Diagnostic medical sonographers, also called ultrasound technicians, use equipment that sends high-frequency sound waves into the body. These sound waves create echoes that are processed through a computer to produce visual images on a screen. Doctors use these images to diagnose or rule out health problems. Starting salaries are high, particularly for a career that typically requires only an associate's degree.
Job Features
Sonographers explain ultrasound procedures to each patient and guide the patient into the correct position for testing. They may need to move a patient numerous times during the course of collecting images. Sonographers use a transducer to both send and receive sound waves, and they monitor the screen and watch for any signs of pathology to note for the physician's review.
Comparisons
A two-year associate's degree or four-year bachelor's degree is typically required to become a diagnostic medical sonographer. People already working in healthcare, such as nurses, can obtain a one-year certificate in the technology. Medgar Evers College in New York reports starting salaries from $35,000 to $40,000 for individuals with a bachelor of science in diagnostic medical imaging from the State University of New York. The Cincinnati State Technical and Community College in Ohio reports starting salaries of $38,000 to $41,000 for those with an associate's degree. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education reports that the starting average salary for a diagnostic medical sonographer in 2008 was $43,600.
Salary Range
The median starting salary for diagnostic medical sonographers was $35,600 to $50,700 as of December 2010, according to PayScale. Those with one to four years of experience were making $39,300 to $59,400, and those with five to nine years of experience $46,600 to $62,300. The average salary for all diagnostic medical sonographers as of May 2009 was $30.60 per hour or $63,600 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bottom 10 percent of those on the earnings scale were making less than $44,000, which may reflect starting salaries.
Registration
Unlike some healthcare professions, diagnostic medical sonography is not a licensed occupation. However, most employers prefer to hire sonographers who hold professional registration from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, according to the BLS. To become registered, the sonographer must complete a certain level of training or work experience that qualifies her to take the registry examination administered by the ARDMS.
Tags: associate degree, diagnostic medical, medical sonographers, salary diagnostic, salary diagnostic medical
