Sonogram technicians may work in hospitals, clinics, schools and laboratories.
Diagnostic medical sonographers are technicians who take images of the internal organs of patients who are pregnant, ill or injured; physicians and surgeons use these images to make diagnoses. The salary range of a sonogram technician depends on the type of medical facility he works in, his level of experience and his location.
Salary Range
The salary range for sonogram technicians began at less than $44,900 in the 10th percentile as of May 2010, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Sonogram technicians in the 25th percentile earned less than $53,810 a year, and the median income was $64,380. In the 75th percentile, sonogram technicians earned more than $75,290 a year, and salaries exceeded $88,490 in the 90th percentile. The average salary of sonogram technicians was $64,900 a year.
Industry
General medical and surgical hospitals employed the highest level of sonogram technicians as of 2010, offering an average salary of $65,010. The bureau reports that the highest concentration of jobs for sonogram techs was medical and diagnostic laboratories, where the average salary was $62,160. Sonogram technicians working in the offices of physicians earned an average income of $64,750 a year, and those in outpatient care centers earned an average of $70,440. Colleges, universities and professional schools also employed sonogram technicians for an average salary of $72,570 a year.
Location
California and Florida had the highest levels of employed sonogram technicians as of 2010, offering respective average salaries of $77,260 and $56,990, according to the bureau. Florida had the highest concentration of jobs for sonogram techs, followed by South Dakota, which offered an average salary of $51,330 a year. The highest-paying state in the nation was Massachusetts, where sonogram technicians earned an average salary of $80,000 annually, followed by Oregon, where the salary average was $79,740.
Advancement
Although licensure isn't required for sonogram technicians, those interested in advancing and earning higher salaries should pursue certification from organizations such as the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography in specialty areas such as obstetrics or abdominal sonography. In certain facilities, advancement opportunities may become available to those in supervisory or administrative positions.
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