What do ultrasound techs make

An experienced sonographer who has a neurological specialty can easily make six figures a year. The primary role of a sonographer is to take specialized medical images, using sound waves, procedures that are commonly known as sonograms, ultrasounds or echocardiograms. Day to day, the role involves carrying out a variety of examinations on patients, preparing ultrasound equipment, putting patients at ease, reporting information to doctors and completing medical reports.

Most sonographers start out in general sonography before specializing in one or two areas. Whatever your specialty area, you'll need strong technical skills and the ability to produce detailed work in accordance with a strict safety code.

Your entry point is a formal education, comprising at least an associate's degree in sonography, followed by certification from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Certification is more or less essential, since most medical insurers will pay for an ultrasound only if a certified sonographer performs the exam. Some hospitals and colleges offer one-year certificate programs or you may qualify through a combination of education and experience. All candidates must pass an exam.

Most of the certifications are specialty-specific, for example, a certification in vascular sonography. It's not unusual for a sonographer to earn multiple certifications. Ultrasound technician pay also depends on the area of specialization.

Healthcare professionals will be compensated differently depending on the location they work in. Sonographers may be required to work a variety of shifts at numerous times throughout the day. These shifts include:. A healthcare professional will be compensated depending on the shift they work, especially when they work outside of the traditional Monday through Friday — schedule.

In addition, once an on-call worker is called in to work, they may be compensated at their base wage and receive some type of additional incentive for being utilized during off hours e.

Along with education and amount of experience within the field, location can be an important factor in determining how much money a sonographer will earn.

Income typically corresponds to the cost of living in a specific area. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Below you can see how the salary for an ultrasound tech compares to similar professions. The table reveals that in comparison to related jobs, ultrasound technicians are paid a higher income on average.

The most recent information provided is from the May, BLS update. Typically, the higher and more specialized level of education a person has, the higher their ultrasound technician salary will be. No matter the type of program that you decide to enroll in, make sure that there are clinical classes so that you can earn patient care experience.

This is a four-year commitment for full-time students, and can lead to promotions or raises as an Ultrasound Technician. You will likely have the typical English and math classes in this type of program, but you will also take more advanced and detailed sonography classes.

This can be done by enrolling in an internship, shadowing another Ultrasound Technician, and having clinical studies in school. Once you have several years of experience working as an Ultrasound Technician, you may want to think about entering into a certain niche, whether that be:.

After deciding on a specialty, looking into certification is the next step toward a great career as an Ultrasound Technician. It can take a couple of years of experience to be able to earn a certification as an Ultrasound Technician, but if you are serious about your role, you should consider one. There are several organizations that offer Ultrasound Technician certification, so make sure you find an accredited one.

Each one requires that you become a member, but this opens up a huge network of people to help you in your career. After becoming a member of the respective association, you can begin looking into the prerequisites for credentials. Through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, there are specializations in different areas of the body including:. Most of the exams are year-round for this organization, and all of them are multiple-choice tests.

The American Registry for Radiologic Technologists has another variety of credentials, including:. Through this association, you will only take one exam, regardless of the area that you want to specialize in. The exam is computer-based and can be taken at home or in one of the many facilities across the United States.

The other association, the Cardiovascular Credentialing International Association has its own certifications:. Some of the topics that you can expect on most of the exams are:. The Cardiovascular Credentialing International Association website has much more information about these certifications. In order to gain most certifications as an Ultrasound Technician, you must have at least two years of experience in the field. This is so that employers, as well as patients, know that you are competent in what you are doing.

There are other programs that can help with certification, such as practice tests, but the best program for this career is a hands-on experience.

It looks as if the career of an Ultrasound Technician, as well as other types of medical technicians, will grow around 17 percent over the next decade. The reason for this rise is that technological advancements have made it easier for medical sonographers and Ultrasound Technicians to see various issues within the body.

Not only do Ultrasound Technicians check fetuses, but they can also work with cardiology and vascular areas. Due to the aging baby boomer generation, there will likely be a need for more medical treatments, as well as medical conditions like blood clots and heart attacks increasing with this aging generation. Overall Satisfaction: High It seems that there are many things in this career that Ultrasound Technicians love, like that it is the least stressful job of the medical professional, and great job benefits.

Those who are interested in this career will find more satisfaction when earning certification or stepping into a specialization. Those who work in large populations or in areas with higher socioeconomic statuses will likely make more than people working in small towns or rural areas.

Technological advancements have made it easier to use ultrasounds to diagnose a variety of illnesses. Also, many more preparations are made through ultrasounds for pregnant women, as well as people with cardiac issues, and vascular problems. Depending on the requirements of your employer, it can take anywhere from 2 to four years or more to become an Ultrasound Technician.

In order to be a great Ultrasound Technician, there are certain personality traits that you must possess. This can be a stressful career, however, with these traits you can become a success:.

After certifications and specializations, the salary and promotions can increase for Ultrasound Technicians, especially in larger populations. Ultrasound Technicians who enroll in an Associates degree program should expect it to take about two years to finish. There are other degrees online and at community colleges that can take anywhere from one year to 18 months to complete. Those who work in different areas may take images of the abdomen, or work in mammography providing images of breast tissue.

The advancements in technology have made it easier to complete images of inside the body, which means there are more opportunities for careers in this field. Dental assistants help dentists to provide patient care, keep records, and care for the dental equipment. Dental hygienists take care of cleaning teeth to promote hygiene and help avoid cavities and gum problems. Dialysis technicians maintain and monitor dialysis equipment, and also act as primary caregivers for patients undergoing dialysis treatment.

Healthcare administrators — also known as healthcare executives or health services managers — are responsible for the planning, direction, and coordination of medical and health services. Home health aides provide home care to individuals who require assistance in their day-to-day living.