An ultrasound radiologist is the first person to see a baby -- before the mother and before the baby is born. Ultrasound radiology uses high-frequency sound waves to generate an image. It is commonly used on pregnant women to view their babies during pregnancy, but it is also used to diagnosis medical conditions. Ultrasound radiologists ensure they capture the best image possible for the doctor to evaluate.
National Salary
The nationwide average salary for 51,630 ultrasound radiologists in 2009 was $63,640, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The salary range for these professionals was $43,990 to $85,950 a year (10th to 90th percentile). By 2018, a projected 59,500 ultrasound radiologists in the United States will be using the technology to perform safer, cost-effective diagnostic procedures.
Salary by State
The state that pays its ultrasound radiologists the most is Massachusetts. The 1,020 ultrasound radiologists there earned an average of $78,460 a year in 2009. The other top-paying states are Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Alaska. However, these were not the states with large numbers of jobs. Florida has .643 ultrasound radiologists per 1,000 workers. This is twice the concentration that is found in Massachusetts. Florida ultrasound radiologists earned an average of $56,030 a year in 2009. Other states with high concentrations of jobs were Connecticut, New Mexico, Alabama and Rhode Island.
Salary by Industry
Ultrasound radiologists are associated with medical fields. The highest-paying field in 2009 was employment services; the 240 ultrasound radiologists in this field earned an average of $68,020 a year. The other high-paying industries were management of companies and enterprises; specialty hospitals; colleges, universities and professional schools and outpatient care centers. The industry that employed the most ultrasound radiologists was general medical and surgical hospitals, which employed 30,490 ultrasound radiologists who earned an average of $63,770.
Employment Outlook
The need for ultrasound radiologists is expected to grow by 18 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth will be driven in part by a generally increasing need for healthcare due to an aging population. Additional growth is expected from increased diagnostic uses being developed for ultrasound technology, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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