Sonograms help physicians diagnose medical conditions by creating images of the body.
Sonographists are healthcare professionals that perform sonograms, which are often referred to as ultrasounds. Sonograms are diagnostic medical tests that use sound waves to create images of organs and blood traveling within the body. Approximately 50,300 people worked as sonographers in the United States in 2008, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Salary
The median salary of all sonographers was $61,980 as of May of 2008, according to BLS. The middle 50 percent of sonographers earned between $52,570 and $73,680 each year. The top earning 10 percent of sonographers were paid more than $83,950 and the lowest earning 10 percent were paid less than $43,600. The median hourly wage for sonographers in the United States is approximately $32, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Outlook
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for medical sonographers is going to increase by 18 percent through 2018. Job growth for medical sonographers will be created by medical professionals that are starting to use sonograms instead of less safe and more expensive radiologic imaging techniques. New advancements in sonogram technology will also make it possible to perform sonograms on additional parts of the body, which will increase how often sonograms are performed. Demand for sonograms will increase as aging baby boomers in the United States need medical care. There will also be job opportunities for new sonographists as older sonographists retire from the profession.
Training
The majority of sonographers receive their training through two-year, associate degree programs, but some obtain a bachelor's degree. One-year certificate training programs do exist, but the majority of employers prefer hiring sonographers with at least an associate's degree. Training programs for sonographists cover topics like anatomy, physiology, medical ethics and patient care. More than 150 training programs for sonographists exist in the United States, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some sonographers choose to receive specialized training in areas such as obstetrics or cardiology. Sonographers with specialized training usually receive more employment opportunities than those that don't.
Work Environment
Over half of all sonographers work in hospitals, but some work in doctor's offices or with mobile imaging agencies, according to Lansing Community College. They often work in darkrooms at imaging centers, but sometimes perform sonograms at a patient's bedside with a mobile device. The majority of sonographers work 40 hours a week, but some work overnight and weekend hours. In addition, sometimes sonographers are on call and report to a hospital instantly when they're needed.
Tags: United States, Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, Labor Statistics, perform sonograms
