Echocardiography was introduced to the medical industry in the 1960s.
An echocardiography tech is a diagnostic medical technologist who operates ultrasound equipment to produce images of a patient's heart, pulmonary system and blood vessels within the thorax. Physicians and surgeons use the images - called echocardiograms - in their diagnostic process. An echocardiography tech, more commonly called a cardiac sonographer, receives a salary in line with the skill level required of the role. However, the salary can vary according to certain elements of the echocardiography job.
Average Salary
In its occupational employment and wages handbook published in May 2009, the U.S.l Bureau of Labor Statistics listed the mean yearly salary for a cardiovascular technologist, including an echocardiography technician, as $49,730. The median 50 percent of earners earned $48,300 a year, the top 10 percent achieved $76,220 and the lowest earning 10 percent had an average income of $25,940. These figures were based on a survey of 48,070 individuals working in the industry.
Salary by Location
The BLS data also showed how states offer different levels of annual salary to echocardiography techs. Massachusetts had the highest figure at $63,720, followed closely by New Jersey, $63,140. While Florida employed the greatest number of cardiac sonographers, its average salary was just $40,480.
Salary by Experience
Salary data website PayScale.com conducted a survey of cardiac sonographer salaries based on experience in the profession. It showed that the peak earning for a cardiac sonographer is achieved between 10 and 19 years in the field, receiving an average annual wage of $50,900 to $78,330. Compare this to the figures for someone newly entering the field, with less than 12 months of experience -- $30,000 to $47,000.
Salary by Employer
The three primary types of employers for echocardiography techs are hospitals, private medical practices and private companies. As of January 2011, PayScale.com listed the average salaries offered by these employers as $43,339 to $61,902 for hospitals, $44,258 to $61,248 for private practices, and $42,500 to $64,546 for companies.
Prospects
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment opportunities for echocardiography techs and other cardiovascular technologists will grow by more than 20 percent in the years leading to 2018. As such, salaries should remain very competitive. An echocardiography tech may increase his earning potential by training in other imaging technologies, such as X-ray radiology.
Tags: cardiac sonographer, echocardiography tech, Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, echocardiography techs, hospitals private
