Ultrasound Technician

Ultrasound technicians’ work consists primarily of using sound waves to generate images in order to diagnose medical conditions. Ultrasound technicians are also known as sonographers or ultrasonographers.

An ultrasound technician must be adept at mastering technology, have adequate strength and stamina to lift or otherwise assist patients, attention to detail, excellent communication skills and a well-developed bedside manner.

Education and Credentials Required
There are three established ways to learn to become an ultrasound technician: training in a hospital, training from a vocational-technical institution, training from a college or university offering a 2-year or 4-year program, training in the military. There were approximately 102 programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs as of 2003.

Future Prospects
Employment opportunities for ultrasound technicians are expected to rise a lot faster than average. The ageing of the baby boomers drives the increase in demand, along with the tendency for patients to prefer non-radiologic procedures. While hospitals will continue to be the main type of employer, most new jobs will arise in offices of physicians and diagnostic imaging centers.

Salary Range
The median salary, as of 2002, for ultrasound technicians was $48,660. Freelance ultrasound technicians can expect to earn significantly more per hour than salaried ultrasound technicians. Experience, location, skill, reputation, hours worked and other factors impact income. Ultrasound technicians rarely pay for their own health benefits and retirement benefits, as they are rarely self-employed. Hospitals typically employ more ultrasound technicians than doctors’ offices, but private practices pay around $3,000 a year better, on average.