Medical sonography is a diagnostic medical procedure where a transducer is placed on the body and gives off high frequency sound waves to create images of internal organs and structures in the body. An ultrasound technician is a medical technician who is able to operate sonograms, recognize internal structures, and report findings to the physician. Because of good salaries and available employment nationwide, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has predicted a boom in sonographer employment and ultrasound tech salary in 2014.
Nationwide annual salary for sonographers
The latest BLS report on occupation wages was about employment by May 2012. Medical sonographers received on average $66,360 annually or an hourly wage of $31.90. The salary in 2012 was higher than the 2011 salary of $65,210. The median salary in 2012 was $65,860 or an hourly wage of $31.66. Ten percent of the total employed sonographers of 57,700 earned $44,990 annually or $21.63 hourly. Ninety percent earned on average $91,070 annual or $43.78 hourly.
Higher paying industries for sonographers
Employment for sonographers was highest in general medical and surgical hospitals, with over 34,290 sonographers employed, earning $66,390 annually. Sonographers working in colleges, universities, and professional schools amounted to only 590 but were the highest earning among other industries that employed sonographers, with an annual wage of $74,940.
Sonographers in physician offices earned $66,900 annually, with 13,640 employed sonographers. Sonographers in diagnostic laboratories earned $64,340 annually, with 6,010 employed sonographers. Outpatient care centers were the second highest paying industry, with sonographer annual wage at $72,200 and 1,310 employed sonographers.
Sonographers in physician offices earned $66,900 annually, with 13,640 employed sonographers. Sonographers in diagnostic laboratories earned $64,340 annually, with 6,010 employed sonographers. Outpatient care centers were the second highest paying industry, with sonographer annual wage at $72,200 and 1,310 employed sonographers.
Best places to work as a diagnostic medical sonographer
According the 2012 BLS report, the five states with the highest employment of sonographers was California, Florida, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania. The highest paying states were California, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. California employed 5,180 sonographers, and had an annual sonography salary of $84,220. Florida, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania paid $58,760, $64,070, $66,440, and $58,240 annually respectively.
Oregon was the second highest paying state, with $81,010 annual sonographer pay. The next four top paying states paid sonographers $79, 980, $78,450, and $78,430 annually. The highest paying metropolitan area was in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara in California, with an annual mean wage of $107,150 for sonographers.
Oregon was the second highest paying state, with $81,010 annual sonographer pay. The next four top paying states paid sonographers $79, 980, $78,450, and $78,430 annually. The highest paying metropolitan area was in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara in California, with an annual mean wage of $107,150 for sonographers.
Sonography salary in 2014
There is an expected increase in sonographer salaries because of the increase in employed sonographers between 2010 and 2014. An estimated sonographer salary in 2014 is set at $82,000, the highest predicated annual salary. The lowest-paid sonographers earned $53,000 annually while the highest-paid sonographers earned $112,000 annually. Having a specialization and certification, particularly in cardiology, vascular, or neurosonology placed entry-level salaries at $65,000 dollars annually. Ultrasound technology salary in 2014 is the best the occupation has seen in years.