Career comparison
Genetic Counselor vs. Medical Laboratory Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Genetic counselors earn more at the median ($100,040 vs. $62,930), while medical laboratory technicians usually get to work faster (2 years (technician) or 4 years (technologist) of training). Genetic counselors help patients understand genetic risks and testing. Medical laboratory technicians run the lab tests doctors use to diagnose and treat patients.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Genetic Counselor | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $100,040 ($48.09/hr) | $62,930 ($30.26/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $78,270 – $138,760 | $38,910 – $100,990 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +10.4% (much faster than average) | +2.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 300 | 20,800 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 6 years | 2 years (technician) or 4 years (technologist) |
| Key credential | CGC (ABGC) | ASCP Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) |
| Work setting | Genetic counselors work in hospitals, clinics, labs and via telehealth.. | Technicians work in hospital labs, reference labs, clinics and blood banks, handling biological samples with safety precautions.. |
What each job does
Genetic Counselor
- Take family histories
- Assess genetic risk
- Explain testing options
- Order and interpret genetic tests
- Explain results
Medical Laboratory Technician
- Process patient samples
- Run tests on automated analyzers
- Perform manual tests and microscopy
- Run quality control
- Check and report results
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information and indoor work. They sit in different fields, healthcare and science, engineering & lab, but share transferable skills such as empathy and attention to detail.
Which should you choose?
Choose genetic counselor if…
- I love genetics
- I’m a caring communicator
- I can explain complex ideas simply
Choose medical laboratory technician if…
- I love science
- I’m precise and careful
- I want health care without direct patient care
Still torn? Take the Genetic Counselor fit quiz and the Medical Laboratory Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, genetic counselor or medical laboratory technician?
Genetic Counselors earn more at the median: $100,040 versus $62,930 for medical laboratory technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Medical Laboratory Technicians typically train faster (2 years (technician) or 4 years (technologist)) than genetic counselors (6 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects genetic counselors to grow +10.4% from 2025–35, compared with +2.7% for medical laboratory technicians.