Salary of Ultrasound Technician
Ultrasound technicians, who are also commonly
referred to as sonographers, are professional practitioners who make use of
ultrasound technology to take detailed impressions of the body. These images are
used in order to help the doctor diagnose and treat a particular medical
condition experienced by a patient. Being an ultrasound technician is a very
rewarding career – read on to find out why.
Since ultrasound technology is a non-invasive method
of diagnosing a wide variety of health problems, more and more people are
veering towards its use. With that said, as more people prefer ultrasound over
other related imaging procedures, the demand for competent ultrasound
technicians also increases.
Salary Threshold Of Ultrasound Technicians
Based on the data given by the United States Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS), the salary for the lower 10% ultrasound technician
population is close to $35,800. The upper 10% of the population were receiving
over $66,680. Higher figures were reported by the American Society of Radiologic
Technologists (ASRT) for the same population category at 39,212 and $84,545
accordingly.
In the website salary.com, salary figures for
ultrasound technicians presently average at around $51,382, whilst the ASRT
reports an average of $56,158. Previously, in the year 2006, the average,
according to the BLS was around $48,660.
Salaries earned by ultrasound technicians can differ
based on their workplace. Take for instance the average yearly salary of
technicians working in physician’s offices – their salary was reported by the
BLS at $50,390, while those employed in hospitals were slightly lower at
$47,530. On the other hand, salaries of ultrasound technicians working at
non-profit hospitals and physician’s offices were $73,888 and $53,604
respectively.
Salary Range Of Ultrasound Technicians
According to the latest survey conducted by the
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, ultrasound technicians are capable
of earning anywhere from $15 to $18 per hour. With further studies and
acquisition of certifications from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical
Sonographers or ARDMS, an ultrasound technician’s salary can easily reach higher
thresholds. For example, an ultrasound technician possessing a
bachelor’s degree
can earn a salary range of more than $61,000 based on the data reports by the
ASRT.
The level of experience of an ultrasound technician
can also determine how much he can earn. Like any other professions or field of
work, entry-level positions will have lower salaries, but as his knowledge and
experience in the field grows, so does his salary and benefits. For example, a
chief ultrasound technologist is capable of earning a salary ranging from
$56,627 to $68,690. Also, the more field of specialization you have in
sonography (Obstetrics-Gynecology, abdomen, breast), the better your salary
threshold will be.
Industries with the highest rates of employment in
this profession:
|
Industry |
Employment |
Hourly Mean Wage |
Annual Mean Wage |
|
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
28,930 |
$30.14 |
$62,690 |
|
Offices of Physicians |
12,320 |
$30.22 |
$62,870 |
|
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories |
4,370 |
$29.14 |
$60,620 |
|
Outpatient Care Centers |
1,140 |
$29.62 |
$61,620 |
Colleges, Universities, and
Professional Schools |
590 |
$31.13 |
$64,760 |
Top paying industries for this profession:
|
Industry |
Hourly Mean Wage |
Annual Mean Wage |
| Local
Government (OES designation) |
$37.54 |
$78,080 |
|
Employment Services |
$34.56 |
$71,890 |
| Office
Administrative Services |
$32.74 |
$68,110 |
|
Management of Companies and Enterprises |
$31.49 |
$65,490 |
Colleges, Universities,
and Professional Schools |
$31.13 |
$64,760 |
Top paying States for this profession:
| State |
Hourly Mean Wage |
Annual Mean Wage |
| Oregon |
$36.81 |
$76,570 |
|
Washington |
$36.21 |
$75,320 |
|
Connecticut |
$35.70 |
$74,260 |
|
Massachusetts |
$35.43 |
$73,690 |
| Alaska |
$35.23 |
$73,290 |
|
