Employment of Sonographers in CaliforniA
California, with a land area of just over 160,000 square miles, is the most populous state in the United States. Its estimated population in 2016 is about 40 million Americans. It had 4,720 sonographers working in the state by May 2014. Overall, 59,760 sonographers were employed in the US during that time. Other states that rounded off the top five for sonographer employment levels were New York, Florida, Texas, and Ohio. But what makes California such an attractive place to work at as a sonographer?
High employment and high salary
California is very popular with sonographers because of two main factors: high employment and high annual salary. Either one of the factors greatly affects the other – either the high employment levels cause high salary or high salary causes high employment levels. Either way, the state has become a very good place for sonographers to look for employment opportunities because of both.
The state actually tops both lists, out of 50 states, for employment and annual salary. This makes sense since most graduates typically ask “How to become a sonographer in California?”, because of the good outlook.
Employment level (mid-2014): 4,720
Salary per annum (average mid-2014): $89,870
The employment salaries of the other four states with the highest employment levels are as follows:
In July 2014 alone, more than 27,000 jobs were created in the state – this rate greatly outpaces the nation’s overall employment growth. Unemployment didn’t budge at a percentage of 7.4%, a good sign that the state is recovering from the past years’ recession, especially since the previous month’s employment rate was higher at 9 percent.
According to Nickelsburg, an economist with UCLA, predicts that though unemployment rate did not decrease in California for the first half of 2014, it would in the next half or within the next several months. The fastest growing sectors in the state are health care and education (as well as professional and business services) – again, another mark of good outlook for sonographers.
As of May 2013 (from the reports by the BLS – Bureau of Labor Statistics), employment levels in the state of California are at 14,714,530, with an average annual salary of $53,030. Despite these low numbers, sonographers earn almost $90,000 a year in the same state, even more for certain specialties like neurosonography where the starting salary is at $80,000 typically.
Sonography training in California
If you live in California or decide to work there, the process in becoming a sonographer is the same as any other state. How long the program (diagnostic medical sonography) is will depend on the trainee, since there are three possible programs to take: certificate, associate, and baccalaureate. The job description of sonographer is the same as well, focusing on medical imaging and analysis, more so than patient care. With these great opportunities in the state, now is the best time to enroll in a school or seek sonographer employment in California.
California is very popular with sonographers because of two main factors: high employment and high annual salary. Either one of the factors greatly affects the other – either the high employment levels cause high salary or high salary causes high employment levels. Either way, the state has become a very good place for sonographers to look for employment opportunities because of both.
The state actually tops both lists, out of 50 states, for employment and annual salary. This makes sense since most graduates typically ask “How to become a sonographer in California?”, because of the good outlook.
Employment level (mid-2014): 4,720
Salary per annum (average mid-2014): $89,870
The employment salaries of the other four states with the highest employment levels are as follows:
- New York – 4,860, $67,210
- Florida – 4,700, $60,080
- Texas – 4,350, $65,720
- Ohio – 2,550, $61,700
In July 2014 alone, more than 27,000 jobs were created in the state – this rate greatly outpaces the nation’s overall employment growth. Unemployment didn’t budge at a percentage of 7.4%, a good sign that the state is recovering from the past years’ recession, especially since the previous month’s employment rate was higher at 9 percent.
According to Nickelsburg, an economist with UCLA, predicts that though unemployment rate did not decrease in California for the first half of 2014, it would in the next half or within the next several months. The fastest growing sectors in the state are health care and education (as well as professional and business services) – again, another mark of good outlook for sonographers.
As of May 2013 (from the reports by the BLS – Bureau of Labor Statistics), employment levels in the state of California are at 14,714,530, with an average annual salary of $53,030. Despite these low numbers, sonographers earn almost $90,000 a year in the same state, even more for certain specialties like neurosonography where the starting salary is at $80,000 typically.
Sonography training in California
If you live in California or decide to work there, the process in becoming a sonographer is the same as any other state. How long the program (diagnostic medical sonography) is will depend on the trainee, since there are three possible programs to take: certificate, associate, and baccalaureate. The job description of sonographer is the same as well, focusing on medical imaging and analysis, more so than patient care. With these great opportunities in the state, now is the best time to enroll in a school or seek sonographer employment in California.