Ultrasound technicians use sonography equipment to help doctors make diagnoses.
Diagnostic ultrasound technicians, also called diagnostic medical sonographers, work with specialized equipment to collect images that doctors use to diagnose conditions. As the technician presses a device called a transducer against the skin, a sonography machine uses high-frequency sound waves to map internal organs, and create an image from the data. These technicians typically earn more than the U.S. median household income of $52,029, reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2008.
Salary Range
Diagnostic ultrasound technicians earned a median annual salary of $61,980 in 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. At the lowest salary end, technicians received $43,600 a year, and at the highest end, they earned $83,950. Salaries vary by type of employer, credentials and geographic location of employer.
Salary by Employer
Diagnostic ultrasound technicians working in physician offices earned a median salary of $62,340 in 2008, slightly more than those serving in hospitals, who made a median $61,870 that year, says the BLS. Another salary reporting site, PayScale, reports similar salary ranges for hospital and private practice work, roughly $38,000 to $58,000 as of 2010. PayScale also says that technicians in the government sector typically earned from $39,000 to $59,000 in 2010.
Salary by Credentials
While credentials are not required for diagnostic ultrasound technicians, several organizations offer credentials to help improve professional standing and salary prospects. Technicians can earn the designations of Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer or Registered Vascular Technologist after taking an exam. Further, RDMS credentials can focus on specific areas of the body, such as the breasts, abdomen or neurological system. Registered diagnostic ultrasound technicians earned $24.87 to $31.17 per hour in 2010, says PayScale, while registered vascular technologists made slightly more at $26.51 to $31.92 per hour.
Salary by City
The top cities for diagnostic ultrasound technician salaries include Atlanta, Georgia; Houston, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; and West Chicago, Illinois. Of these, the highest salaries were found in Houston, at $81,042 per year, and San Diego, at $75,000 per year, according to PayScale.
Job Outlook
The number of diagnostic ultrasound positions is expected to increase by 18 percent over a 10-year period, with the number of jobs rising to 59,500 in 2018 from 50,300 in 2008, according to the BLS. Factors driving job growth will include the expanding need for health-care services. Technicians with multiple specialties or credentials should have the best prospects. Also, the BLS says that technicians willing to relocate will find the best opportunities.
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