Ultrasound Tech Average Salary

Becoming an ultrasound technician, or sonographer, is a way to become involved in the medical field without a master’s degree or doctorate. With just an associate degree, you can start working in this job field, an this industry is growing faster than average, with the number of jobs expecting to increase by 19% by 2016. Compared to other jobs in the medical world, you can make a large annual salary with minimal education with a degree in ultrasound technology.

Average salary in this career field depends on a number of factors. Nationally, the average hourly wage is $30.12 which means that the average annual salary for ultrasound tech is $62,660, according to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The top ten percent make $83,950 or more, and even the lowest-paid ultrasound techs can expect to make an average of $43,600 per year. That’s not bad considering that you only need two years of schooling to begin working in this industry.

Where you work can determine how much money you’ll make as an ultrasound tech. The top-paying places of employment across the United States include government organizations and colleges/universities, while the highest number of jobs are found in hospitals, physician offices, laboratories, and outpatient care centers. At all of these locations, the annual average salary is above $60,000 per year.

In addition, the state or city in which you live and work can make a huge difference in terms of annual salary. The following states had the highest average salaries for ultrasound technicians as of May 2008:

Oregon: $76,570
Washington: $75,320
Connecticut: $74,260
Massachusetts: $73,690
Alaska: $73,290

One of these states (Connecticut) is also in among the top five states where you can find jobs in this career field. Others include Florida, New Jersey, Alabama, and Tennessee.

In general, you can make more money living in a city than you can living in a more rural area when you are an ultrasound tech. The top metropolitan areas for people pursing a degree in this field, in terms of annual salary averages, are as follows:

Santa Cruz/Watsonville, California: $95,170
Worcester, Massachusetts: $88,500
San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara, California: $87,040
Oakland/Fremont/Hayward, California: $82,010
San Francisco/San Mateo/Redwood City, California: $80,420

It is important to keep in mind that in these cities, cost of living is also higher, so you may make the most bang for your buck in a more rural area or a different city. Luckily, ultrasound technicians are needed across the country, and that need is only rising.

Once you begin working for a hospital, organization, health care company, or other type of employer, there are a few ways in which you can effectively work to raise your annual salary. The employees who most often receive the best annual raises and other bonuses keep the following habits:

Show up to work on time and finish tasks by their given deadlines.
Stay with a single employer for a number of years.
Go back to school to get your bachelor’s degree or participate in certification programs.
Specialize in one area of ultrasound technology.
Make happy customers your top priority so that they speak highly of you to your boss.

This is one of the best entry-level fields in the medical world, and in just a few short years you can start earning money as an ultrasound technician.

Top Online Ultra Sound Tech Colleges

A career in ultrasound or sonography can usually start out with an associate's or bachelor's degree in health science, medical assisting, or even nursing although further education specific to this field will be required in order to advance your career. The schools below can help you start an ultrasound technician career, and we have included links to forms so you can contact them for free.

AS in Health IT	DeVry University — DeVry University's associate's degree in health information technology is a great way to take the first step towards your ultrasound career.In addition, it prepares students to be HIT leaders in contemporary hospitals, physician's offices, medical clinics, and more and can be completed in under two years.
AAS in Medical Assisting AAS in Health IT	Kaplan University — Kaplan University is among the largest accredited online schools, and their associate's degrees in medical assisting or in health information technology can help students start careers in health care. These degrees are not specifically geared toward training ultrasound technicians, and additional training may be needed to begin a diagnostic medical sonography career.
AS in Medical Assisting	Herzing University — The AS in medical assisting degree program from Herzing University presents students with an introduction to a physician's and learning how to assist doctors and nurses in the exam room as well as perform routine medical laboratory procedures. This degree can be applied to future training on ultrasound and sonography equipment.
AS in Medical Assisting	Keiser University — Keiser University offers a Medical Assisting associate's degree through online courses in addition to its campus program. While this degree is not centered on ultrasound, it may help fast-track any career in healthcare or health services assisting and can help you go on to learn how to use ultrasound, x-ray and EKG equipment with your training here.
AS in Health IT	Hodges University — Hodges University's AS in Health Information Technology program teaches students how the latest information technology works with in the healthcare industry for delivery and advancements. Health information technology is used to collect and analyze data from patients and doctors. Health information technology and science are closely tied to sonography although additional training may be required.
AAS in Health IT	Rasmussen College — Rasmussen University's AAS in health information technology program is available online and can be completed in less than two years. While this degree is not focus specifically on ultrasound technology, it does prepare students to become health information technicians, a job which requires knowing how to manage and maintain patient health information, code diagnoses and medical procedures, and organize medical records within databases.
AS in Medical Office Admin BS in Health Services Mgmt	Virginia College Online — If you want a health-based interdisciplinary studies degree online that will prepare you for ultrasound technology as well as for administrative duties, Virginia College's bachelor's degree in Health Services Management or associate's degree in medical office administration are a great choice. These programs use hands-on activities and visual multimedia for a practical education, but additional training may be required to become an ultrasound technician.
AAS in Medical Billing	Lincoln College — The AAS in medical billing degree program from Lincoln College Online teaches students the medical administrative responsibilities of billing and insurance coding. This programs is ideal for starting a career in the healthcare industry and much of the knowledge, skills, and resources gained can be applied to a career in sonography.
AS in Medical Assisting	San Joaquin Valley College — San Joaquin Valley College's AS degree in clinical medical assisting is focus on providing knowledge and insight on the technological and administrative aspect how assisting doctors, nurses, and physicians. This program can play a key role to starting your sonography technician career, but it is not centered around that field.
AAS in Health IT AAS in Health Administration	Carrington College California — While not centered on ultrasound technology, the AAS degree in health information technology as well as the AAS degree in healthcare administration from Carrington College California does provide students with a background they can use to begin healthcare careers and eventually become ultrasound technicians. Upon completion of this program, graduates will be prepared to pursue positions in medical offices, hospitals, and more.
AS in Health Administration	Brookline College — Graduates of Brookline College's AS in healthcare administration degree program will have real-world knowledge about legal, ethical, practical, and technological issues surrounding healthcare. This program is not designed for students to enter the industry as ultrasound technicians, but many administrative and assisting positions can be obtained upon completion of the program.
AS in Health Administration	Iowa Central College — Iowa Central Community College offers associate's degree programs in health care administration and human services through online programs that can be completed from home and in less than two years. This program is likely only the first step towards a career in medical sonography as more training may be required.
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