Sonographer Salary Information
If the term "catching a wave" means more about analyzing sound waves rather than water waves, the field of sonography may be an ideal match. A sonographer, also called a diagnostic medical sonographer or a diagnostic imager, analyzes sound waves in the medical field, using specialty equipment and screens to explore the images produced by the waves. Employed at hospitals, doctors' offices and laboratories, sonographers ride a steady salary wave.
Other People Are Reading
-
Types
-
While a sound wave is a sound wave in any environment, sonographers typically choose a specialty and dive deep into its study. Types of sonography include neurosonographers (the nervous system, brain, neonatal system), breast sonographers, abdominal sonographers (male reproductive system, liver, kidneys, gallbladder) and gynecologic/obstetric sonographers (female reproductive system and pregnancy). The type of sonography chosen as a specialty does not significantly affect salary.
The Facts
-
Across the country, sonographers earned average yearly salaries of $61,980 in May 2008. Sonographers made the highest salaries in Massachusetts ($78,460), Oregon ($78,320) and Colorado ($77,380), but had the highest employment concentrations in Florida, Alabama and Connecticut. While its state didn't make the highest average, California topped the list of the highest-paying metropolitan locations for sonographers, with the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area earning top annual salaries of $97,530 and Santa Clara-Sunnyvale-San Jose coming in next at $92,680.
-
Considerations
-
Employment as a sonographer requires a minimum of a two-year associate's degree in the field (though some one-year sonography programs exist, targeted towards current medical professionals looking to make a lateral move). Four-year bachelor's programs also offer training. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, licensing in sonography is not required, but it may help get your foot in the door in this profession. Credentials and certification are available from organizations such as the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, the Cardiovascular Credentialing International organization and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Outlook
-
The Bureau of Labor Statistics rated sonography as one of the faster moving careers, expecting a total increase in employment of 18 percent through the year 2018.
-
