What You Need to Know About Geneticist
Career Description Research and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level. May evaluate or treat patients with genetic disorders.
What Do Geneticists Do On a Daily Basis?
- Verify that cytogenetic, molecular genetic, and related equipment and instrumentation is maintained in working condition to ensure accuracy and quality of experimental results.
- Design sampling plans or coordinate the field collection of samples such as tissue specimens.
- Evaluate, diagnose, or treat genetic diseases.
- Extract deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or perform diagnostic tests involving processes such as gel electrophoresis, Southern blot analysis, and polymerase chain reaction analysis.
- Collaborate with biologists and other professionals to conduct appropriate genetic and biochemical analyses.
- Analyze determinants responsible for specific inherited traits, and devise methods for altering traits or producing new traits.
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Geneticist Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Geneticists say are important on the job.
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.
Other Geneticist Job Titles
- Clinical Molecular Genetics Laboratory Director
- Statistical Geneticist
- Associate Genetics Professor
- Clinical Biochemical Geneticist
- Research Geneticist
What Kind of Geneticist Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 38,700 jobs for Geneticist in 2016. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 3,700 job openings in this field each year.

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.
Geneticist Average Salary
Geneticists make between $45,030 and $126,390 a year.

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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Geneticists
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Geneticists may use on a daily basis:
- 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
Becoming a Geneticist
Education needed to be a Geneticist:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Geneticists?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:
Image Credit: Domaina via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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