Sonographers use sound waves to create images on a monitor.
Sonography is the practice of using sound waves to image and assess a variety of different medical issues. Diagnostic medical sonographers work with a variety of different groups in a health care setting. They are most commonly known for working with pregnant women and monitoring fetal growth; however, sonographers can also work with imaging for cardiovascular, abdominal and nervous system issues. The variety and benefits of being a sonographer can result in an enriching career.
Training
Training for medical sonography can range from a one year certificate program to a four year bachelor's degree. The most common preparation for work in the field of sonography is a two-year associate degree. This variety of schooling options gives students the ability to choose a program that best suits their interests and objectives. It also allows for the potential to quickly enter the job market if the student chooses one of the shorter programs.
Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median yearly salary of diagnostic medical sonographers working in hospitals was $61,870 as of May 2008. For those working in private offices, the median yearly salary was $62,340. The highest 10 percent of sonographers made more than $83,950 a year. The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography also reported an average on-call rate of $42 an hour. This salary is considered competitive for the amount of education that is required for entry into the field.
Job Outlook
As of 2011, the BLS reports a expected job increase of 18 percent for sonographers through the year 2018. This is faster than average for all occupations. The demand for sonographers will continue to increase as populations age and as older sonographers begin to retire. The use of sonography is also seen as a safer and more cost-effective imaging alternative to X-rays, resulting in an increase in the use of this technology overall.
Environment
Sonographers usually work in clean hospital environments. They can work their machinery in either darkened rooms or by patient's bedsides. Some sonographers might also travel as part of their job. This traveling can take the form of working in a variety of different health care facilities or working as part of a mobile team to provide services to areas that do not have sonography equipment available to them. Full-time sonographers typically work 40 hours a week.
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