What it is
Medical geneticists diagnose and manage inherited and genetic conditions — using genomic testing to guide diagnosis, treatment, and family counseling — a fast-growing field as genomic medicine expands.
What you do
They evaluate genetic disorders, interpret genomic tests, and counsel patients and families, often alongside genetic counselors.
Training path & length
2-year residency (or combined tracks with pediatrics, internal medicine, etc.), plus subspecialty options.
Fellowship subspecialties
Subspecialties/fellowships include clinical biochemical genetics, molecular genetic pathology, and laboratory genetics.
Pay & job outlook
Physicians are among the highest-paid professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $275,930 for physicians and surgeons (May 2025), with employment projected to grow about 4% from 2025 to 2035. Pay varies by specialty — procedural and surgical fields generally earn more.
Pay is around the physician median; demand is growing with genomic medicine.
How to get there
Become a physician first: earn an MD or DO, then match into this residency. Licensure requires completing residency and passing the board exams.
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Keep exploring this part of the resource:
Key facts
- Residency2–4 years (often combined)
- FocusInherited & genetic conditions, genomic testing
- FellowshipsBiochemical, molecular, lab genetics
- TrendGrowing with genomic medicine
- EntryMD or DO via the match