Ultrasound Technician Career Profile

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Ultrasound technicians, also known as sonographers, use special equipment to capture internal images of patients' bodies. These internal images are used to diagnose and treat medical conditions. Unlike x-rays, which use radiation to capture images, sonography emits high-frequency sound waves into patients' bodies. Once images are captured, ultrasound technicians take photographs and/or videotape footage, then transmit these recordings electronically to physicians, who analyze the images.

Many ultrasound technician jobs are performed in hospitals and require knowledge of one or more of the following specialties:

• Obstetric and gynecologic sonography
  Focuses on the female reproductive system, including pregnancies.
  
• Abdominal sonography
  Examines the abdominal organs, including gallbladder, kidneys, and pancreas.
  
• Neurosonography
  Scrutinizes the nervous system, including the brain.
  
• Breast sonography
  Hones in exclusively on breast diseases.

Ultrasound Technician Careers

Ultrasound technicians work regular 40-hour weekly schedules or in shifts. Shift work is more common in hospitals, where many ultrasound technicians have "on call" hours. On-call hours are mostly on evenings and weekends. Some sonographers do contract work for several healthcare facilities in a given area, while others complete out-of-state contracts for extra income. Sonographers occasionally work overtime.

Ultrasound technician jobs require extensive patient and physician interaction, as well as attention to numerous other tasks. Before an exam is performed, the ultrasound technician explains the procedure to the patient, recording relevant medical history. During the exam, sonographers use equipment to take measurements and calculate values in order to capture essential images, and analyze this information for radiology doctors. Although they discuss findings with physicians, sonographers do not discuss images with patients--this is the doctor's role. Ultrasound technicians also maintain equipment and keep patient records. Those with supervisory positions may create work schedules, assess equipment purchases, and manage other employees.

Ultrasound Technician Programs and Schools

Usually, ultrasound technician schools offer either a 2-year associate, or 4-year bachelor's ultrasound technician degree. Some hospitals offer on-the-job ultrasound technician training, but many of these programs require the applicant to have previous experience in another healthcare profession. For instance, x-ray technicians often pursue ultrasound technician hospital training programs.

While ultrasound technicians are not required to be licensed, many employers prefer to hire sonographers registered with professional ultrasound organizations, such as The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). A sonographer who passes the ARDMS exam earns the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) title. Continuing medical education is generally required to retain the designation.

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Ultrasound Technician Employment Outlook

Fifty-nine percent of ultrasound technicians work in hospitals. Others work in doctors' offices, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and outpatient care centers. Ultrasound technician jobs are expected to increase by 18 percent through 2018, revealing a resilience to the recession. While hospitals should continue to employ the most sonographers, the biggest job growth is expected in doctors' offices and medical and diagnostic laboratories.

Additional growth is expected for ultrasound technician careers, as the benefits of ultrasound over radiology are further discovered. Because ultrasound is considered a safer and more cost-effective alternative to radiological procedures, ultrasound technology is expanding rapidly. As this continues, more job growth in ultrasound technology should occur.

Ultrasound Technician Salary Information

Ultrasound technician careers generally require a minimum education level of an associate of science degree and pay a median salary of $63,010. In 2009, the BLS reports an entry-level, ultrasound technology salary ranged from $43,990 to $53,110. The top ten-percent earned a median of $85,950. The states with the highest concentration of ultrasound technicians were Florida, Connecticut, and New Mexico.