Career Overview
Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.
Also Known As
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS)
- Sonographer
- Ultrasonographer
Alternate Job Titles
- Cardiac Sonographer
- Cardiovascular Sonographer
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Echo Sonographer (Echocardiograph Sonographer)
- Echo Tech (Echocardiographic Technician)
- Echocardiogram Technician
- Echocardiographer
- Echocardiographic Technologist
- Echocardiography Technician
- Echocardiology Technologist
- Medical Sonographer
- OB/GYN Sonographer (Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonographer)
- Polysomnographic Technician
- Polysomnographic Technologist
- Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Observe screen during scan to ensure that image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes, making adjustments to equipment as required.
- Observe and care for patients throughout examinations to ensure their safety and comfort.
- Provide sonogram and oral or written summary of technical findings to physician for use in medical diagnosis.
- Select appropriate equipment settings and adjust patient positions to obtain the best sites and angles.
- Operate ultrasound equipment to produce and record images of the motion, shape, and composition of blood, organs, tissues, or bodily masses, such as fluid accumulations.
- Decide which images to include, looking for differences between healthy and pathological areas.
- Prepare patient for exam by explaining procedure, transferring patient to ultrasound table, scrubbing skin and applying gel, and positioning patient properly.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Physics
- Medicine and Dentistry
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Speech Recognition
- Inductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Independence
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Tools & Equipment
- 3D sonography equipment
- A-Mode ultrasound machines
- Cardiac ultrasound equipment
- Color Doppler ultrasound equipment
- Continuous-wave ultrasound equipment
- Desktop computers
- Evacuated blood collection tubes
- High frequency transducers
- Immobilization and positioning devices
- Intravenous IV supplies
- Lancets
- Lead barriers
- M-mode ultrasound machines
- Medical ultrasound printers
- Notebook computers
Work Environment
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
- Physical Proximity
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $64,760 |
| Median | $89,340 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $123,170 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 86,460
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $67,260
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $77,660
Neurodiagnostic Technologists
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $48,790
Radiation Therapists
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $101,990
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $88,180
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.