Ultrasound techs work in medical facilities performing diagnostic imaging of patients.
Ultrasound has been a modern way of looking inside the human body without being invasive or exposing patients to high levels of radiation. Most people associate ultrasound technologists, or sonographers, with pregnancy, but they also use their skills and technology for many other purposes. Sonographers help to find health problems and abnormalities of the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas, brain, and breasts, and often to detect cancer. The salary of an ultrasound technologist can vary based on a few influences.
General Salary Information
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are over 50,000 ultrasound technologists working and earning a national average wage of $63,640 a year. The lower 10 percent of earners make $43,990 annually, perhaps representing those with the least amount of experience and training. The middle 50 percent average between $53,110 and $74,400 a year, and those in the top 10 percent, likely holding the most credentials and experience, can expect an average of $85,950 annually.
Cost of Living and Demand
The salary of a sonographer will also be influenced by the cost of living and the demand for ultrasound professionals in a particular area. Florida has the highest concentration of sonographers in the country as well as a generally low cost of living, and the average ultrasound technologist earns $56,030, well below the national average. Alabama pays even less at $50,320 a year. Alaska has one of the lowest concentrations of ultrasound techs, less than one third of Florida, and the average salary is $75,500 annually. However, the bureau states that the highest-paying state in the U.S. is Massachusetts, providing an annual mean wage of $78,460.
Type of Facility
The majority of ultrasound technologists work in general hospitals, holding over 30,000 positions and bringing in an average wage of $63,770 a year. Many also work in the offices of doctors and make $63,820 a year. However, there are a limited number of coveted positions in other industries that pay more than average. For example, sonographers working at colleges and universities can expect to earn $66,250 on average. According to the bureau, employment services firms are the highest-paying employers of ultrasound professionals, providing an average salary of $68,020 annually.
Qualifications
Before a sonographer can earn these salaries, they must first go through the proper training. Hospitals, medical training institutions, colleges and even the military all offer approved training in sonography. Two-year programs in the form of an associate degree are the most common path, and students focus on anatomy, physiology, physics, medical ethics, and, of course, sonography. Certification is not required by law, but to become more competitive in the job market, many sonographers take the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer exam (RDMS).
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