What Is the Average Salary for a Certified Ultrasound Technician?
It is generally acknowledged that ultrasound technicians with certification make a higher average salary than those without certification. However, other factors such as location and employer can affect salaries. Read on to find out more about how much professionals in this field can earn.
Certification Information
Ultrasound technicians or diagnostic medical sonographers who have graduated from an accredited ultrasound program may seek certifications that are administrated by ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography). ARDMS offers several certifications, including Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS). ARDMS states on its website that certified technicians earn more than non-certified technicians do. Certification at present is voluntary, but many employers require it. In addition, ASE (American Society of Echocardiography) states that some insurers of healthcare do not pay for work performed by non-certified ultrasound technicians.
| Job Outlook (2016-2026) | 23% (for diagnostic medical sonographers) |
| Required Education | Associate's and bachelor degrees often required along with certification |
| Key Skills | Physical stamina, interpersonal skills, detail-oriented, technical abilities |
| Similar Occupations | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians, Radiologic and MRI Technologists, Nuclear Medicine Technologists |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Overview
According to PayScale.com, ultrasound technicians with the RDMS certification earned a median salary of $67,000 in June 2019. On the other hand, the same source reported that the median salary for ultrasound technicians in general was $56,234 in May of 2019. However, salaries depend on your employer and location as well.
Salary by Employer
While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not report figures for certified ultrasound technicians, it does have salary data for diagnostic medical sonographers in general (www.bls.gov). In May 2018, the BLS reported that most of these professionals earned between $51,430 and $100,480. The largest employer of sonographers was general and surgical hospitals, and the average salary offered by those facilities was $74,180.
Salary by Location
According to the BLS, California, Florida, New York, Texas and Illinois employed the most diagnostic medical sonographers in May 2018. Salaries for these locations ranged from $71,580-$92,660, with Hawaii offering the highest pay of any state.
Of all metropolitan areas, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA, area had the highest employment level and offered an average wage of $76,530, according to May 2018 BLS figures. On the other hand, the highest average wage of $114,250 was found in the Salinas, CA, metro area.