### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			diagnostic medical sonographers imageDiagnostic medical sonographers operate special equipment to create images.							
						Quick Facts:     Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians2023     Median Pay
            						$80,850     per year
										$38.87     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Associate's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    142,800Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    10% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    14,200What Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Do
                                                
                        
                        
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians operate special equipment to create images or to conduct tests.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians work in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and offices of physicians. Although most are full time, part-time work is common.
            
                                                How to Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer or Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician
                                                
                        
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians typically need formal education, such as an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate. Employers may require or prefer that workers have certification.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for cardiovascular technologists and technicians was $66,170 in May 2023.									                                														The median annual wage for diagnostic medical sonographers was $84,470 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians is projected to grow							 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 9,600 openings for diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Do 
            

			Diagnostic medical sonographer looking at an image on a computerDiagnostic medical sonographers use high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body.			
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians operate special equipment to create images or conduct tests. They work closely with physicians and surgeons, who view the images and test results to assess and diagnose medical conditions.
Duties
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians typically do the following:
Prepare patients by explaining the procedure to them and answering their questions
Prepare exam rooms and maintain diagnostic imaging equipment
Properly situate patients for imaging
Operate equipment to obtain diagnostic images or to conduct tests
Review images or test results to check for quality and adequate coverage of the areas needed for diagnoses
Analyze results for abnormalities and other diagnostic information and provide a summary of findings to physicians
Record findings and keep track of patients’ records***Diagnostic medical sonographers*** specialize in creating images, known as sonograms or ultrasounds, that depict the body’s organs and tissues. Sonography is often the first imaging test performed when disease is suspected.
Sonography uses high-energy sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. The sonographer uses an instrument called a transducer to scan parts of the patient’s body that are being examined. The transducer emits pulses of sound that bounce back, causing echoes. The echoes form an image on a computer that physicians use for diagnosis.
The following are examples of types of medical sonographers:
*Abdominal sonographers* specialize in imaging a patient’s abdominal cavity and nearby organs, such as the kidney, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. Abdominal sonographers may assist with biopsies or other examinations requiring ultrasound guidance.
*Breast sonographers* specialize in imaging a patient’s breast tissue. Sonography can confirm the presence of cysts and tumors that may have been detected by the patient, the physician, or a mammogram. Breast sonographers assist with procedures that track tumors and help to provide information that will aid physicians in making decisions about treatment options for breast cancer patients.
*Cardiac sonographers* (*echocardiographers*) specialize in imaging a patient’s heart. They use ultrasound equipment to examine the heart’s chambers, valves, and vessels. An echocardiogram may be performed either while the patient is resting or after the patient has been physically active. Cardiac sonographers also may take echocardiograms of fetal hearts so that physicians can diagnose cardiac conditions during pregnancy.
*Musculoskeletal sonographers*specialize in imaging muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. These sonographers may assist with ultrasound guidance for injections, or during surgical procedures, that deliver medication or treatment directly to affected tissues.
*Pediatric sonographers* specialize in imaging of children and infants. Many of the medical conditions they image are associated with premature births or birth defects. Pediatric sonographers may work closely with pediatricians and other caregivers.
*Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers*specialize in imaging the female reproductive system. For example, many pregnant women receive sonograms to track the baby’s growth and health.
*Vascular technologists* (*vascular sonographers*) create images of blood vessels and collect data that help physicians diagnose disorders affecting blood flow. Vascular technologists often evaluate blood flow and identify blocked arteries or blood clots.***Cardiovascular technologists and technicians*** create images and conduct tests involving the heart and lungs. The following are examples of types of cardiovascular technologists and technicians:
*Cardiovascular invasive specialists*, also known as c*ardiac catheterization technologists*or *cardiovascular technologists*, monitor patients’ heart rates and help physicians in diagnosing and treating heart problems. They assist with cardiac catheterization, which involves threading a catheter through a patient’s artery to the heart. They also prepare and monitor patients during open-heart surgery and during insertion of pacemakers, defibrillators, and stents. Technologists may prepare patients for procedures by shaving and cleansing the area into which the catheter will be inserted and by administering topical anesthesia. During the procedure, they monitor the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate.
*Cardiographic or electrocardiogram (EKG) technicians* specialize in EKG testing. EKG machines monitor the heart’s performance through electrodes attached to a patient’s chest, arms, and legs. Tests record heart metrics while the patient is at rest or is physically active, such as walking on a treadmill.
*Pulmonary function technologists* monitor and test patients’ lungs and breathing. For example, they use a spirometer to measure how much and how fast patients can inhale or exhale. These technologists help physicians in diagnosing and treating problems of the pulmonary system.
 Work Environment
			Diagnostic medical sonographer working with a patientDiagnostic medical sonographers may perform procedures at patients'  bedsides.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Cardiovascular technologists and technicians held about 58,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of cardiovascular technologists and technicians were as follows:
        Hospitals; state, local, and private
                76%Offices of physicians
                12Self-employed workers
                4Outpatient care centers
                3Medical and diagnostic laboratories
                1Diagnostic medical sonographers held about 83,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of diagnostic medical sonographers were as follows:
        Hospitals; state, local, and private
                56%Offices of physicians
                24Medical and diagnostic laboratories
                10Outpatient care centers
                4Self-employed workers
                2Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians complete most of their work at diagnostic imaging machines in dimly lit rooms. They may need to stand for long periods and to lift or turn patients who are ill or disabled.
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians work as part of a healthcare team that includes physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, and respiratory therapists.
Work Schedules
Most diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians are full time, although part-time work is common. Because they may work in medical facilities that are always open, they may have shifts that include evenings, weekends, or overnights.
 How to Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer or Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician

			Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologistsCardiovascular education programs typically include a clinical component in which students work in a medical facility.			
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians typically need formal education, such as an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate. Employers may require or prefer that workers have  certification.
Education
High school students who are interested in medical sonography or cardiovascular technology should take classes in anatomy, physiology, physics, and math. EKG technicians may qualify for entry-level jobs with a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Colleges and universities offer both associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in sonography and in cardiovascular technology. One-year certificate programs also are available from colleges and some hospitals.
Sonography and cardiovascular education programs usually include courses in anatomy, medical terminology, and applied sciences. Instruction in sonography programs generally  corresponds to the relevant certification field, such as abdominal sonography or breast sonography. Cardiovascular programs include coursework in either invasive or noninvasive procedures. Programs also typically include a clinical component in which students earn credit while working under the direction of an experienced technologist in a hospital, a physician’s office, or an imaging laboratory.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Employers may prefer to hire diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians who have professional certification, or they may expect applicants to earn certification shortly after being hired. For payment purposes, insurance providers and Medicare may stipulate that a certified sonographer, technologist, or technician perform certain procedures. Certification is available from several organizations, such as the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, Cardiovascular Credentialing International, and National Healthcareer Association.
All diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must pass an exam to earn certification. To sit for the exam, eligibility requirements vary and may include graduating from an accredited program or a combination of education and experience. Certifications are typically for specialties in diagnostic imaging; for example, a sonographer may earn a certification in areas such as abdominal, breast, or pediatric sonography.
In addition, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have basic life support (BLS) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.
States may require diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians to be licensed. Typically, certification is required for licensure; other requirements vary by state. Contact state medical boards for more information.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians work closely with patients, including those who may be in pain, and must be able to explain the procedure in an understandable way. They also must convey information clearly when discussing images with physicians and other members of the healthcare team.
***Detail oriented.*** Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must follow precise instructions to obtain the images needed to diagnose and treat patients. They also must pay attention to the images they produce, because healthy and unhealthy areas may be subtle.
***Hand–eye coordination.*** To get quality images, diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must accurately move equipment on the patient’s body in response to what they see on the screen.
***Physical stamina.*** Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians stand for long periods and must be able to lift and move patients who need assistance.
***Technical skills.*** Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must understand how to operate complex machinery and computerized instruments.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                        Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansMedian annual wages, May 2023Diagnostic medical sonographers$84,470  Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians$80,850  Cardiovascular technologists and technicians$66,170  Health technologists and technicians$51,250  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for cardiovascular technologists and technicians was $66,170 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,620, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $105,140.The median annual wage for diagnostic medical sonographers was $84,470 in May 2023. 


The lowest 10 percent earned less than $63,680, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $116,300.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for cardiovascular technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Outpatient care centers
                $88,200Offices of physicians
                76,470Medical and diagnostic laboratories
                66,580Hospitals; state, local, and private
                63,480In May 2023, the median annual wages for diagnostic medical sonographers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Outpatient care centers
                $122,380Hospitals; state, local, and private
                84,720Offices of physicians
                83,730Medical and diagnostic laboratories
                81,330Most diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians are full time, although part-time work is common. Because they may work in medical facilities that are always open, they may have shifts that include evenings, weekends, or overnights.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                        Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Diagnostic medical sonographers14%  Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians10%  Health technologists and technicians7%  Cardiovascular technologists and technicians4%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians is projected to grow				 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 9,600 openings for diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Projected employment of diagnostic imaging workers varies by occupation (see table). As the large baby-boom population continues to age, the need to diagnose medical conditions that affect older adults—such as blood clots and heart disease—will likely increase. Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians use imaging technology as a tool to help physicians diagnose these conditions. Moreover, these workers will continue to be needed in healthcare settings to provide an alternative to imaging techniques that involve radiation.
			

                        Employment projections data for     diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians**
			—
			142,800
			156,900
			10
			14,200
			—**Cardiovascular technologists and technicians**
			29-2031
			58,900
			61,100
			4
			2,200
			Get data**Diagnostic medical sonographers**
			29-2032
			83,800
			95,800
			14
			12,000
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
					Diagnostic medical sonographers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians**
            Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
            Bachelor's degree
            $60,780**Nuclear Medicine Technologists**
            Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs for imaging or treatment.
            Associate's degree
            $92,500**Radiologic and MRI Technologists**
            Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients. MRI technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to create diagnostic images.
            Associate's degree
            $76,020**Radiation Therapists**
            Radiation therapists administer doses of radiation to patients who have cancer or other serious diseases.
            Associate's degree
            $98,300**Registered Nurses**
            Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions.
            Bachelor's degree
            $86,070
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians, visit
Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals
American Society of Echocardiography
Society for Vascular Ultrasound
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
For more information about certification, visit
American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
Cardiovascular Credentialing International
National Healthcareer Association
For a current list of accredited education programs in medical sonography and cardiovascular technology, visit
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
CareerOneStop
For a career video on cardiovascular technologists and technicians, visit
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
For a career video on diagnostic medical sonographers, visit
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansDiagnostic Medical Sonographers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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