Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Supervise or direct the work of other geneticists, biologists, technicians, or biometricians working on genetics research projects.
Plan or conduct basic genomic and biological research related to areas such as regulation of gene expression, protein interactions, metabolic networks, and nucleic acid or protein complexes.
Prepare results of experimental findings for presentation at professional conferences or in scientific journals.
Maintain laboratory notebooks that record research methods, procedures, and results.
Write grants and papers or attend fundraising events to seek research funds.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionScienceWritingSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Geneticist pay by experience level
Entry level$62,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$79,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$102,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$132,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$174,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
4,800
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Geneticist salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
21,690 workers
$104,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
20,310 workers
$117,500
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
19,700 workers
$107,000
Scientific Research and Development Services
15,870 workers
$123,500
Educational Services
5,010 workers
$84,000
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
4,990 workers
$84,000
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
2,880 workers
$92,000
Educational Services, State Government Owned
2,820 workers
$82,500
Chemical Manufacturing
2,230 workers
$128,500
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
2,190 workers
$129,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Geneticist make?
The average base salary for a Geneticist in the United States is $110,000 per year, or about $52.88 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $79,500 and $132,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Geneticist pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.