Control panel of ultrasound scanner.
A cardiovascular ultrasound technician is a diagnostic medical sonographer who is trained in the use of ultrasound machinery to create images of the human body. Using sound waves, the technique is a non-invasive one that can be a significant aid to physicians and surgeons when making diagnoses and proposing treatments. A technician's salary reflects her level of skill and her employment circumstances.
Average Earnings
In its occupational employment and wages survey of May 2009 the Bureau of Labor Statistics canvassed 51,630 individuals working as diagnostic sonographers in America and determined the mean annual wage to be $63,640. This translates into an hourly rate of $30.60. An individual may also be eligible for benefits such as pension provision and profit sharing.
Earnings by Employer
The May 2009 data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics also detailed how mean salaries for cardiovascular technologists and technicians varied across different sectors of the medical field. Among the highest-paying employers were speciality hospitals at $67,070, colleges, universities and professional schools at $66,250 and outpatient care centers at $64,560.
Earnings by Experience
In terms of experience, PayScale.com found that, as of January 2011, the peak earning years for a cardiovascular ultrasound technician were those between 10 and 19 years in the profession ($50,900 to $78,330). For those just starting out in the position, the average salary was between $30,000 and $47,000, while the accrual of between 1 and 4 years of experience saw the level rise to between $39,190 and $55,672.
Earnings by Location
Website PayScale.com published figures in January 2011 that portrayed the range of salaries available to a cardiovascular sonographer in different states across America. California offered by far the broadest range and highest level of salary at $45,000 to $82,132 , while Louisiana ($43,236 to $62,363), Ohio ($43,745 to $61,674) and New York ($39,663 to $61,562) trailed.
Prospects
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that demand for all types of diagnostic medical sonographers, including cardiovascular ultrasound technicians, will rise by around 18 percent in the decade between 2008 and 2018. Two factors are highlighted to account for this rise: an aging American population fuelling an expansion of the medical industry as a whole and the cost-effectiveness of non-invasive treatments such as ultrasound making employer's favor them. As a result, cardiovascular ultrasound technicians should continue to secure competitive salary levels.
Tags: Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, Labor Statistics, between years, cardiovascular ultrasound