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What Does it Take to Be a Geneticist?

Geneticist Example Research and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level. May evaluate or treat patients with genetic disorders.

Daily Life Of a Geneticist

  • Write grants and papers or attend fundraising events to seek research funds.
  • Review, approve, or interpret genetic laboratory results.
  • Supervise or direct the work of other geneticists, biologists, technicians, or biometricians working on genetics research projects.
  • Conduct family medical studies to evaluate the genetic basis for traits or diseases.
  • Evaluate genetic data by performing appropriate mathematical or statistical calculations and analyses.
  • Attend clinical and research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current genetic research findings.

Skills Needed to be a Geneticist

When polled, Geneticists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

  • Research Geneticist
  • Research Scientist
  • Pediatric Geneticist
  • Medical Geneticist
  • Clinical Cytogeneticist

Is There Going to be Demand for Geneticists?

There were about 38,700 jobs for Geneticist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,100 new jobs for Geneticist by 2026. The BLS estimates 3,700 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Geneticist are Nevada, Utah, and Ohio. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, South Dakota, or Rhode Island. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Geneticists Salary

The average yearly salary of a Geneticist ranges between $45,030 and $126,390.

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Geneticists who work in Maryland, Rhode Island, or Delaware, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Geneticists in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $67,200
Alaska $77,430
Arizona $83,680
Arkansas $74,380
California $91,340
Colorado $71,380
Connecticut $93,180
Delaware $91,760
District of Columbia $104,460
Florida $71,200
Georgia $72,460
Hawaii $79,760
Idaho $70,770
Illinois $84,180
Indiana $69,180
Iowa $62,320
Kansas $64,560
Kentucky $64,780
Louisiana $66,100
Maine $76,840
Maryland $103,790
Massachusetts $84,790
Michigan $75,110
Minnesota $73,770
Mississippi $80,690
Missouri $67,290
Montana $66,110
Nebraska $74,790
Nevada $73,490
New Hampshire $78,780
New Jersey $76,330
New Mexico $73,610
New York $89,000
North Carolina $83,380
North Dakota $70,590
Ohio $67,780
Oklahoma $64,200
Oregon $69,930
Pennsylvania $73,550
Rhode Island $89,210
South Carolina $78,370
South Dakota $65,660
Tennessee $67,690
Texas $80,900
Utah $74,290
Vermont $78,070
Virginia $93,750
Washington $85,200
West Virginia $70,060
Wisconsin $73,520
Wyoming $71,030

What Tools & Technology do Geneticists Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Geneticists:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Python
  • Email software
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Database software
  • SAS
  • Linux
  • UNIX
  • R
  • Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • Insightful S-PLUS
  • Microsoft Visual C# .NET
  • SAS JMP
  • Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
  • ClustalW

How to Become a Geneticist

What kind of Geneticist requirements are there?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Geneticist?

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Where do Geneticists Work?

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The table below shows the approximate number of Geneticists employed by various industries.

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References:

Image Credit: Domaina via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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