Prevailing Wage for Genetic Counselors
Prevailing wage for Genetic Counselors is set by DOL under SOC 29-9092 and applies to H-1B, E-3, and PERM green card sponsorships. Whether your offer is for a Certified Genetic Counselor, a Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator, or a Medical Science Liaison role, DOL defines four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level genetic counselors with limited professional experience, typically newly credentialed by ABGC, performing standard risk assessments under direct supervision with minimal independent caseload management. Most employers use Level 1 only for new graduates in structured training tracks.
Qualified genetic counselors with one to three years of post-credentialing experience, handling routine hereditary cancer, prenatal, or pediatric cases with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for sponsored genetic counselors in hospital and specialty clinic settings.
Experienced genetic counselors who manage complex cases, mentor junior staff, or hold subspecialty focus areas such as cardiovascular or neurogenetics. These professionals operate with significant autonomy and may contribute to protocol development or departmental quality programs.
Fully competent senior genetic counselors or program directors setting clinical standards, leading teams, or overseeing institutional genetics programs. Level 4 reflects top-of-range expertise and is typically reserved for roles with formal supervisory or strategic scope.
Prevailing Wage for Genetic Counselors by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Genetic Counselors and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your ABGC credentials match the filed level
Employers sometimes file at Level 1 for any new ABGC-certified hire, but a counselor with prior clinical rotations or post-master's research experience may legitimately qualify at Level 2. Confirm the level aligns with your actual supervised caseload history before accepting.
Watch for signing bonuses excluded from the wage floor
Some hospital systems and specialty genetics labs recruit with large one-time signing bonuses that are not counted toward prevailing wage compliance. Only guaranteed base salary and standard productivity pay count. A generous bonus does not compensate for a base salary set below the DOL floor.
Account for the wide San Jose to Milwaukee wage gap
The prevailing wage for genetic counselors varies more by city than most clinical roles, with California Bay Area floors running roughly 50 to 60 percent above Midwest metros. If a telehealth employer lists a remote position, confirm which worksite city DOL and USCIS will apply on the LCA.
Search Migrate Mate for employers with genetic counselor sponsorship history
Academic medical centers and specialty genetics labs have sponsored genetic counselors far more often than general hospital networks. Migrate Mate shows which specific employers have filed H-1B or green card sponsorships for this occupation, so you can prioritize outreach to proven sponsors.
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Find Jobs for Genetic CounselorsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-9092.00 alongside Genetic Counselors, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Certified Genetic Counselor Prevailing Wage
Certified Genetic Counselor Prevailing Wage
Certified Genetic Counselor positions fall under SOC 29-9092.00 (Genetic Counselors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Medical Science Liaison Prevailing Wage
Medical Science Liaison Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Medical Science Liaison for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-9092.00 (Genetic Counselors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor Prevailing Wage
Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor Prevailing Wage
Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-9092.00 (Genetic Counselors). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator positions fall under SOC 29-9092.00 (Genetic Counselors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for genetic counselors?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for genetic counselors using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, broken down by SOC 29-9092. OFLC converts that survey data into four wage levels based on experience and supervision, and employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which one applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels map to experience and supervision. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is a qualified professional working independently on routine cases; Level 3 is experienced with complex caseloads or supervisory duties; Level 4 is a senior lead or program director. Review your job description against these criteria and check the LCA your employer files, which will state the level explicitly.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same genetic counselor role vary so much city to city?
OFLC sets wages using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market rates. Dense employer markets like San Jose and San Francisco, where large health systems and biotech firms compete for credentialed counselors, produce significantly higher floors than smaller metro areas. Crucially, the worksite address listed on the LCA, not where you live, determines which metro's floor applies.
What happens if a sponsored job offer is below the prevailing wage for genetic counselors?
OFLC will not certify an LCA with a wage below the prevailing wage floor for the worksite and level. Without a certified LCA, USCIS will not approve the H-1B petition or the PERM application. The employer must raise the offered salary to at least the applicable DOL floor before filing. Accepting an offer below the floor does not waive the requirement.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a genetic counselor position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 29-9092 for any covered metropolitan area. Enter the worksite city and select the experience level that matches the job description. For finding employers who have already sponsored genetic counselors, Migrate Mate filters sponsorship history by role and location so you can see which organizations have an active track record before you apply.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Genetic Counselors right now.
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