Diagnostic Medical Sonography is an allied health profession that is one of the highest paying occupations in healthcare today. The annual pay for sonographers just falls a little behind registered nurses, but well above other occupations. Because of the great employment opportunities and annual income for sonographers, more and more people in US are choosing to become an ultrasound technician. However, there are different specialties in sonography, from OB-GYN and cardiac sonography. Some specialties earn more than others, and take longer to train in.
General sonography and cardiac sonography education
There are three kinds of ultrasound tech programs that students must choose from, each varying in the length of time needed to complete training. The shortest is a certification or diploma program that takes 12 months. The next is an associate degree that takes 2 years to complete. A bachelor degree program takes the typical 4 years to complete. Associate degree programs are the most popular among the three and can be found in most schools.
General sonography is the most common program offered all over the US; technical and vocational colleges and universities usually carry a general DMS program. Cardiac sonography programs are much harder to find. Out of 209 CAAHEP-accredited schools in the US, only 71 schools offer cardiac sonography training. Training is much lighter than general sonography classes because the program is focused on one body system – the circulatory system.
Studying in a CAAHEP-accredited school is the best way to get a high paying sonography job. When a school is CAAHEP-accredited, its curriculum and clinical experience training meets the standards set by the organization for sonography programs all over the country. CAAHEP-accredited programs also better prepare the students to sit for the ARDMS certification examination.
General sonography is the most common program offered all over the US; technical and vocational colleges and universities usually carry a general DMS program. Cardiac sonography programs are much harder to find. Out of 209 CAAHEP-accredited schools in the US, only 71 schools offer cardiac sonography training. Training is much lighter than general sonography classes because the program is focused on one body system – the circulatory system.
Studying in a CAAHEP-accredited school is the best way to get a high paying sonography job. When a school is CAAHEP-accredited, its curriculum and clinical experience training meets the standards set by the organization for sonography programs all over the country. CAAHEP-accredited programs also better prepare the students to sit for the ARDMS certification examination.
Salary and employment
General sonographers are general practitioners of sonography; they typical perform abdominal and obstetrics and gynecologic sonography. General sonographers earn on average $65,860 annually, according to the May 2012 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment for sonographers was very good during that period, with over 58,800 sonographers employed in the country.
Because finding educational institutions with cardiac sonography programs are much harder to find, the number of employed cardiac sonographers working by May 2012 was less than the number of employed general sonographers. There were over 51,600 cardiovascular technicians working in the US during that period, just a few thousand under the employment levels for general sonographers. With the lower demand for cardiac sonographers, their annual wage was also lower at $52,070. Salary by state and salary by area breakdown can be found through the links.
Because finding educational institutions with cardiac sonography programs are much harder to find, the number of employed cardiac sonographers working by May 2012 was less than the number of employed general sonographers. There were over 51,600 cardiovascular technicians working in the US during that period, just a few thousand under the employment levels for general sonographers. With the lower demand for cardiac sonographers, their annual wage was also lower at $52,070. Salary by state and salary by area breakdown can be found through the links.
Job outlook
The job outlook for ultrasound technicians is much better than cardiovascular technicians because of the generally better statistics for the former. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to increase by 46 percent between 2012 and 2022. This is an additional 27,000 jobs in 10 years. During the same period, a 30 percent increase in employment is predicted for cardiovascular technicians. This means an additional 15,700 jobs created for cardiovascular technicians in 10 years.
If you need to choose a specialty, choose to become an ultrasound technician over a cardiovascular technician. Annual salary, employment, and job outlook for the former is excellent in 2014, similar to the job outlook in the previous year, 2013. While cardiac technician statistics are still better compared to the other occupations, general ultrasound technicians still earn more and have better opportunities.
If you need to choose a specialty, choose to become an ultrasound technician over a cardiovascular technician. Annual salary, employment, and job outlook for the former is excellent in 2014, similar to the job outlook in the previous year, 2013. While cardiac technician statistics are still better compared to the other occupations, general ultrasound technicians still earn more and have better opportunities.