Ultrasound tech programs are popping up all over the US because of the amazing job opportunities available to sonographers. Job outlook has never been better for this occupation, with high salaries and employment available in all fifty states. Compared to other similar healthcare occupations, sonographers get paid the same or even better.
Studying a CAAHEP-accredited program
If you plan on a career as a sonographer, there are 209 schools in the US with a CAAHEP accredited sonography schools in 2014 (a complete list through the link). CAAHEP-accredited programs are the best to get sonography training because their curricula meet the nationwide standards set throughout all other schools. Out of these 209 schools, only 3 have accredited online or distance education programs.
Becoming a certified and/or licensed sonographer
Sonographers who were trained in accredited programs are best equipped to take the ARDMS certification examination compared to those who weren’t. The ARDMS certification exam serves as a measure of skill and ability to work as a sonographer in a particular state. The exam is given periodically by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
All fifty states in the US do not sonographers to have certificates from the ARDMS to practice sonography. However, most employers will request a certificate before hiring a sonographer. Licensure for practicing sonography has only been approved or proposed in four states – Oregon, New Mexico, West Virginia, and New Jersey. Unlike certification, licenses are mandatory if a sonographer plans on working.
All fifty states in the US do not sonographers to have certificates from the ARDMS to practice sonography. However, most employers will request a certificate before hiring a sonographer. Licensure for practicing sonography has only been approved or proposed in four states – Oregon, New Mexico, West Virginia, and New Jersey. Unlike certification, licenses are mandatory if a sonographer plans on working.
Looking into the job outlook for sonographers
By mid-2012, there were just under 60,000 sonographers working in the entire country. The average annual income for sonographers was $66,360, from an hourly pay of $31.90. Employment is expected to boom between 2012 and 2022 by 46 percent, an additional 27,000 jobs in a ten-year period.
Compared to other similar occupations, sonographers have better job outlook. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians were earning $52,070 annually by mid-2012, with an employment level of 51,600. The predicted boom in employment for them was only 30 percent.
The boom in employment is a little slow for radiologic and MRI techs, only an increase of 21 percent between 2012 and 2022. However, numerically, that is an increase from 229,300 jobs to 277,900 in ten years. The breakdown of that total is 240,800 radiologic techs and 37,200 MRI techs. The pay for radiologic techs and MRI techs is $65,360 and $54,620 respectively.
Compared to other similar occupations, sonographers have better job outlook. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians were earning $52,070 annually by mid-2012, with an employment level of 51,600. The predicted boom in employment for them was only 30 percent.
The boom in employment is a little slow for radiologic and MRI techs, only an increase of 21 percent between 2012 and 2022. However, numerically, that is an increase from 229,300 jobs to 277,900 in ten years. The breakdown of that total is 240,800 radiologic techs and 37,200 MRI techs. The pay for radiologic techs and MRI techs is $65,360 and $54,620 respectively.
Best paying states and industries
The highest paying state and the state with the best employment levels was California. There were over 5,000 sonographers working in CA, earning an annual income of $84,220. The highest paying metropolitan state was also in CA, the area of San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, where 270 sonographers were earning as much as $107,150 annually. In the list of top ten metropolitan areas in the country with the highest pay for sonographers, eight are in California.
Similarly, the highest paying industries were educational institutions. There were 590 sonographers earning an annual income of $74,940 in schools by May 2012. The other industries that rounded up the list of five were outpatient care centers, companies/enterprises, specialty hospitals like substance abuse and psychiatric centers, and employment services.
Because of these amazing statistics, there are more and more people choosing to begin a career in sonography rather than other healthcare occupations by 2014. The number of schools with ultrasound tech programs has also been on an increase since then.
Similarly, the highest paying industries were educational institutions. There were 590 sonographers earning an annual income of $74,940 in schools by May 2012. The other industries that rounded up the list of five were outpatient care centers, companies/enterprises, specialty hospitals like substance abuse and psychiatric centers, and employment services.
Because of these amazing statistics, there are more and more people choosing to begin a career in sonography rather than other healthcare occupations by 2014. The number of schools with ultrasound tech programs has also been on an increase since then.