Medical Sonographer Salary

A sonographer’s job is to take images of the body’s insides by using an ultrasound or sonogram. This procedure is used to aid in diagnosing particular medical situations and also for examining a fetus that is developing. A gadget referred to as a transducer is used by the sonographers to take these images by placing it against the skin of the patient where it transmits sound waves of high-frequency into the body. Sounds are detected as they bounce from the insides of the person and these sounds are sent to be assessed by a specific computer that builds images from this assessment. The outcome images can be seen on a specific monitor, saved on a videotape or printed on paper.

A medical sonographer is responsible for utilizing various devices that produce sound waves to help them to make a medical assessment and diagnosis. They usually work in a doctor’s office and hospitals but they are also able to work in nursing homes, health clinics as well as other facilities that offer patient care. They may specialize in fields like neurosonography or gynecology and medical sonographer salary scales widely varies.

Averages

As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there is a report in 2009 of approximately 51,630 workers in this field. Medical sonographer salary averaged $63,640 a year ($30.60 an hour). The sonographers who earned the most (top 10th percentile) carried home average salaries of $85,950 a year ($41.32 an hour) and those that earned the least (lowest 10th percentile) got $43,990 a year ($21.15 an hour).

Industries That Use Sonographers

Majority of medical sonographers were hired by general, medical as well as surgical hospitals. Here medical sonographer salary was in the average range of $63,770 ($30.66) as reported by BLS. Physicians’ offices employed the second largest group of sonographers where they earn an average salary of $63,820 a year ($30.48).

Industries That Pay The Highest Salaries

According to the BLS, employment services paid medical sonographers the highest salaries in 2009 with averages of $68,020 a year ($32.70 an hour). Management of enterprises and companies industry sector paid the second highest salary average - $67,890 a year ($32.64 an hour).

Differences in Regions

According to the BLS, in 2009 the medical sonographer salary was averaged highest in locations like Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Massachusetts, Santa Cruz (Calif.) and Colorado. Examples of these average salaries are as follows:

•           Alaska - $75,500 a year ($36.30 an hour)

•           Massachusetts - $78,460 a year ($37.72 an hour)

•           Santa Cruz, California (having the highest salary averages) - $97,530 a year ($46.89 an hour).