It is not easy to become a sonogram tech. It takes years of training and certification exams before a person can work as a sonographer. It also takes time to choose the right industry and state to work in, especially when for sonographers who are just starting their careers. A lot of factors come into play when a person chooses to start a career in sonography, the most important being salary and location. California is the most popular state to start a career right now because of great employment levels and annual or hourly income.
Studying sonography
The first hurdle to overcome in becoming a sonogram tech is to find ultrasound tech training schools. There are currently 209 schools in the US in 2014 that offer an educational program in sonography. These schools offer either general or specialized sonography to students, who can be fresh high school graduates or graduates from an allied health profession.
Students who take a sonography program can either get a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor degree. Certificate programs take 12 months to complete, associate degree programs 2 years, and bachelor degree programs 4 years. After completing a sonography program, the sonographer is not ready to sit for the ARDMS certification exam. An ARDMS credential certifies that a sonographer can practice his or her occupation according to the standards set through the US.
Students who take a sonography program can either get a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor degree. Certificate programs take 12 months to complete, associate degree programs 2 years, and bachelor degree programs 4 years. After completing a sonography program, the sonographer is not ready to sit for the ARDMS certification exam. An ARDMS credential certifies that a sonographer can practice his or her occupation according to the standards set through the US.
Highest paying states
Salary or average annual income is one of the biggest factors to consider where to begin your work as a sonographer. Sonographers can earn as low as $40,000 annually to over $100,000, depending on the city or state where he or she works. California is the highest paying state for sonographers, and also the state with the highest employment levels for sonographers. By May 2012, there were 5,180 sonographers working in California earning an hourly wage of $40.49. Annual income in this state amounted to $84,220.
The highest paying area in the US for sonographers is a metropolitan area in California – San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara. There were 270 sonoraphers in that area by May 2012, earning $107,150 annually. In the top ten metropolitan areas that paid sonographers the best, eight of them were in California, with California areas taking up places one through four and six through nine.
The highest paying area in the US for sonographers is a metropolitan area in California – San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara. There were 270 sonoraphers in that area by May 2012, earning $107,150 annually. In the top ten metropolitan areas that paid sonographers the best, eight of them were in California, with California areas taking up places one through four and six through nine.
Highest paying industries
The top paying industry for sonographers by mid-2012 was educational institutions. There were 590 sonographers working in that area, earning $74,940 annually. The other industries in the top five were outpatient centers (1,310 employed, $72,200 annually), company and enterprise management (60 employed, $71,580 annually), specialty hospitals (360 employed, $71,090), and employment services (400 employed, $70,120 annually).
In order to become a sonogram tech, a sonographer has to consider salary and the location of employment above everything. Certain requirements may vary among different states but as long as a sonographer is certified by the ARDMS, for both general sonography and a specialty (if he or she has one), he or she can find work wherever.
In order to become a sonogram tech, a sonographer has to consider salary and the location of employment above everything. Certain requirements may vary among different states but as long as a sonographer is certified by the ARDMS, for both general sonography and a specialty (if he or she has one), he or she can find work wherever.