Ultrasound technicians, also known as diagnostic medical sonographers, operate special imaging equipment to create images of tissue or to conduct tests. These images are called sonograms or ultrasounds. Physicians use these image or test results to assess or diagnose medical conditions or to monitor a baby’s development in the womb.
In this article (and video), you’ll learn about the job duties, types, education requirements (how to become an ultrasound tech), likes and dislikes, and salary information for ultrasound techs or other diagnostic medical sonographers.
Ultrasound Tech (Diagnostic Medical Sonographer) Job Duties
What does an ultrasound tech do on a daily basis? What are the job duties of a diagnostic medical sonographer? These individuals typically do the following tasks:
- Prepare patients for procedures by taking a patient’s 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 other diagnostic information
- Analyze diagnostic information to provide a summary of findings for physicians
- Record findings and keep track of patients’ records
Types of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
There are many different types of diagnostic medical sonographers. Here is a brief overview of some of these common types:
- Abdominal sonographers specialize in imaging a patient’s abdominal cavity and nearby organs, such as the kidney, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, or spleen. Abdominal sonographers may assist with biopsies or other examinations requiring ultrasound guidance.
- Breast sonographers specialize in imaging a patient’s breast tissues. Sonography can confirm the presence of cysts and tumors that may have been detected by the patient, physician, or a mammogram. Breast sonographers work closely with physicians and assist with procedures that track tumors and help to provide information for making decisions about the best treatment options for breast cancer patients.
- Musculoskeletal sonographers specialize in imaging muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. These sonographers may assist with ultrasound guidance for injections, or during surgical procedures, that deliver medication or treatment directly to affected tissues.
- Pediatric sonographers specialize in imaging child and infant patients. Many of the medical conditions they image are associated with premature births or birth defects. Pediatric sonographers may work closely with pediatricians and other caregivers.
- Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers specialize in imaging the female reproductive system. Many pregnant women receive sonograms to track the baby’s growth and health. Obstetrical sonographers work closely with physicians in detecting congenital birth defects.
- Cardiovascular technologists and technicians create images, conduct tests, or assist with surgical procedures involving the heart.
Diagnostic sonography uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. The sonographer uses an instrument called an ultrasound transducer on the parts of the patient’s body that are being examined. The transducer emits pulses of sound that bounce back, causing
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Education Requirements
What are the education requirements to become an ultrasound tech or diagnostic medical sonographer? If you want to know how to become an ultrasound tech, the answer is: It depends. Colleges and universities offer both associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in sonography and in cardiovascular and vascular technology. One-year certificate programs also are available from colleges or hospitals.
Employers typically prefer graduates of programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
In addition to classroom study, most programs also include a clinical component in which students earn credit while working under a more experienced technologist in a hospital, physician’s office, or imaging laboratory.
Most employers prefer to hire diagnostic imaging workers with professional certification. 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 and Cardiovascular Credentialing International.
Diagnostic imaging workers can earn certification by graduating from an accredited program and passing an exam. Most of the certifications are for specialties in diagnostic imaging; for example, a sonographer can earn a certification in abdominal sonography. Most diagnostic imaging workers have at least one certification, but many earn multiple certifications.
Ultrasound Tech (Diagnostic Medical Sonographer) Salary Data
Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is projected to grow 26 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. This is good news for anyone interested in pursuing this as a career. But how much money does an ultrasound tech make? Are diagnostic medical sonographers paid good money?
The average salary for an ultrasound tech was $68,390 per year as of 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average hourly wage for an ultrasound tech (or diagnostic medical sonographer) as $32.88 per hour.
Here are some additional salary and jobs statistics:
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment | Employment RSE | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage | Wage RSE |
| 59,760 | 1.4 % | $32.88 | $68,390 | 0.4 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $22.56 | $26.85 | $32.47 | $38.18 | $45.12 |
| Annual Wage | $46,930 | $55,850 | $67,530 | $79,410 | $93,850 |
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 35,590 | 0.68 | $33.11 | $68,860 |
| Offices of Physicians | 14,830 | 0.60 | $32.46 | $67,510 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | 6,140 | 2.46 | $31.85 | $66,240 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 1,440 | 0.21 | $35.06 | $72,930 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 420 | 0.17 | $36.32 | $75,550 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 420 | 0.17 | $36.32 | $75,550 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 1,440 | 0.21 | $35.06 | $72,930 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 380 | 0.01 | $34.74 | $72,270 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 130 | 0.02 | $34.61 | $71,980 |
| Employment Services | 330 | 0.01 | $34.28 | $71,310 |
Top paying states for this occupation:
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | 4,720 | 0.31 | 0.71 | $43.20 | $89,870 |
| Oregon | 530 | 0.32 | 0.72 | $41.33 | $85,970 |
| District of Columbia | 190 | 0.28 | 0.64 | $40.93 | $85,140 |
| Alaska | 80 | 0.24 | 0.53 | $39.78 | $82,740 |
| Washington | 1,400 | 0.48 | 1.09 | $39.69 | $82,550 |
Lowest paying states for diagnostic medical sonographers:
| Area name | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage | Annual median wage |
| Puerto Rico | 11.69 | 24,320 | 24,190 |
| Alabama | 24.38 | 50,700 | 51,930 |
| Arkansas | 26.32 | 54,740 | 54,450 |
| Mississippi | 26.45 | 55,010 | 56,520 |
| South Dakota | 26.73 | 55,610 | 55,440 |
| West Virginia | 26.80 | 55,740 | 54,890 |
Average salary for ultrasound techs for all 50 states:
| Area name | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage | Annual median wage |
| Alabama | 24.38 | 50,700 | 51,930 |
| Alaska | 39.78 | 82,740 | 84,880 |
| Arizona | 37.02 | 77,000 | 80,370 |
| Arkansas | 26.32 | 54,740 | 54,450 |
| California | 43.20 | 89,870 | 89,760 |
| Colorado | 37.89 | 78,810 | 77,690 |
| Connecticut | 36.12 | 75,130 | 75,630 |
| Delaware | 33.60 | 69,890 | 69,560 |
| District of Columbia | 40.93 | 85,140 | 86,010 |
| Florida | 28.88 | 60,080 | 60,530 |
| Georgia | 29.08 | 60,490 | 60,760 |
| Hawaii | 35.41 | 73,660 | 75,280 |
| Idaho | 29.90 | 62,190 | 61,980 |
| Illinois | 35.00 | 72,800 | 73,570 |
| Indiana | 30.25 | 62,920 | 63,030 |
| Iowa | 29.60 | 61,580 | 60,320 |
| Kansas | 31.76 | 66,060 | 66,810 |
| Kentucky | 27.89 | 58,010 | 58,270 |
| Louisiana | 27.31 | 56,800 | 56,560 |
| Maine | 34.10 | 70,920 | 71,000 |
| Maryland | 34.98 | 72,760 | 72,710 |
| Massachusetts | 37.36 | 77,710 | 80,460 |
| Michigan | 28.82 | 59,950 | 59,440 |
| Minnesota | 36.16 | 75,210 | 74,870 |
| Mississippi | 26.45 | 55,010 | 56,520 |
| Missouri | 32.42 | 67,440 | 67,220 |
| Montana | 33.31 | 69,280 | 69,470 |
| Nebraska | 30.09 | 62,590 | 61,410 |
| Nevada | 36.04 | 74,970 | 74,700 |
| New Hampshire | 36.03 | 74,940 | 75,530 |
| New Jersey | 34.43 | 71,620 | 71,540 |
| New Mexico | 31.53 | 65,580 | 66,650 |
| New York | 32.31 | 67,210 | 67,520 |
| North Carolina | 31.02 | 64,520 | 64,490 |
| North Dakota | 30.32 | 63,060 | 64,770 |
| Ohio | 29.67 | 61,700 | 61,770 |
| Oklahoma | 31.83 | 66,200 | 64,960 |
| Oregon | 41.33 | 85,970 | 87,150 |
| Pennsylvania | 29.64 | 61,640 | 60,400 |
| Puerto Rico | 11.69 | 24,320 | 24,190 |
| Rhode Island | 34.67 | 72,100 | 72,440 |
| South Carolina | 27.23 | 56,640 | 57,910 |
| South Dakota | 26.73 | 55,610 | 55,440 |
| Tennessee | 29.18 | 60,690 | 60,620 |
| Texas | 31.60 | 65,720 | 65,860 |
| Utah | 34.09 | 70,910 | 71,240 |
| Vermont | 33.94 | 70,590 | 71,280 |
| Virginia | 35.55 | 73,950 | 70,940 |
| Washington | 39.69 | 82,550 | 83,350 |
| West Virginia | 26.80 | 55,740 | 54,890 |
| Wisconsin | 37.18 | 77,320 | 78,610 |
| Wyoming | 33.46 | 69,610 | 69,860 |
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, on the Internet at bls.gov.