor a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for genetic counselors?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do genetic counselors make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $95,880 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,780, and experienced genetic counselors can clear $116,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,924/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 30.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a genetic counselors salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median genetic counselors salary is worth about $92,557 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do genetic counselors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.