Ultrasound technician salary prospects are favorable according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall growth in this industry is expected to be 18% through 2018. This is a higher growth rate than in any other occupational field, and the salaries reflect this high demand.
The median annual ultrasound technician salary as of May, 2008 was $61,980. Salaries vary according to several factors, including length of experience, state of employment, geographic location and urban versus rural setting.
There are several reasons for this high growth and high demand. First of all, the U.S. population is aging, and as Baby Boomers retire and enter their golden years, they will increasingly need this diagnostic procedure. Simultaneously they will be retiring from many positions which include ultrasound technician jobs.
Gen Xers are now entering their child bearing years, and will increasingly need this procedure for its value in obstetrics and gynecology.
Additionally, ultrasound technology is considered far safer and more cost effective than older diagnostic technologies such as x ray technology. Consequently the research and development of ultrasound continues to advance and newer techniques are being developed to expand its use.
At the time of writing this article, the national health care system of the United States is in a state of flux, and unknown factors in the near future may serve to further increase the demand on this profession.
Here is a sampling of the average ultrasound technician salary by state:
New York - $62,000
California - $57,000
Illinois - $57,000
Florida - $52,000
Texas - $51,000
Wash. State - $48,000
As you can see, many of these ultrasound tech salaries are lower than the median figure set forth by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is an indication of the wide range seen within this field due to such factors as experience and rural vs city location.
Generally speaking, states with wide rural areas will pay lower ultrasound technician salaries in those areas than states with large cities. And of course, within states jobs in cities will pay more than jobs in outlying rural locations.
Any accurate overview of the ultrasound technician salary that you can expect is beyond the scope of a single article since it depends on your individual situation.
If you have already been working in the health care industry for over a year, you can expect a somewhat quicker certification as an ultrasound technician and higher pay based on the number of years of experience you have.
If you are still in high school or you have recently graduated from high school and are still a newbie, you will need a minimum two year associate degree with clinical training. After that your salary prospects will necessarily be on the low end of the national the salary spectrum until you have at least a year of experience.
So what is the national ultrasound technician salary range? It is estimated to be $35,224 – $77,259. Once again, this is based on location and experience. With as little as one year of clinical experience, you can expect to grow into the upper echelons of this salary range.