Ultrasound Technician Career & Average Salary

Are you curious about a career as an ultrasound technician or as a diagnostic medical sonographer? While the titles are different, there is little difference in the job skills or prerequisites for this career. Sonography, or ultrasonography, is a branch of diagnostic imaging that is used to diagnose medical conditions. While this technology often is associated with obstetrics, diagnostic imaging embraces several procedures that aid in diagnosing ailments.

Diagnostic medical sonographers use special equipment to direct nonionizing high frequency sound waves into areas of the patient’s body. Sonographers operate the equipment, which collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be videotaped, transmitted, or photographed for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician. You must be able to explain the procedure to a patient and to record any medical history and subtle clues that contrast healthy areas with unhealthy ones in the patient’s body. You then decide whether the images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes and select the ones to store and show to the physician. Sonographers take measurements, calculate values, and analyze the results in preliminary findings for the physicians.

You also may be asked to keep patient records and to adjust and maintain equipment. You also may prepare work schedules, evaluate equipment purchases, or manage a sonography or diagnostic imaging department. Sonographers also may specialize in various departments, such as obstetrics, abdominal sonography, neurosonography or vascular or cardiac sonography.

Sonographers work in various environments such as hospitals, clinics and may travel as contract employees to several health care facilities. You may be on your feet for long periods of time and may have to lift or turn disabled patients, not to mention the many other day-to-day tasks of an ultrasound technician. The nature of this work can put sonographers at risk for musculoskeletal disorders such as carpel tunnel syndrome, neck and back strain, and eye strain: however, greater use of ergonomic equipment and an increasing awareness can minimize these risks.

Most full-time sonographers work about forty hours per week, but you might expect to work rotation shifts or work at night or on some weekends. Sometimes, sonographers are on call, which means that you must be on hand to report to work on short notice. But, you may learn that the salaries are worth this effort.

Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to increase by about nineteen percent through 2016, or faster than average for all occupations. Increasing the demand for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic technology is expected as the population ages. Therefore, an increased demand also raises expectations for a higher salary.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers were $57,160 in May 2006. The middle fifty percent earned between $48,890 and $67,670 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $77,520. Median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers in May 2006 were $56,970 in offices of physicians and $56,850 in general medical and surgical hospitals.

Top Online Ultrasound Schools

University of Phoenix
AS in Healthcare
University of Phoenix — The University of Phoenix is America's largest accredited online university. With their associate's degree in Health Care, Phoenix offers its students a way to prepare for an entry-level position in the ultrasound technician field.
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Kaplan University
AS in Medical Assisting
AS in Health IT
Kaplan University — Kaplan University is one of the largest accredited online colleges, and their associate's degrees in medical assisting or in health information technology can help you gain the education you need to begin your ultrasound career. This is a fast and flexible degree that can provide the foundation you need for your ultrasound technical career.
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Virginia College Online
AS in Medical Office Admin
BS in Health Services Mgmt
Virginia College Online — If you want to complete a health-based interdisciplinary studies degree online that will prepare you for ultrasound technology as well as for management, then apply for Virginia College's bachelor's degree in Health Services Management or associate's degree in medical office administration. The tuition for each program includes the cost of every textbook for every course.
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DeVry University
AS in Health IT
DeVry University — With their associate's degree in health information technology program, DeVry University prepares students to be HIT leaders in contemporary hospitals, physician's offices, medical clinics, and more.
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Keiser University
AS in Medical Assisting
Keiser University — Apply for Keiser's Medical Assisting associate's degree to fast-track your ultrasound technician career. Learn how to use ultrasound, x-ray and EKG equipment with your training here.
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Carrington College California
AAS in Health IT
AAS in Health Administration
Carrington College California — For students interested in learning more about health claims, ultrasound technology, medical coding, insurance billing, and anatomy and medical terminology, consider the AAS degree in health information technology or the AAS degree in healthcare administration from Carrington College California (formerly known as Western Career College). Upon completion of this program, graduates will be prepared for careers in medical offices, hospitals, and more.
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Brookline College
AS in Health Administration
Brookline College — Graduates of Brookline College's AS in healthcare administration degree program will have real-world knowledge about ethical, legal, and practical issues related to healthcare and will be able to demonstrate their skills in maintaining medical records and being an administrator in a healthcare environment.
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Iowa Central College
AS in Health Administration
Iowa Central College — Iowa Central Community College offers online associate's degree programs in health care administration and human services. The programs comprise 66 credit hours, which can be completed in two years. Iowa Central College is fully accredited by the Institution of Higher Education.
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Lincoln College
AAS in Medical Billing
Lincoln College — The AAS in medical billing degree program from Lincoln College Online teaches students the ins and outs of medical administrative work such as billing and insurance coding. This degree is useful for anyone wishing to advance in his/her career within a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, ultrasound clinics, physician offices, and more.
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San Joaquin Valley College
AS in Medical Assisting
San Joaquin Valley College — San Joaquin Valley College's AS degree in clinical medical assisting is designed to prepare its students with the knowledge of technical, ethical, and social issues required to advance their careers in the healthcare industry, and prepares students for careers in ultrasonography.
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California Coast University
AS in Health Administration
California Coast University — Students looking for placement in an entry-level healthcare management position soon after graduation need look no further than California Coast University's associate's in health care administration degree program.
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Associate's Degrees for Ultrasound Technicians

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