25,000+ Sonographer jobs in United States (2024)

FAQs

Are sonographers in demand in USA? ›

Yes, medical sonographers are in high demand across the country. Many hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices and other healthcare facilities are looking for qualified medical sonographers to join their care teams. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand will only continue to grow.

Pay also varies depending upon the technician's geographical location and practice setting. The BLS reports that ultrasound technicians in California, Washington, D.C., and Hawaii earn the highest salaries in the field.

For example, cardiocascular sonography is in high demand as heart disease remains a top health concern. Vascular sonography is also sought-after for its role in assessing risks for stroke, aneurysms, and peripheral artery disease.

Conclusions: From 2011 to 2021, the increase in the number of ultrasound exams has significantly outpaced the increase in the number of sonographers. Furthermore, the increase in demand for sonographers has grown significantly faster than the supply, leading to a shortage and consequent strain on the healthcare system.

AI is a tool that will not replace sonographers but will help them be more efficient.

The short answer is: becoming a Sonographer requires a higher degree of education, often times a 4 year bachelor's degree. Followed by having to pass two board exams to become registered. One exam in ultrasound physics and one in a medical specialty. As far as I know, this is not the case for a radiographer.

California Sonography Jobs Pay Well

When you break it down by local area, California has the only cities in America that average over $100,000 annually. In fact, metropolitan areas in California hold the top six positions for highest annual salaries in the United States.

The average ultrasound technician salary is $81,350 per year as of May 2022's data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,430, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $107,730. Payscale.com, however, reports an annual average salary of $67,298 or $31.46 per hour.

Some specialties, such as OB/GYN, cardiac, and vascular sonography, are more in demand and generally pay more. When you master multiple specialties, you are qualified for jobs that require a range of expertise, and this can boost your salary.

The Challenges of Being an Ultrasound Technician

Long and varying work hours: Sonographers often work in hospitals and clinics that stay open long hours. You could work nights and/or weekends to best serve your patients. Difficult patients: Some patients will be struggling with difficult emotional situations.

What is the highest degree in sonography? ›

If you have managerial and leadership ambitions in the ultrasound health field, you could pursue a master's degree like the Master of Health Science (MHS) with a major in medical sonography. A master's degree program generally takes two years to complete.

The average age of male Diagnostic medical sonographers in the workforce is 47 and of female Diagnostic medical sonographers is 41.2, and the most common race/ethnicity for Diagnostic medical sonographers is White.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that United States hospitals and health systems will need an additional 27,600 sonographers by 2024. However many tenured, experienced sonographers are opting to retire.

Salary for ultrasound technicians in California

Ultrasound technicians in California can earn lucrative salaries in their roles. Statewide, the average salary for sonographers is $108,080 per year . Your salary in this state may vary based on the city in which you work, your level of experience and your employer.

You could argue that nursing degrees cover more complex concepts and require more comprehensive medical knowledge than sonography programs. However, sonography school requires more clinical hours and final exams than nursing school.