Sonographer techs
image the interior of a patient's body using a device that generates sound waves. Employers prefer those with formal training, which is available from two-year and four-year programs at community colleges and universities. While licensing is not required by most states, those with voluntary credentialing from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography may find better job prospects and higher pay.
Salaries
Sonographer techs make a median hourly wage of $30.30 or a yearly salary of $63,010 as of May 2009, states the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The lowest-paid 10 percent receive $21.15 or $43,990 while the best-paid 10 percent make $41.32 or $85,950.
Industries
The industries paying the highest income for sonographer techs are employment services, with wages at $32.70 or $68,020; management of companies and enterprises, at $32.64 or $67,890; and specialty hospitals, except for psychiatric and substance abuse, at $32.24 or $67,070. Unfortunately, these do not match the industries offering the most jobs, which pay less. These include general hospitals, with wages at $30.66 or $63,770; offices of physicians, at $30.68 or $63,820; and medical and diagnostics laboratories at $29.72 or $61,820.
States
The states showing the best pay for sonographer techs are Massachusetts, with salaries at $37.72 or $78,460; Oregon at $37.65 or $78,320; and Colorado at $37.20 or $77,380. However, these are not the states with the highest concentrations of techs, which are Florida, with earnings at $26.94 or $56,030; Connecticut at $35.41 or $73,660; and New Mexico at $30.85 or $64,170.
Cities
Three California cities show the best incomes for this profession: Santa Cruz, with pay at $46.89 or $97,530, San Jose at $44.56 or $92,680, and Santa Rosa at $39.97 or $83,130. However, the ones with most sonographer tech jobs per capita pay less and include New Haven, Conn., in which pay runs $36.06 ot $75,000; Florence, Ala., at $21.77 or $45,290; and Jackson, Tenn., at $26.25 or $54,600.
Future
The BLS predicts that jobs for sonographer techs will grow by 18 percent from 2008 to 2018. This faster-than-average increase will also reflect similar increases in salaries. Much of the demand will come from an aging population, which will require more diagnostic imaging. In addition, many health-care providers are using sonography techniques as a safer and more-cost effective alternative to x-rays. While hospitals will continue to hire the most techs, salary growth will be faster in the offices of doctors and medical labs.
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