Genetic Counselors Salary
The median pay for a genetic counselors in Missouri is $83,980/year ($40.38/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $110K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $94,391 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 20.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Missouri. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $84K get you in Missouri?
About genetic counselors
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for genetic counselors in Missouri runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 20.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Missouri can be a reasonable trade-off for genetic counselorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level genetic counselors (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $110K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track genetic counselors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a genetic counselor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 20.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for genetic counselors in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new genetic counselors typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,685/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is genetic counselor a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $84K here vs. $100K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for genetic counselors?
Missouri pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do genetic counselors make in Missouri?
The median is $83,980 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,090, and experienced genetic counselors can clear $110,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,354/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 20.5% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $94,391 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.