Sonograms have two advantages over x-rays in imaging the interior of the human body. They use sound and not potentially harmful radiation, and they can show organs and other soft tissue. While doctors often use sonograms to diagnose medical conditions, they typically do not create the images themselves. Instead they rely on diagnostic medical sonographers, also called ultrasound technologists.
Duties
As much as a career in sonography requires the technical skills to maintain and operate equipment, it also demands the ability to interact with people. A sonographer must be able to answer questions that patients may have and make them feel comfortable about the procedure. He or she must then analyze the image and send the information to the requesting medical professional.
Education
Sonographers typically require post-secondary training, which can range from a one-year certificate program primarily for those who already work in healthcare to a bachelor degree in sonography that can take four years. Such programs are usually available in vocational programs, community colleges, or for more advanced degrees, universities. An alternative for the busy student is to obtain the degree online, which can be finished in as little as two years. Most employers also demand certification and/or licensing, which requires completing an accredited program and passing an exam.
Salaries
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), sonographers average $67,170 per year. The lowest earners make less than $45,840 while the highest paid receive over $92,070. Most professionals find work in general medical and surgical hospitals, doctors’ offices, and medical and diagnostic labs. The highest-paying employers are outpatient care centers, averaging an annual $73,640, followed by specialty hospitals that do not include psychiatry and substance abuse at a mean $73,220.
Outlook
The BLS expects employment for sonographers to increase by 46 percent from 2012 to 2022. This is four times faster than the 11 percent growth projected for all jobs. Behind the spike is the aging baby-boom population who expect to remain active later in life and who want to diagnose medical conditions that are common in the elderly. Most jobs will come from hospitals, although technological advances mean that equipment can also be set up in doctors’ offices and medical and diagnostic labs.
A career in sonography offers many pluses: high salary, high demand, and the chance to help people. Training can take as little as one year for some, although two to four years is more realistic for most.