Healthcare professions are among the highest paying jobs in 2014, especially medical technician occupations. Sonographers are highly paid in certain states, industries, and specialties, especially. Many factors interplay in affecting the ultrasound technician salary. However, sonographers generally earn more than other healthcare providers, and more than the nationwide average salary for all professions. Finding your niche in the occupation can be done with the proper training and skills.
Getting trained in a specialty
The easiest way to have a sizeable income as a sonographer is to have a specialty. The average annual salary of a general sonographer was $66,360 in 2012, from the latest release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, sonographers are paid much more if they have a specialty, especially sonographers who specialize in cardiovascular sonography. Cardiovascular sonographers earn between $80,000 and $100,000 in certain states.
Other specialties that pay the sonographers highly are pediatric sonography and neurosonography specialties. With the predicted boom in employment for sonographers of 46% between 2012 and 2022, these values are expected to get much higher. |
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Finding the right industry
Certain industries pay sonographers more than others. The industry that paid sonographers the best were (1) colleges, universities, and professional schools. The other industries that paid sonographers very well were (2) outpatient care centers, (3) management of companies and enterprises, (4) specialty hospitals such as psychiatric hospitals, and (5) employment services.
The statistics for industries were as follows in 2012:
The statistics for industries were as follows in 2012:
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools – 590 employed, annual income $74,940
- Outpatient care centers – 1,310 employed, annual income $72,200
- Management of companies and enterprises – 60 employed, annual income $71,580
- Specialty hospitals – 360 employed, annual income $71,090
- Employment service – 400 employed, annual income $70,120
Choosing a state
Like industry settings, there are states that pay sonographers more, especially if the demand is very high. The top five states that paid sonographers the highest were (1) California, (2) Oregon, (3) Washington, (4) Massachusetts, and (5) Connecticut. All these states paid sonographers around $80,000 annually, well above the nationwide average annual income for sonographers.
The statistics for states were as follows in 2012:
Similarly, these following metropolitan areas paid sonographers the highest: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, and Norwich-New London – all in the state of California. These areas paid sonographers $95,000 to $107,000 annually. With all these facts, becoming a top-paid ultrasound specialist is a breeze. Choose from over 200 schools accredited in 2013 by the CAAHEP to get started on your training.
The statistics for states were as follows in 2012:
- California – 5,180 employed, annual income $84,220
- Oregon – 460 employed, annual income $81,010
- Washington – 1,330 employed, annual income $79,980
- Massachusetts – 1,460 employed, annual income $78,450
- Connecticut – 840 employed, annual income $78,430
Similarly, these following metropolitan areas paid sonographers the highest: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, and Norwich-New London – all in the state of California. These areas paid sonographers $95,000 to $107,000 annually. With all these facts, becoming a top-paid ultrasound specialist is a breeze. Choose from over 200 schools accredited in 2013 by the CAAHEP to get started on your training.