Sonography reads the echoes of sound waves bouncing off an object.
Sonography is a diagnostic medical procedure that uses high frequency sound waves, pitched above the level of human hearing, to produce images of organs, tissues, or blood flow inside the human body. A sonographer is the medical professional responsible for producing these images, which are often crucial in helping physicians and surgeons diagnose afflictions and decide on treatment. Certification is voluntary but is recommended to improve salary expectations.
Average Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) listed the mean yearly salary for a diagnostic medical sonographer as $63,640 as of 2009. This translates into a monthly income of $5,303 and an hourly rate of $30.60. There were 51,630 sonographers employed in the U.S. in 2008. The top 10 percent of earners received an average of $85,950 annually, while the bottom 10 percent earned $43,990.
Salary by Industry
Different sectors of the health care provision industry can offer a diagnostic medical sonographer different levels of salary. The BLS May 2009 data revealed that speciality hospitals paid practitioners an average annual salary higher than general medical and surgical hospitals, $67,070 compared to $63,770. Outpatient care centers were listed as paying $64,560, offices of physicians paid $63,820, and medical and diagnostic laboratories offered a mean yearly wage of $61,820.
Salary by Geography
Massachusetts, Oregon and Colorado topped the list of best-paying states for diagnostic medical sonographers. The BLS listed the average annual salaries in the three states as $78,460, $78,320 and $77,380 respectively. Washington and Alaska completed the top five, listed at $76,980 and $75,500. Alabama was one of the lowest paying states with an average salary of $50,320.
Certification
In order to become a registered sonographer an individual must attend a relevant training program and pass a certification examination. Both universities and hospitals offer training programs, typically lasting two years, leading to an associate degree. It is recommended that candidates attend a program accredited by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as they are considered the industry's standard bearers. The ARDMS also administers national certification examinations for sonographers. It offers certification credentials on passing the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) Examination. A candidate may also take speciality examinations in order to become certified as a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS), a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) or Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT). An individual must complete regular examination to maintain their credentials.
Outlook
While the U.S. BLS predicts that the employment market across all professions in the country will grow by between seven and 13 percent in the years between 2008 and 2018, it estimates that demand for diagnostic medical sonographers will increase by around 18 percent during the same period. The technical development of sonography and its safety and cost-effectiveness in comparison to other medical imaging techniques mean it is being increasingly favored by health-care providers. Certified sonographers should, therefore, continue to achieve excellent salary levels.
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