Ultrasound Tech Salary Information (Sonographer)

Much does an ultrasound tech make? What's the average income of a sonographer? Ultrasound tech salary information and sonographer salary information. A diagnostic medical sonographer assesses and diagnoses different medical diseases using specific imaging equipment that sends sound waves into a patient's body (in a process known as an ultrasound, sonogram, or echocardiogram).

What does an ultrasound tech/diagnostic medical sonographer do?

Diagnostic ultrasonography creates pictures of the interior of the body using high-frequency sound waves. An ultrasound transducer is pressed against the areas of the patient's body that are being inspected by the diagnostic medical sonographer. The transducer sends out sound pulses that bounce back, resulting in echoes. The echoes are then transmitted to an ultrasound machine, where they are processed and shown as pictures.

A diagnostic medical sonographer's tasks include the following:

• Taking a patient's history and addressing any questions regarding the process to prepare them for procedures.
• Preparing and keeping imaging equipment in good working order
• Using a gel to improve the ability of sound waves to reveal the interior of the body
• Using diagnostic imaging technology to get pictures of regions of the patient's body
• Examining the pictures to ensure that they are of good quality and that they cover the region that needs to be diagnosed.
• The ability to distinguish between normal and aberrant pictures
• Analyzing pictures to give doctors with early results
• Keeping track of patients' data and recording results

Here are some examples of different sorts of sonographers:

Abdominal sonographers are trained to image the abdomen and surrounding organs such as the kidney, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen.

Breast sonographers are trained to image the tissues of a patient's breasts. Breast cancer is detected more quickly with sonography than with mammography. Breast sonography is also used to monitor tumors in patients with breast cancer.

Sonographers that specialize in imaging muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints are known as musculoskeletal sonographers.

Neurosonographers are experts in imaging the nervous system, particularly the brain, in patients.

Ultrasound Technician Salary and Advancement

When it comes to calculating compensation and promotion opportunities, there are several things to consider. The first is the geological setting. The national median salary is $69,650, but if you start your career in California, it may rise to $93,350.

Even in Alabama, where ultrasound technologists earn the lowest average income in the US, you may earn more than $54,000 each year.

Geographic location

Location refers not just to whatever state or region of the country you are in, but also to your demographic area. Even within California, which has the highest overall average, salaries can vary significantly from one region to the next. The average wage in the San Francisco region is $121,00 per year, while the median salary in Santa Clara is $109,000. Salary ranges from $43,890 in Burlington, NC, to $65,990 in Pensacola, FL, as you travel east.

Washington, DC, which pays $87,570 per year, is the country's second-highest median salary. Washington State is right behind it, with a typical income of $86,970. In general, the greater the wage rate, the closer you are to a city or metropolitan region.

Professional credentials, education, and experience

Advancing your education, areas of expertise, and variety of experience is one approach to boost your already favorable earning potential. Of course, the majority of practical experience can only be gained over time, but there are alternative options for speeding up the process.

According to studies in the profession, the majority of sonographers raised their pay grade by:

• Obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree by continuing their studies.
• Changing careers to education or administration.
• Obtaining credentials in a certain field, such as an ARDMS certification (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography).
• Joining professional organizations such as the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a good way to start (SDMS).

Above all, individuals with advanced degrees made more money than those with simply an extra qualification. To advance their careers, the top 10% of earners employed a combination of two or more techniques.

Practice areas and specialties

Your remuneration is also affected by the sort of sonography you do. Radiologists with no experience may expect to earn about $38,660 per year as an entry-level position.

On the other hand, the top 10% of diagnostic medical sonographers earned more than $99,000 per year.

Other specialties with yearly median incomes include:

• $55,570 for cardiovascular technician.
• $45,160 for a surgical tech.
• $65,000 for an obstetric and gynecological sonographer.

Medical setting or kind of practice

Your wage rate and professional advancement might be influenced by where you practice. The majority of ultrasound technologists, over 40,000, work in hospitals, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hospital technologists earned an average of $73,400 per year.

Outpatient technicians, who earned an average of $82,940, came in second in terms of employment numbers but first in terms of compensation.

Technicians in private medical practices or clinics make an average of $69,450 per year. Hourly income varies from $33.39 to $39.87 for individuals who do not have full-time paid jobs.

Ultrasound technologists were paid the most in industries that were hospital-based practices or comparable institutions. In comparison to all other industries, ultrasound technologists working in outpatient care centers received the highest annual mean salary.

• Centers for outpatient care: $73,640.
• Hospitals with specialized services: $73,640.
• Management services: $72,910.
• Consultancy services in management, science, and technology: $71,340.
• Colleges, universities, and professional schools: $70,630.

National average salary for ultrasound technicians

Here's the average ultrasound technologist salary:

An ultrasound technician's national average pay is $1,517 per week, or $78,884 per year. Technicians can earn around $400 per week or $20,000 per year on the low end. Some of the highest-paid technicians, on the other hand, earn $3,200 a week or $166,400 per year.

Education, qualification, and location are all variables that may lead to ultrasound technicians obtaining a better wage.

Job outlook for an ultrasound technician

Diagnostic medical sonographers are anticipated to expand by 46% between 2012 and 2022, according to the BLS, which is considerably faster than the national average for all occupations. Due to the aging of the baby-boom generation, hospitals/private practices will need to have healthcare practitioners diagnose their medical issues, and ultrasound technologists will be required to screen for blood clots and malignancies.

This rise is attributable to the ongoing advancement of imaging technologies as well as the demand for less costly equipment.

Sonographers are needed to run the gear since more healthcare practitioners are opting for noninvasive methods over invasive ones. Due to the aging of the baby-boom generation, healthcare practitioners will be required to diagnose their medical issues, and ultrasound technologists will be required to screen for blood clots and malignancies.

Another advantage for sonographers is that government rules have increased the number of people who have access to healthcare.

According to the BLS, Florida is one of the top five states with the highest level of employment and concentration of diagnostic medical sonographer positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job prognosis for diagnostic medical sonographers in Florida is bright, with overall job growth expected to increase by 39% by 2020. (BLS).

How to become an ultrasound technician

Sonographers are educated on how to utilize equipment and how to treat patients. They must finish an academic program, clinical work, and a certification exam.

Ultrasound technicians generally need at least an associate's degree for entry-level employment. Diagnostic medical sonographers often hold an associate's or bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is the accrediting organization.

One-year certificate programs are offered for established medical professionals wishing to change jobs or obtain additional skills. Physical and biological science, patient care, medical imaging, and other subjects are covered by students.

Clinical practice

Most sonography programs have clinical hours as a prerequisite. Typically, a student must complete 960 hours of training, or the equivalent of six months of full-time work. They are an important component of education because they allow students to gain experience and apply what they have learned in the classroom.

Internships and externships with clinical affiliates are examples of clinicals.

Clinical affiliations are organizations that have agreed to assist students in gaining real-world experience relevant to their field of study.

Staff selects the precise sites, although students may recommend a preferable office if it is registered as an affiliate. Clinical training is generally completed in a number of fields, including vascular, pediatric, and musculoskeletal sonography, among others.

Exam for certification

Although certification is not needed for ultrasound technologists, many companies prefer and even require it. Before taking the test, candidates must fulfill the basic educational and clinical training criteria.

There are three certification bodies to choose from:

• The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
• Credentialing in Cardiovascular Medicine.
• The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

Specialties and certifications

Ultrasound technicians working in outpatient care centers earned the most compared to other ultrasound technologist positions:

• Sonography
• Breast sonography
• Vascular sonography
• Registered Vascular Specialist
• Abdomen sonography
• Fetal echocardiography
• Pediatric echocardiography
• Obstetrics and gynecology
• Advanced Cardiac Sonographer
• Registered Cardiac Sonographer
• Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographer
• Adult echocardiography
• Musculoskeletal sonography
• Registered Phlebology Sonographer

Ultrasound tech salary by state

Average salary for ultrasound techs by state. Excluding other medical technician specializations.

• Alabama: $49,800 per year.
• Alaska: $82,400 per year.
• Arizona: $78,800 per year.
• Arkansas: $56,000 per year.
• California: $86,000
• Colorado: $36.50 per per year.year.
• Connecticut: $77,900 per year.
• Delaware: $67,300 per year.
• Florida: $60,300 per year.
• Georgia: $59,600 per year.
• Hawaii: $78,200 per year.
• Idaho: $62,100 per year.
• Illinois: $68,900 per year.
• Indiana: $63,400 per year.
• Iowa: $58,200 per year.
• Kansas: $64,100 per year.
• Kentucky: $57,400 per year.
• Louisiana: $57,200 per year.
• Maine: $72,200 per year.
• Maryland: $72,900 per year.
• Massachusetts: $80,500 per year.
• Michigan: $58,300 per year.
• Minnesota: $73,500 per year.
• Mississippi: $57,200 per year.
• Missouri: $66,700 per year.
• Montana: $69,500 per year.
• Nebraska: $61,100 per year.
• Nevada: $71,700 per year.
• New Hampshire: $75,100 per year.
• New Jersey: $68,300 per year.
• New Mexico: $68,100 per year.
• New York: $67,000 per year.
• North Carolina: $63,400 per year.
• North Dakota: $62,700 per year.
• Ohio: $60,100 per year.
• Oklahoma: $64,200
• Oregon: $84,800 per year. per year.
• Pennsylvania: $57,900 per year.
• Rhode Island: $80,000 per year.
• South Carolina: $56,800 per year.
• South Dakota: $53,500 per year.
• Tennessee: $59,900 per year.
• Texas: $65,600 per year.
• Utah: $67,800 per year.
• Vermont: $70,600 per year.
• Virginia: $70,300 per year.
• Washington: $81,200 per year.
• Washington, DC: $69,200 per year.
• West Virginia: $54,100 per year.
• Wisconsin: $79,300 per year.
• Wyoming: $67,100 per year.