2015 brings a lot of good news for people looking at a career in ultrasound technology – formally called diagnostic medical sonography in the United States. By mid-2013, a little under 60,000 sonographers were working in the country. Annual salary was great; sonographers earned $67,170 annually on average. In certain cities, salaries went as high as $100,000 per year. Because of great outlook, the number of diagnostic medical sonography schools in Illinois has been experiencing an upward trend as well.
You can read about the 7 accredited diagnostic medical sonography schools in Illinois by clicking the linked text.
Why Illinois?
Illinois is state in the mid-West, ranked 5th out of 50 states in terms of population and 25th in terms of land area. Because of its booming population, its demand for health care professionals and workers continues to increase with each passing year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2013 report on the state revealed sonographer employment at 2,200, with annual salaries at $67,470 average. The annual salary is slightly higher than the nation’s average, with employment roughly half of California’s, the state that ranks first in sonographer employment and annual salary.
Note: California employment during the same time was 4,710 with $86,550 salary.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Schools in Illinois
The predicted trend of sonographer employment and salary for sonographers is continually upward, from 2012 to 2022. This implies that more and more schools will be added to the list of sonography schools in Illinois to accommodate the number of students expected to study sonography in the next ten years. The number of CAAHEP-accredited schools offered sonography degrees is seven. While there are more sonography colleges than seven, not all of them offer students quality training.
1. College of DuPage
2. Harper College
3. John A. Logan College
4. Northwestern Memorial Hospital
5. Rush University
6. Southern Illinois University
7. Triton College
All of the schools on the list have passed the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accreditation process. Take note that the schools themselves are not accredited; their sonography programs are.
Application to any of these schools is pretty straightforward. Requirements typically include high school transcripts, extracurricular activities (school and non-school activities), and completing of specific general ed classes. Bachelor degree programs are the easiest to apply for despite being a longer program, because they only ask for high school records. Associate degree programs as students to finish general ed classes before application while certificate course require students to be allied health course graduates already. Read about major sonography education requirements through the link.
Specialty Training
Similar to other medical professions, sonographers have the option of having a specialization. The specialization can focus on a particular body part, area, system, or even age group. Schools offer four major specialties for sonography training: (1) general, (2) cardiac, (3) vascular, and (4) pediatric cardiac. Other specialties such as breast and abdominal sonography fall under the general specialty.
Compared to Other Medical Jobs
Sonographers are better off than similar medical occupations such as radiography techs. The latter has considerably less annual salary, earning only $56,760 annually. Although, it is worth mentioning that employment rates for these techs are much higher – 194,000 by May 2013. Of course, certain occupations earn more than sonographers, like nursing. There are almost 3 million nurses working the US during the same time period, earning $68,910 annually.
You can read about the 7 accredited diagnostic medical sonography schools in Illinois by clicking the linked text.
Why Illinois?
Illinois is state in the mid-West, ranked 5th out of 50 states in terms of population and 25th in terms of land area. Because of its booming population, its demand for health care professionals and workers continues to increase with each passing year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2013 report on the state revealed sonographer employment at 2,200, with annual salaries at $67,470 average. The annual salary is slightly higher than the nation’s average, with employment roughly half of California’s, the state that ranks first in sonographer employment and annual salary.
Note: California employment during the same time was 4,710 with $86,550 salary.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Schools in Illinois
The predicted trend of sonographer employment and salary for sonographers is continually upward, from 2012 to 2022. This implies that more and more schools will be added to the list of sonography schools in Illinois to accommodate the number of students expected to study sonography in the next ten years. The number of CAAHEP-accredited schools offered sonography degrees is seven. While there are more sonography colleges than seven, not all of them offer students quality training.
1. College of DuPage
2. Harper College
3. John A. Logan College
4. Northwestern Memorial Hospital
5. Rush University
6. Southern Illinois University
7. Triton College
All of the schools on the list have passed the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accreditation process. Take note that the schools themselves are not accredited; their sonography programs are.
Application to any of these schools is pretty straightforward. Requirements typically include high school transcripts, extracurricular activities (school and non-school activities), and completing of specific general ed classes. Bachelor degree programs are the easiest to apply for despite being a longer program, because they only ask for high school records. Associate degree programs as students to finish general ed classes before application while certificate course require students to be allied health course graduates already. Read about major sonography education requirements through the link.
Specialty Training
Similar to other medical professions, sonographers have the option of having a specialization. The specialization can focus on a particular body part, area, system, or even age group. Schools offer four major specialties for sonography training: (1) general, (2) cardiac, (3) vascular, and (4) pediatric cardiac. Other specialties such as breast and abdominal sonography fall under the general specialty.
Compared to Other Medical Jobs
Sonographers are better off than similar medical occupations such as radiography techs. The latter has considerably less annual salary, earning only $56,760 annually. Although, it is worth mentioning that employment rates for these techs are much higher – 194,000 by May 2013. Of course, certain occupations earn more than sonographers, like nursing. There are almost 3 million nurses working the US during the same time period, earning $68,910 annually.