4. Genetics Counselor
Translate complex science into real-life options.
Why Now?
Medical advances are creating new dilemmas for patients. Should I have a preventive mastectomy? Should I be tested for Alzheimer's? Genetics counselors deliver the guidance that doctors can't always give. Nationally, there are about 3,000 genetics counselors; that will grow by about 23 percent in the next five years, estimates Angela Trepanier of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC).
Getting In
Many jobs require a master's degree, typically two years, in genetics counseling. Georgette Bruenner, 52, a former marketing manager, now works at the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York. She got her master's degree from a program at Sarah Lawrence College. Tuition at such schools can be pricey -- from $3,000 to over $30,000. But financial aid is available, and hospitals offer internships for enrolled students.
Pay and Perks
The average salary in 2006 was about $59,000, according to the NSGC. Bruenner loves being in a "helping profession" that's also on the cutting edge of science.
Must Love
The double helix; helping patients handle heart-wrenching decisions.
To Find Out More
National Society of Genetic Counselors
