Which is higher, the MRI tech salary or the ultrasound technician salary? There are several factors that should be considered in order to be able to compare the salaries of the MRI technicians and the ultrasound technicians. Education, training, experience and location of employment are some of the deciding factors. This article will summarize the MRI tech salaries versus the ultrasound tech salaries.
Salaries And Wages
The latest MRI tech salary reported from PayScale.com is ranging from $42,363 to $77,242 in 2011. For the ultrasound technician salary reported in this June, sonographers in the USA receive annual salary ranging from $34,838 to $77,539. In terms of the minimum or the lowest salaries received for both professions, MRI tech salary is higher than the salary of ultrasound tech but for the maximum salary paid, both professions have only slight difference and are almost the same. MRI technologist’s hourly rate has an average ranging from $20.66 to $36.11 while the ultrasound sonographers receive an hourly wage ranging from $17.36 to $36.26. There are only slight differences in the two professions in terms of average annual salary and average hourly rate. Whether you decide to pursue ultrasound tech career or MRI tech career, you will be guaranteed to have a high salary.
Location of employment is a reason why salary ranges for all professions have a variation. State of employment is one of the deciding factors of the salary the MRI tech or the ultrasound tech will receive. MRI tech salary in Pennsylvania is the highest among the states, which is ranging from $54,294 to $70,000 while the ultrasound tech salary in PA ranges from $37,095 to $61,059. MRI tech salary in Florida is ranging from $35,000 to $65,496 compared to the higher values in sonographer salary ranging from $28,973 to $81,703. MRI tech salary in California is ranging from $48,605 to $56,000 while ultrasound technician salary in California is between $39,000 and $78,763. The values per location of the salary ranges of the ultrasound technician and MRI technologist have differences and cannot be compared whether who earns more since the salary is based on the location of employment.
Education
Medical Resonance Imaging degree programs are categorized into three including certificate programs, associate degree programs and bachelor degree programs. MRI tech education can be completed by finishing any of the Applied Science in Radiology degree programs for 12 months, two years or four years. Courses include clinical radiography, imaging equipment, pathology, contrast procedures and radiation exposure protection.
Ultrasound technician training programs just like MRI education can also be completed by either one year, two years or four years acquiring a certificate, associate degree or bachelor degrees, respectively. Diagnostic medical Sonography courses include anatomy, physiology, ultrasound sonography principles, medical ethics and many more.
Both professions can be taken in training institutions such as private schools and universities or community colleges. It is more advantageous and will provide several benefits if students take accredited degree programs.
State Licensure
Ultrasound sonographer’s license is optional while MRI tech license is required. While license is one of the ultrasound tech requirements only in some states, MRI technicians have state licensure exams in order to be eligible in applying for the MRI tech jobs.
MRI technician salary and ultrasound technician salary in general have slight differences and they cannot be quantified in terms of which salary is higher since there are various factors to consider.
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