The Average Salary of Ultrasound Technicians in Pennsylvania
Ultrasound technicians, also referred to as diagnostic medical sonographers, use ultrasound technology to take images of various parts of the body. These images can then be used to diagnose a wide variety of conditions. Sonographers can specialize in many different areas including gynecologic sonography, neurosonography and abdominal sonography. For the best employment opportunities, many ultrasound technicians become trained in multiple areas of sonography.
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Average Wages
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean hourly wage for ultrasound technicians in the state of Pennsylvania is $28.03 as of May 2009. The mean annual wage for the same period is $58,300. Ultrasound technicians with earnings in the top 10 percent of their profession made more than $38 an hour, or $79,090 annually. Those in the bottom 10 percent earned less than $20 hourly, or $41,308 a year.
Location
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In Pennsylvania, earnings were highest in Union and Philadelphia, which both have an hourly mean wage of more than $30. Wages were lowest in Pittsburg where the hourly mean wage for ultrasound technicians was $24.86 as of May 2009. Overall, these earnings are in line with the national average, which is $30.60 an hour.
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Considerations
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Official licensure is not a requirement for diagnostic medical sonographers in Pennsylvania. However, voluntary certification is preferred by many employers and may help increase earning potential. The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, American Registry of Radiologic Technologist and Cardiovascular Credentialing International all provide certification for various areas of diagnostic sonography.
Employment Opportunities
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Nationally, employment opportunities for ultrasound technicians are expected in increase by about 18 percent over the 2008 to 2018 decade. This is faster than the national average. As of May 2009, there were 2,170 individuals employed in this field in the state of Pennsylvania.
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