One of the most common diagnostic examinations performed on the human body is sonography. With the use of high-frequency sound waves sent through the body, images of internal organs and structures are created and interpreted. Because of the rapidly growing population, the need for health care professionals has also grown. Sonography jobs and opportunities are through the roof this 2013 and incoming 2014, with sonogram technician salary at a peak as well.
Sonogram technician job description
A sonogram technician or a sonographer is trained to use the sonogram machine. The machine has a transducer that sends the high frequency sound waves through the body and back to the sonogram’s monitor. It is the sonographers’ job to interpret these images. Sonogram machines are often used in prenatal check-ups for expecting mothers who want to see their babies. They can also be used for breast, cardiac, and neurologic sonography, depending on the specialization of the machine and the sonographer.
Employment and salary
The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was released in early 2013 for the 2012 report. Nationwide, the average sonographer salary was $66,360 annually, with an average hourly wage of $31.90. The median salary was $65,860, with a median hourly wage of $31.66. Sonographers on average, earn the same or more than their counterparts. MRI technician salary was at $65,410 annually in 2012, with a mean hourly wage of $31.45, slightly less than the average salary of a sonographer in the same year. By 2013, the predicted annual salary of sonographers is a $70,000 to $90,000.
Sonographers in different industries
The industries with the highest employment level for sonographers were general hospitals, offices of physicians, diagnostic laboratories, outpatient centers, and professional schools. They employed 34,290, 13,640, 6,010, 1,310, and 590 sonographers in 2012 respectively. Similarly, the highest paying industries that hired sonographers were professional schools, outpatient centers, companies, specialty hospitals, and employment services. They paid sonographers $74,940, $72,200, $71,580, $71,090, and $70,120 annually.
Sonographers in different states
Sonogram technicians earned the most in the following states in 2012: California, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. These states had an annual sonographer salary between $78,430 and $84,220. California also has 8 out 10 of the highest paying metropolitan areas for sonographers. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara in California had 270 sonographers earning $107,150 annually, the highest in the country.
Certification and specialization
Sonography doesn’t have a formal licensing exam that is valid throughout the United States, but two organizations offer certification exams to become certified sonographers: American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Being certified assures sonographers of a better salary because most employers request certification from the ARDMS or ARRT before hire.
Specialization will also improve a sonographer’s salary. Sonographers who are specialized in an area have a starting salary of at least $65,000. The highest paying specialty is cardiac and vascular sonography, with sonographers earning as much as $112,000 annual in 2013. All these factors are able to influence sonogram technician salary all over the country.
Specialization will also improve a sonographer’s salary. Sonographers who are specialized in an area have a starting salary of at least $65,000. The highest paying specialty is cardiac and vascular sonography, with sonographers earning as much as $112,000 annual in 2013. All these factors are able to influence sonogram technician salary all over the country.