Knowing what the average ultrasound tech salary is will help you decide if this is the right career field for you. Ultrasound technicians are one of those in-demand workers of today. They are the one who use special equipments that direct high frequency sound waves into areas of their patient’s body.
This equipment aims to collect all the reflected echoes and eventually forms an image that is used for the interpretations and diagnosis by a medical doctor. Because ultrasound technicians are prone to radioactive waves that are harmful to one’s health, these workers should be highly compensated.
Ultrasound Tech Salary
According to the last update of ultrasound tech salary as of May 2009, ultrasound technicians are paid for $63,640 or $30.60 every hour. This gathered data was according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are low paid technicians receiving the salary of $43,990 a year. On the other hand, high paid technicians receive the salary of $85,950 yearly.
Medical technicians working in hospitals earn about $63,770 a year in mean annual ultrasound technician salary. Most of the licensed physicians are employing the second largest number of ultrasound technicians in their hospitals and clinics with 13,290 individuals receiving about $63,820 in salary every year. The third work setting for ultrasound technicians are at the medical and diagnostic laboratories which are known to employ 4,680 technicians. A sonographer that is assigned at the diagnostic laboratories are earning about $61,820 per year.
Earn A Higher Ultrasound Tech Salary
If you are an ultrasound tech and interested in increasing your salary, then working at larger companies is recommended. Ultrasound technicians working at these type of companies are the ones who are helping with the employment services. The ultrasound tech salary at the employment companies are as much as $68,000 or even more every year.
If you move your way up into management you can make as much as $67,890 per year. Ultrasound technicians can also earn high salary when they were assigned to specialty hospitals. They are expected to receive an annual salary around $67,000.
Some professional schools, colleges, and universities are also in need of ultrasound technicians. These institutions are giving about $66,250 to their in-stay technicians per year. Ultrasound technologist working in outpatient centers are generally receiving $64,560 per year.
Aside from the different work settings stated above, geographical locations also play a vital role in the changes of salary. For example, an ultrasound technician that works in Massachusetts can receive about $78,320 per year. On the other hand, the ultrasound technician salary is as much as $77,380 per year at the state of Colorado. Meanwhile, Oregon is paying their sonographers about $78,320 per year.
High Ultrasound Tech Salary Makes The Career A Top Choice
With the high ultrasound tech salary, there is no doubt why lots of people are interested in pursuing a career in this profession. Plenty of colleges and universities are already offering formal ultrasound technician training programs to help the aspiring future ultrasound technicians of the recent generation. The formal training lasts up to two (2) years for an associate’s degree and four (4) years for a bachelor’s degree. Most employers prefer hiring candidates who have gone through accredited ultrasound technician schools.
On 2008, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited over 150 training programs all over the United States of America. Although not all the states are requiring sonographers to be licensed, employers are still requiring their technicians to be registered and certified because this will act as the proof of the capabilities and competence towards their line of work. Being certified is also the best way to insure you receive the highest ultrasound tech salary when you are hired.
