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Human/Medical Genetics

Types of Degrees Human/Medical Genetics Majors Are Earning

Those studying Human/Medical Genetics have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Master’s Degree	333
Doctor’s Degree	91

What Human/Medical Genetics Majors Need to Know

Studies in Human/Medical Genetics emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Human/Medical Genetics graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Human/Medical Genetics emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Biology — Importance 4.8 / 5; level 5.7 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Therapy and Counseling — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Human/Medical Genetics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Complex Problem Solving — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Human/Medical Genetics careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Human/Medical Genetics graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.7 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.7 / 7
Getting Information	4.6 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.2 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Human/Medical Genetics professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
FileMaker Pro	Data base user interface and query software	—
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Benetech PRA	Medical software	—
Wageningen MapChart	Medical software	—
BRCAPRO	Medical software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Human/Medical Genetics graduates include:

• Genetics Counselor
• Genetic Counseling Medical Specialist
• Cancer Genetic Counselor
• Cancer Program Consultant
• Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator
• Genetic Coordinator
• Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor
• Certified Genetic Counselor
• Genetic Counselor
• Pediatric Genetic Counselor
• Mitochondrial Disorders Counselor
• Prenatal Genetic Counselor
• Medical Science Liaison
• Chromosomal Disorders Counselor
• Clinical Reviewer

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Human/Medical Genetics graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Master’s degree	90.3%
Doctoral degree	5.1%
Post-doctoral training	3.9%
Bachelor’s degree	0.3%
Post-master’s certificate	0.2%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Human/Medical Genetics?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 78.1% of Human/Medical Genetics degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	331	78.1%
Men	93	21.9%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Human/Medical Genetics graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	235	55.4%
Asian	38	9.0%
Hispanic or Latino	32	7.5%
Black or African American	18	4.2%
Two or More Races	26	6.1%
Race Unknown	17	4.0%
International Students	58	13.7%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Human/Medical Genetics Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Human/Medical Genetics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$43,852
4 years	$57,533
5 years	$73,410

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $73,410 — roughly 67% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Human/Medical Genetics Programs

Distance learning is tracked by IPEDS for Human/Medical Genetics. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Master’s	3	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Human/Medical Genetics Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Human/Medical Genetics graduates earn a median of $57,533 four years after completion — roughly 51% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Genetics	26.08
Animal Genetics	26.0804
Genetics, General	26.0801
Genetics, Other	26.0899
Genome Sciences/Genomics	26.0807
Microbial and Eukaryotic Genetics	26.0803
Molecular Genetics	26.0802
Plant Genetics	26.0805
Aerospace Physiology and Medicine	26.0912
Anatomy	26.0403
Biochemistry	26.0202
Biomechanics	26.0913

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.