The measuring of sound echoes is called the Doppler effect.
An ultrasound tech is a diagnostic medical sonographer who uses ultrasound technology to create images of the inside of the human body. By pulsing sound waves at an object, ultrasound machines can read the echoes that return to create an accurate depiction. The resultant images are used by physicians to diagnose afflictions. An ultrasound tech's pay level depends upon a number of circumstances.
Average Salary
The average salary for a diagnostic medical sonographer, such as an ultrasound technologist, was $63,640 as of May 2009, according to figures published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This translates into a monthly pay packet of $5,303 and an hourly rate of $30.60.
Salary by Location
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also broke down its salary analysis into geographical location. It found that Massachusetts led the field in terms of average salary, offering a mean wage of $78,460, closely followed by Oregon, at $78,320. In contrast, Florida offered $56,030 while Alabama was listed at an average of $50,320.
Salary by Experience
PayScale.com shows that wage levels for diagnostic medical sonographers, such as ultrasound technicians, rises in accordance with the level of experience they have attained. New recruits with less than a year in the sector earned $35,608 to $50,694 as of January 2011. Those with between five and nine years experience could expect levels of $46,614 to $62,262, while 20 years or more could secure a practitioner a wage of between $60,594 and $82,183.
Salary by Employer
An ultrasound tech's salary will also depend upon the nature of her employer. PayScale.com's survey revealed that private practice offered the highest remuneration levels -- $48,215 to $69,158 -- while state and local government agencies had the lowest figures -- between $43,007 and $60,175. Hospitals, which employ almost 60 percent of sonographers in America, offered an average of $39,785 to $60,474.
Outlook
Job opportunities for ultrasound technologists are likely to remain favorable in the immediate future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a rise in demand for diagnostic medical sonographers of approximately 18 percent through to 2018. This will be fueled by an aging population requiring increased diagnostic imaging services. With a buoyant job market, individuals should manage to secure excellent compensation levels.
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