California is a popular choice for sonographers because it was both the top-paying state and the state with the highest level of employment of sonographers in the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 2012. The top-paying metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in the country are also located in California. Because the employment opportunities in the state are great compared to others, sonographers continue to flock to California to look for ultrasound technician schools in the Bay area.
A look into sonography in California
In 2012, there were 57,000 sonographers employed in the United States. Out of these, 5,180 sonographers were employed in California. The nationwide average annual salary was at $66,360 while the annual salary in California was at $84,220. There is a difference of almost $18,000 in the annual salary for the entire nation and in the state of California alone. Sonographers who were working in this state were earning $40.49 per hour while the average nationwide was only $31.90.
The top paying metropolitan area in the country was San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara in California with an hourly mean wage of $51.52 an annual mean wage of $107,150. There were 270 sonographers employed in this area in 2012. The top paying nonmetropolitan area was also in California, in the Northern Mountains Region of California. The 30 sonographers who worked here earned $44.33 hourly and had an annual mean salary of $92,200.
The top paying metropolitan area in the country was San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara in California with an hourly mean wage of $51.52 an annual mean wage of $107,150. There were 270 sonographers employed in this area in 2012. The top paying nonmetropolitan area was also in California, in the Northern Mountains Region of California. The 30 sonographers who worked here earned $44.33 hourly and had an annual mean salary of $92,200.
Schools in the Bay Area
As of 2013, there are no sonography schools in Bay Area – San Francisco - that are accredited by the CAAHEP. In the country, there are over 200 accredited schools (this directory has the complete list) that have the DMS program. There are only nine accredited schools in the state of California that offer the diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) program.
Here are five schools in California that are accredited by the CAAHEP (a complete list of schools in California can be found through the link):
Loma Linda University
Certificate in General Sonography
Certificate in Cardiac Sonography
Certificate in Vascular Sonography
11234 Anderson St., Nichol Hall, Loma Linda
www.llu.edu
Contact details: Marie Delange / [email protected] / 909-558-4931
Santa Barbara City College
Certificate in General Sonography
721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara
www.sbcc.edu
Contact details: Debra Von Bernuth / [email protected] / 805-965-0581
Cypress College
Certificate in General Sonography
9200 Valley View Street, Cypress
www.cypresscollege.edu
Contact details: Lynn Mitts / [email protected] / 714-484-7221
Orange Coast College
Associate degree in General Sonography
2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa
www.orangecoastcollege.edu
Contact details: Cynthia Lynn Reber Bonhall / [email protected] / 714-432-5531
Other schools in California that are accredited by CAAHEP are Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences, Community Regional Medical Center, University of California San Diego Medical Center, Platt College Los Angeles, and Foothill College. All these colleges offer certificate, associate degree, and/or bachelor degree programs for diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) with curriculums that meet the standards of the CAAHEP.
Because the demand for sonographers (and in turn, sonography schools) is predicted to get bigger this 2014, students can expect that there will be more ultrasound technician schools in the Bay Area that will become accredited by the CAAHEP. The list of 200 schools is constantly growing, especially in California. Aspiring sonographers are sure to find an accredited school near them.
Here are five schools in California that are accredited by the CAAHEP (a complete list of schools in California can be found through the link):
Loma Linda University
Certificate in General Sonography
Certificate in Cardiac Sonography
Certificate in Vascular Sonography
11234 Anderson St., Nichol Hall, Loma Linda
www.llu.edu
Contact details: Marie Delange / [email protected] / 909-558-4931
Santa Barbara City College
Certificate in General Sonography
721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara
www.sbcc.edu
Contact details: Debra Von Bernuth / [email protected] / 805-965-0581
Cypress College
Certificate in General Sonography
9200 Valley View Street, Cypress
www.cypresscollege.edu
Contact details: Lynn Mitts / [email protected] / 714-484-7221
Orange Coast College
Associate degree in General Sonography
2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa
www.orangecoastcollege.edu
Contact details: Cynthia Lynn Reber Bonhall / [email protected] / 714-432-5531
Other schools in California that are accredited by CAAHEP are Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences, Community Regional Medical Center, University of California San Diego Medical Center, Platt College Los Angeles, and Foothill College. All these colleges offer certificate, associate degree, and/or bachelor degree programs for diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) with curriculums that meet the standards of the CAAHEP.
Because the demand for sonographers (and in turn, sonography schools) is predicted to get bigger this 2014, students can expect that there will be more ultrasound technician schools in the Bay Area that will become accredited by the CAAHEP. The list of 200 schools is constantly growing, especially in California. Aspiring sonographers are sure to find an accredited school near them.