Acupuncturists vs Genetic Counselors: $76K vs $100K Median Pay

Acupuncturists vs Genetic Counselors: what changes?

Consider Acupuncturists if you want to diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders by stimulating specific acupuncture points within the body using acupuncture needles. Consider Genetic Counselors if you would rather assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. Both list master's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Acupuncturists and Genetic Counselors. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Acupuncturists

National median pay (2025): $76,040
Route into the job: Master's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Maintain and follow standard quality, safety, environmental, and infection control policies and procedures.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 800

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (14,800 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Acupuncturists brief

Genetic Counselors

National median pay (2025): $100,040
Route into the job: Master's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Interpret laboratory results and communicate findings to patients or physicians.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 300

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (4,200 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Genetic Counselors brief

How the national numbers differ

Genetic Counselors has the edge on median pay

Genetic Counselors is at $100,040, compared with $76,040 for Acupuncturists.

Acupuncturists has the edge on annual openings

Acupuncturists is at 800 annual openings, compared with 300 annual openings for Genetic Counselors.

Genetic Counselors has the edge on projected growth

Genetic Counselors is at 10.4% projected growth, compared with 8.6% projected growth for Acupuncturists.

47.8/ 100

Acupuncturists

50.7/ 100

Genetic Counselors

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence