Electrocardiogram technicians specialize in reading EKG equipment.
Electrocardiogram technicians are cardiovascular technicians who specialize in the use of EKG or stress testing of the cardiovascular system. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 48,720 individuals employed as cardiovascular technologists and technicians in the United States in 2010. Salaries for EKG technicians vary by employer and location.
Pay Scale
The average salary of electrocardiogram technicians was $50,720 per year in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau indicates that the median salary for those working in this field was $49,410, with the middle 50 percent earning salaries between $34,750 and $64,190. The highest paid technicians made salaries of $77,020, while those at the bottom end of the pay scale made salaries of $26,610 or less.
Employers
The organization for whom the electrocardiogram technician works plays a role in determining how much he can expect to make. According to the BLS, the largest number of technicians worked in general medical and surgical hospitals, earning an average salary of $49,740 per year in 2010. Those who worked in physicians' offices earned an average of $54,550, while those working in medical and diagnostic laboratories made $52,180 per year. The highest paid technicians worked in the offices of other health care practitioners, earning an average salary of $64,070.
Location
Where the electrocardiogram technician works also provides an indication of how much he can expect to make. According to the BLS, the highest paid technicians worked in the state of Alaska, earning an average annual salary of $81,310 per year. Those who worked in Massachusetts made $66,900, while those in the District of Columbia made $66,340. The largest number of electrocardiogram technicians worked in Florida, earning an average salary of $41,920 per year.
Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for cardiovascular technologists and technicians should grow by about 24 percent during the period from 2008 to 2018. The increased age of the existing population will necessitate more workers in this field, according to the bureau. Greater emphasis on preventative medicine will create need for more electrocardiogram technicians.
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