Ultrasound Technician Salary
If you are interested in a career as an ultrasound technician, you would also be eager to know all about the ultrasound technician salary, right? You will be happy to hear that the salaries of these professional are very high in the sector of medicine. This is why many people are becoming interested in gaining more information about the career of an ultrasound tech. The field of medicine that involves sonograms is looked at as among the most advantageous with regards to the opportunities in career that it has to offer.
An ultrasound technician not only earns well on an hourly basis but there is also another advantage. If you become part of this field, you would not have to undergo higher training levels, which are required in other medical courses like registered nurse or medical technologist. Let us first talk about the work that an ultrasound technologist does and what his medical skills, tasks and duties are before we discuss ultrasound technician salary.
Basically, such ultrasound technicians are responsible for the diagnostic procedures that make use of sound waves that have high frequencies. The procedures operate on particular kind of sound waves and create visual depictions of the various components of our bodies like the tissues, organs and also blood flow. The ultrasound tech first has to prepare patients before they undergo sonography tests. He has to adjust settings of the ultrasound machine so as to assess the condition of the body of the patient effectively. He also has the crucial responsibility of studying all the ultrasound images to try finding the unhealthy areas in the patients’ bodies. He has to check if the images are detailed and clear so that doctors would not have difficulties in reviewing them. Besides the ultrasound pictures, the ultrasound sonographer would also have to keep records of test results so as to submit them for further procedures by doctors.
How Much Does An Ultrasound Technician Make?
As you can see ultrasound sonographers are very valuable for the health care team. This is why an ultrasound technician salary is very competitive. The ultrasound salary is among the highest salaries the medical industry. In General, the ultrasound tech salary is higher than many other medical technician salaries, such as X-ray technician salary, surgical technician salary and pharmacy technician salary while the ultrasound salary is quite close to the registered nurse salary. The average yearly ultrasound technician salary with regards to May 2009 was $63,000 that is $30.60 per hour as per the statistics provided by US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10% lowest salary of an ultrasound technician is $43,990 annually while the 10% upper ultrasound technicians earn $85,950 a year. Most of these professionals are employed in general surgical and medical hospitals. 30,490 people out of total 51,630 technicians were employed in the May 2009 period. The latest report in the May 2011 states the average ultrasound tech salary is between $52,000 and $84,000 a year.
In Which Industry Will A Technician Earn The Highest Ultrasound Technician Salary?
Those who work in hospitals get $63,770 annually in mean ultrasound technician salary. Next in line are the physicians who employ second most number of these professionals in their health centres. Here, 13,390 people receive about $63,820 in payment annually. The third settings where these sonographers are found in abundance are in diagnostic and medical laboratories that employ a total of 4,680 ultrasound technologists. In such settings, you would be able to earn $61,820 annually.
If you are looking at earning highest ultrasound technician salary, consider working in firms that work in tandem with the employment services as then you are sure to earn a high salary of $68,000 or even more annually. The industry that pays second highest salary to an ultrasound technologist is in the management of enterprises and companies. Here, you would be able to earn $67,890 annually. You could also apply at some specialty hospitals that are different from the general surgical and medical hospitals. You could then expect to get a yearly payment of $67,000.
Professional schools, universities and colleges that provide work for ultrasound technicians are known to pay $66,250 annually. Those who work in outpatient centers usually receive $64,560 per year. Besides these various work settings, the region you work in that is the geographical location plays a role too in determining the amount of salary you would receive. For instance, Massachusetts pays highest ultrasound technician salary with an average of $78,460 per year. Oregon is nearly the same as Massachusetts where, technicians are paid $78,320 annually. The 3rd state on the list that pays highest salary is Colorado with $77,380 per year. The ultrasound technician salary in California is approximately $74,030 per year. The other states that pay high ultrasound technician salaries are Florida and New York.
How To Become An Ultrasound Technician?
With the ultrasound technician salary being so high, it is no wonder that a lot of people are interested in becoming ultrasound technologists. To become the one, you need to meet ultrasound technician education requirements. You should be a high school graduate having specializations in physics, medical terminology and biology and have completed ultrasound technician programs such as associates certification or degree in medical sonography. This should be earned from an accredited ultrasound technician schools, universities or colleges. An ultrasound tech certificate program that lasts a year is available but is intended for those who are already part of the field of medical care. You could opt for a 2-year program from reputed ultrasound technician schools instead.
Some hospitals also offer certificate programs. The two-year associate degree courses are widely chosen for entering the ultrasound technology sector. You could study further to gain bachelor’s degree. This would normally be a 4-year program. These degrees and courses would teach you a lot about the field of ultrasound sonography. You would then be prepared to take responsibilities and challenges while on the job. If you have higher ultrasound technology educational qualifications you will be more likely to secure a great job and also earn considerable ultrasound technician salary.
More than 150 ultrasound technician programs were accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). In order to complete the ultrasound technician education, you need to study theoretical knowledge and do ultrasound technician training as well. License is not one of the main ultrasound technician requirements. However, with regards to employment conditions of certain employers, you would have to register with American Registry for Medical Sonography. In order to be registered with the organization, you would have to give an exam. Such a license would result in higher ultrasound technician salary. It is also taken as proof that the applicant is competent and capable. You would also have to be fit physically as the profession demands being on your feet for long periods of time and carrying out related procedures repeatedly.