Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
- Education Required
- Colleges and universities offer both associates and bachelors degree programs in sonography and in cardiovascular and vascular technology. One-year certificate programs also are available from colleges and some hospitals.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 17% (Much faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- Most employers prefer to hire diagnostic imaging workers with professional certification, or they may expect applicants to earn certification shortly after being hired. Many insurance providers and Medicare pay for procedures only if a certified sonographer, technologist, or technician performed the work. Certification is available from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Cardiovascular Credentialing International, and American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
- Median pay: How much do Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists make?
- $64,280 Annual Salary
- $30.90 per hour
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians, including vascular technologists, also called diagnostic imaging workers, operate special imaging equipment to create images or conduct tests. The images and test results help physicians assess and diagnose medical conditions. Sonographers and technologists may work closely with physicians and surgeons before, during, and after procedures.
What do Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists do?
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians, including vascular technologists, typically do the following:
- Prepare patients for procedures by taking their medical history and answering any questions about the procedure
- Prepare and maintain diagnostic imaging equipment
- Operate equipment to obtain diagnostic images or to conduct tests
- Review images or test results to check for quality and adequate coverage of the areas needed for diagnoses
- Recognize the difference between normal and abnormal images, and identify other diagnostic information
- Analyze diagnostic information to provide a summary of findings for physicians
- Record findings and keep track of patients records
Careers for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists
- Abdominal sonographers
- Breast sonographers
- Cardiac catheterization laboratory technologists
- Cardiac catheterization technologists
- Cardiac monitor technicians
- Cardiac sonographers
- Cardiac technicians
- Cardiographic technicians
- Cardiopulmonary technologists
- Cardiovascular interventional technologists
- Cardiovascular invasive specialists
- Cardiovascular sonographers
- Cardiovascular technicians
- Cardiovascular technologists
- Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Diagnostic medical sonographers
- EKG technicians
- Echocardiogram technicians
- Echocardiographers
- Echocardiographic technologists
- Echocardiography technicians
- Echocardiology technologists
- Electrocardiogram technicians
- Electrocardiograph operators
- Musculoskeletal sonographers
- Neurosonographers
- Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers
- Pediatric sonographers
- Pulmonary function technologists
- Registered diagnostic medical sonographers
- Sonographers
- Ultrasonographers
- Ultrasound technicians
- Ultrasound technologists
- Vascular sonographers
- Vascular technologists