Ultrasound technology helps monitor fetal development.
Ultrasound technicians utilize devices that emit high frequencies to create images of internal organs. The use of this ultrasound equipment is noninvasive, and it is sometimes referred to as sonography or ultrasonography.
Duties
Ultrasound technicians talk with patients about their medical history and record it. The technician will then use the information to use appropriate settings on the equipment. Sonographers do preliminary observations and pass on information to doctors.
Education
In most cases, an ultrasound technician needs a two-year associate's degree. Courses include anatomy, physiology, instrumentation, physics, patient care and medical ethics, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. One-year courses are available for people who already have experience in the medical field.
Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sonographers earned a median income of $61,980 as of May 2008. The lowest 10 percent of wage earners received around $43,600, and the highest 10 percent earned around $83,950.
Tags: Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, Labor Statistics, Ultrasound technicians