Genetic Counselors Salary
The median pay for a genetic counselors in Madison, WI is $89,600/year ($43.08/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.29), that's roughly $92,096 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,168/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $90K get you in Madison?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Madison’s Regional Price Parity (97.29). 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 Madison
Genetic counselors pay in Madison tracks closely to the national median, $90K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,168/month, 20.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.29) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for genetic counselors in metros near Madison, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $96K | $93K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $102K | $97K |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $82K | $82K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Madison, WI
Entry-level genetic counselors (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $24K 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 Madison numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a genetic counselor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Madison?
Yes — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 20.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,168/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for genetic counselors in Madison?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new genetic counselors typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,960/month. At HUD’s $1,168/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is genetic counselor a high-paying job in Madison?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $90K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Madison compare to the national average for genetic counselors?
Madison pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.29), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — below the national median.
How much do genetic counselors make in Madison, WI?
The median is $89,600 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,660, and experienced genetic counselors can clear $106,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in Madison?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,643/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,168/month, which eats 20.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a genetic counselors salary go in Madison?
Madison has a Regional Price Parity of 97.29 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median genetic counselors salary is worth about $92,096 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.