Genetic Counselors vs Psychiatrists
Median pay is about $182k higher for Psychiatrists. The usual entry education is master's plus cert for Genetic Counselors and doctoral (MD) plus residency for Psychiatrists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Genetic Counselors | Psychiatrists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $100,040 | $281,870, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $88,900 | $154,150, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $116,140 | $362,740, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +10% Growing fast, higher | +7.2% Growing fast |
| Openings a year | 300 | 900 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Master's plus cert | Doctoral (MD) plus residency |
| Difficulty modeled | 3.4 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | High | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 78th pct | 92nd pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: reading comprehension, active listening, writing, speaking, critical thinking, active learning.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.