Mostly Resilient
Last Update: 6/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Genetic Counselors:
60.1%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
High
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forGenetic Counselors
$98,910 median salary•300 annual openings•SOC Code: 29-9092.00
Genetic Counselors are somewhat more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 7 sources.
Genetic counseling is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because the heart of the job, which includes helping families process scary news, navigate difficult decisions, and feel genuinely supported, requires deep human empathy that AI simply cannot replicate. Right now, AI tools are stepping in to handle more routine tasks like drafting letters, preparing charts, and answering basic patient questions, but these tools are acting as helpers rather than replacements.
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Genetic counseling is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because the heart of the job, which includes helping families process scary news, navigate difficult decisions, and feel genuinely supported, requires deep human empathy that AI simply cannot replicate. Right now, AI tools are stepping in to handle more routine tasks like drafting letters, preparing charts, and answering basic patient questions, but these tools are acting as helpers rather than replacements.
Read full analysisAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Genetic Counselors
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Genetic Counselors jobs?
Right now, AI is mostly augmenting genetic counselors rather than replacing them. A recent overview in the Journal of Genetic Counseling explains that large language models like ChatGPT show promise for supporting specific tasks [1] such as letter writing, triage, intake and follow-up, decision aids, and patient-facing chatbots — but the authors argue these tools "cannot adequately replace the personalized application of counseling theory, skills, knowledge, and decision-making provided by a human genetic counselor." The National Society of Genetic Counselors' bimonthly AI/ML newsletter [2] tracks how counselors are folding generative tools into pedigree drawing, chart prep, and patient education. A 2025 Cell Press review similarly framed generative AI as a "partner" for counselors [3] that can speed up information delivery while clinicians focus on the emotional side of care.
Patients agree: in a survey presented at NSGC's 2025 annual meeting, 80–90% of patients said AI chatbots and online tools cannot replace a genetic counselor [4], though they're useful for basic questions.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Genetic Counselors?
Adoption is moving steadily but cautiously. Demand is a huge push — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of genetic counselors to grow 9% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average [5], and there simply aren't enough counselors to meet demand, so chatbots help fill gaps. But ethics, privacy, and regulation slow things down: the same Journal of Genetic Counseling review warns that LLM use raises "significant ethical, regulatory, and privacy concerns that are yet to be addressed" [1].
Brookings researchers similarly argue for protecting and increasing the role of people in care workplaces [6] as AI spreads. The good news for anyone considering this career: the human skills — empathy, navigating fear, supporting families through tough news — are exactly what AI struggles with, and they're projected to stay in high demand.
Sources
Will AI replace Genetic Counselors?
No. We don't think AI will replace Genetic Counselors, though we do expect the job to change.
That view is reflected in our 60.1% AI Resilience Score. Right now, AI is mostly a helper in this role, not a replacement. Tools built on large language models are already supporting tasks like letter writing, patient intake, pedigree drawing, and follow-up messaging [1]. A 2025 Cell Press review described generative AI as a "partner" that speeds up information delivery while counselors focus on the emotional side of care [3]. That framing feels right to us.
What stays human is the core of the job: sitting with a family that just received a frightening diagnosis, navigating fear, and applying real clinical judgment to a specific person's situation. Patients seem to agree. A survey presented at NSGC's 2025 annual meeting found that 80 to 90% of patients said AI chatbots cannot replace a genetic counselor [4]. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9% employment growth for this role from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average [5], partly because demand outpaces supply and AI helps fill gaps rather than eliminate positions.
If you are considering this career, the skills worth building are the deeply human ones. Those are exactly where AI falls short.
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Latest AI news for Genetic Counselors
These AI-related articles provide valuable insights for students pursuing a career in genetic counseling. For instance, Colleen Caleshu discusses how AI can handle routine tasks, allowing genetic counselors to focus on complex patient interactions and emotional support. Additionally, the Stanford study on AI-powered CRISPR highlights how advancements in gene editing could enhance treatment options, making genetic counselors more integral in guiding patients through emerging therapies. Embracing these technologies can help future genetic counselors remain resilient and adaptable in a changing healthcare landscape.
Current and Future Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Genetics
www.cureus.com • 1/1/2026
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming medicine, and its influence on clinical genetics cannot be ignored. From variant analysis and...
Colleen Caleshu, MS, CGC, on Whether AI Will Replace Genetic Counselors
www.cgtlive.com • 11/12/2025
The senior director of research and real world data at Genome Medical discussed multiple perspectives on how AI may take over some of the...
AI at Work Report 2025: How GenAI is Rewiring the DNA of Jobs
www.hiringlab.org • 9/23/2025
The future of work and the role of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is not a question of whether GenAI will change jobs,...
AI-powered CRISPR could lead to faster gene therapies, Stanford Medicine study finds
med.stanford.edu • 9/16/2025
CRISPR-GPT, a large language model developed at Stanford Medicine, is accelerating gene-editing processes and increasing accessibility to...
AI Uses Tumor Genetics for Prediction of Treatment Response
www.insideprecisionmedicine.com • 1/18/2024
A machine learning algorithm that decodes the intricate web of genetic mutations within tumors, shedding light on their response to chemotherapy.
More Career Info
Career: Genetic Counselors
They help people understand their genetic health by explaining DNA test results and advising on health risks and family planning.
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Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$98,910
Jobs (2024)
4,000
Growth (2024-34)
+9.3%
Annual Openings
300
Education
Master's degree
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Provide counseling to patient and family members by providing information, education, or reassurance.
2
Assess patients' psychological or emotional needs such as those relating to stress, fear of test results, financial issues, and marital conflicts to make referral recommendations or assist patients in...
3
Determine or coordinate treatment plans by requesting laboratory services, reviewing genetics or counseling literature, and considering histories or diagnostic data.
4
Provide genetic counseling in specified areas of clinical genetics such as obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology and neurology.
5
Evaluate or make recommendations for standards of care or clinical operations, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, ethics, legislation, or policies.
6
Interpret laboratory results and communicate findings to patients or physicians.
7
Identify funding sources and write grant proposals for eligible programs or services.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
