Healthcare is a diverse field where different kinds of career options emerge. Diagnostic medical sonography is one of the sought-after career segments. It perfectly combines patient care, technical skills, and advanced imaging technology to diagnose various medical conditions. If you are looking forward to pursuing this career option, then you should know about ultrasound tech salary. Once you know the salary, then you will understand whether it is worth choosing this career or not. Today, in this blog, you will get to know everything about ultrasound tech salary.
The Roles and Responsibilities of an Ultrasound Technician
Prior to knowing about the ultrasound tech salary, it is important for you to have an idea about the roles and responsibilities of an ultrasound tech. Once you take a peek at their job, then you will understand whether this profession interests you or not.
An ultrasound technician operates various ultrasound equipment to generate images of different internal tissues, organs and blood flow. With the help of these images, the doctors do their diagnosis and treatment accordingly. This segment has other specializations such as cardiovascular sonography, abdominal sonography, and obstetric sonography.
Ultrasound Tech Salary: How Much They Make
In the USA, the ultrasound tech salary is different in different states. The national average ultrasound tech salary stand around $75,000 per year, according to the data collected by the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics). $30-$40 is the hourly rate.
What are the Essential Factors Impacting Ultrasound Tech Salary?
There are several factors that determine and impact the ultrasound tech salary, such as specialization, education, experience, and location. Some of these factors are described below:
Location – Ultrasound Tech Salary
The location is one of the main factors determining and impacting ultrasound tech salary. The demand of professional sonographers and cost of living determine their salaries. You are supposed to get higher ultrasound tech salary in states like Massachusetts, New York, and California due to higher demand for ultrasound technician and higher living costs.
For example, the average ultrasound tech salary in California stands at $95,000 per year, while Texas and Florida offer ultrasound tech salary of $80,000 per year and $70,000 per year respectively.
Specialization – Ultrasound Tech Salary
Specialization is another essential factor determining ultrasound tech salary. For instance, a cardiac sonographer, on average, can earn somewhere within the range of $85,000-$1000,000, while an obstetric sonographer earns within the range of $75,000-$90,000. On the other hand, the average salary for a vascular tech stands around $80,000-$95,000.
Experience – Ultrasound Tech Salary
Experience counts when it comes to having an ultrasound tech salary. The more experience someone has, the higher the salary he is supposed to have. The starting salary stands at $55,000, which can go upto as much as $100,000 depending on the experience.
Type of Employer – Ultrasound Tech Salary
The type of employer is another essential aspect in determining the ultrasound tech salary. If you choose to work at some hospital then you would get higher salaries than working at some private practice or outpatient clinic. The salaries at hospitals ranges from $80,000-$95,000 per year while the same for outpatient clinics is in the range of #70,000-$85,000. It all depends on where you wish to work as per your personal preference.
Education and Certification – Ultrasound Tech Salary
Your education and certification are another vital aspect that determines your ultrasound tech salary. Credentials and certification from organizations like ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) increase your chance of getting higher salaries and opportunities in the USA.
Different Ultrasound Tech Salaries in Different Settings
In the USA, ultrasound tech salaries are likely to be different in different settings. Depending on whether you work at some hospital, private practice, or outpatient clinic, your salary will be different.
Hospitals
If you wish to get the highest ultrasound tech salary, then you need to work at hospitals. Hospitals provide the best benefits and highest salaries to their ultrasound technicians. One is supposed to get an average salary of $85,000 per year, which is the highest in the USA.
Outpatient Clinics
After hospitals, outpatient clinics pay the second highest salary. The average ultrasound tech salary that you could get at some outpatient clinic is within the range of $70,000-$80,000.
Private Practices
If you decide to do practices privately, then you would be able to earn within the range of $65,000-$75,000 annually. It comes with the option of flexible hours.
Travel Sonographers
As the name suggests, these are just some of the temporary sonographers’ positions. The travel sonographers get to earn a premium for their willingness to relocate and flexibility. If you decide to work as a traveling sonographer, then you can, on average, earn within the range of $90,000-$120,000 annually, depending on the assignments you get. This is more than the average national ultrasound tech salary.
Are There Any Other Benefits Beyond Salary?
Other than ultrasound tech salary, you are also supposed enjoy some other perks and benefits in this profession. This is what makes this profession a lucrative career option for individuals to choose.
Health Insurance
You are to get comprehensive health insurance for you and your families if you work as an ultrasound technician at some hospital or private clinic.
Retirement Plan
Getting 401(k) retirement plan is another benefit that you are supposed to enjoy. It will secure your post-retirement life.
PTO (Paid Time Off)
This is another benefit for you to consider, where you get holidays, sick leaves, and generous vacations.
Additional Education
Your employers often sponsor your additional education, certifications, or training as and when required for this profession.
Incentives and Bonuses
In some work settings, you also get to receive incentives and bonuses in accordance with your performance.
Tips to Raise Your Ultrasound Tech Salary
While working as an ultrasound technician, you can increase your salary by following the tips and tricks below.
Get Advanced Certifications
You are required to get advanced certifications in regard to your ultrasound tech degree. It will help you receive a higher salary than what you are getting at present.
Have Experience
The more experience you have, the higher salary you will be able to command. Gaining salaries is the best way to hike your ultrasound tech salary.
Relocate
Relocating to other high-paying states in the USA is another useful option for you to consider in order to increase your ultrasound tech salary. For instance, if you can move to states like Washington, Massachusetts, or California, then you would be able to get a higher salary easily.
Opt for a High-Demand Specialization
You also have the option of selecting some high-demand specialization like neonatal sonography or cardiovascular sonography to get higher ultrasound tech salary.
How Can You Become an Ultrasound Tech?
If you want to pursue a career in ultrasound tech, you are required to get a suitable degree in diagnostic medical sonography. There are various universities, technical schools, and community colleges offering such programs for you to choose from in accordance with your needs and preferences. Once you are done with your education, you will be required to get a certification from an organization like ARDMS.
Is It Worth It?
If you are thinking about whether it is worth becoming an ultrasound tech or not, then you should know that it all comes down to personal choice. Overall, it is an excellent choice to become a professional ultrasound tech for various reasons. Apart from the attractive salary, the other perks and benefits are also quite appealing. This career option also comes with higher job security. All these things have made this profession highly sought-after.
Conclusion
Ultrasound tech salary is quite an attractive aspect to consider for those who wish to pursue this career path. The salary of an ultrasound professional depends on various factors like location, type of employer, education, experience among other things. Apart from lucrative salaries, this profession also comes with other perks and benefits making this career option quite sought-after.
If you wish to become an ultrasound technician, then you are required to get a degree in diagnostic medical sonography. After getting a suitable degree, you are also supposed to get a certification from organizations like ARDMS. This will make you eligible and worthy of applying for suitable jobs. So what are you waiting for? Start your journey towards becoming an ultrasound tech today.
FAQs
What is the Average Sonographer’s Salary in America?
Ans: $75,000 is the average ultrasound technician salary in the USA depending on several factors associated with it.
How Much Do Ultrasound Techs Make Per Year?
Ans: They can make anywhere between $55,000-$100,000 depending on different associated factors like location, experience, education, type of employer etc.
What is the Average Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary with Specialization?
Ans: In this regard, the average salary could be within the range of $85,000-$100,000, depending on whether you work as a vascular sonographer or cardiac sonographer.
How Much Does an Ultrasound Tech Make in the State of California?
Ans: A professional ultrasound specialist is supposed to make around $95,000 annually in the state of California. This amount can go higher depending on various factors like certification, experience, and type of employer.
How Much Does Ultrasound Tech Make in New York?
Ans: The average ultrasound tech pay in New York stands around $90,000 per year which can fluctuate depending on several factors.
What Other Benefits are there Other than Ultrasound Salary?
Ans: There other benefits given in ultrasound tech job are suitable healthcare for the employee and his/her families, retirement plan, job security, and other perks.
