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Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians: Job Description
Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.
What Do Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Take On?
Typical responsibilities of cardiovascular technologists and technicians include:
- Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
- Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
- Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
- Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
- Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
- Prepare and position patients for testing.
- Attach electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operate the EKG machine to obtain a reading.
- Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.
What Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Need to Know
Successful cardiovascular technologists and technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- ARRT Technologist (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Technologist)
- Cardiac Cath Lab Tech (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technician)
- Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technologist)
- Cardiac Catheterization Special Procedures Technologist
- Cardiac Catheterization Technician
- Cardiac Catheterization Technologist
- Cardiac Monitor Technician
- Cardiac Technician
How Many Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Are There?
There are about 1,636,296 cardiovascular technologists and technicians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -0.3% over the projection horizon.
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $36,739 |
| Hourly median | $17.66 |
| 10th percentile | $23,271 |
| 25th percentile | $30,005 |
| 75th percentile | $43,473 |
| 90th percentile | $50,208 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $118,510 |
| Hawaii | $107,910 |
| Massachusetts | $101,980 |
| Rhode Island | $100,040 |
| Idaho | $98,140 |
| Oregon | $96,550 |
| Utah | $89,420 |
| New York | $86,050 |
| District of Columbia | $86,010 |
| Colorado | $85,710 |
| New Hampshire | $85,630 |
| New Jersey | $81,160 |
| Wyoming | $80,930 |
| Maryland | $80,780 |
| Connecticut | $80,390 |
| Maine | $79,730 |
| Delaware | $79,550 |
| Virginia | $78,720 |
| Michigan | $78,480 |
| Ohio | $77,790 |
| Missouri | $76,640 |
| Washington | $76,470 |
| Montana | $76,370 |
| Illinois | $73,600 |
| Arkansas | $70,930 |
| Kansas | $70,220 |
| Georgia | $69,490 |
| Minnesota | $69,480 |
| North Dakota | $68,860 |
| Iowa | $68,840 |
| Wisconsin | $68,630 |
| Vermont | $68,030 |
| Indiana | $67,970 |
| Arizona | $65,720 |
| California | $64,720 |
| South Dakota | $64,720 |
| Florida | $64,000 |
| Tennessee | $63,940 |
| South Carolina | $63,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,920 |
| Nebraska | $60,670 |
| Kentucky | $58,660 |
| North Carolina | $58,050 |
| Louisiana | $53,610 |
| Nevada | $50,430 |
| Texas | $47,970 |
| Alabama | $45,280 |
| Mississippi | $45,120 |
| New Mexico | $41,860 |
| Oklahoma | $40,970 |
| West Virginia | $35,640 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,240 |
Where Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Earn the Most
Compensation for cardiovascular technologists and technicians shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $92,181 | 3.7% | 0.80 |
| Rocky Mountains | $87,352 | 2.9% | 0.81 |
| Middle Atlantic | $76,597 | 17.4% | 1.24 |
| Great Lakes | $74,429 | 12.9% | 0.96 |
| Plains States | $70,269 | 5.3% | 0.79 |
| Far Western US | $69,292 | 13.6% | 0.82 |
| Southeast | $63,095 | 30.6% | 1.31 |
| Southwest | $50,933 | 12.7% | 1.03 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $124,300 | 210 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $118,510 | 70 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $107,910 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $104,930 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | CA | $103,900 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $103,360 | 830 |
| New Haven, CT | CT | $102,520 | 100 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | UT | $98,690 | 80 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of cardiovascular technologists and technicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 59,530 | $67,260 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 660 | $86,560 |
| Educational Services | 360 | $84,950 |
Below are examples of industries where cardiovascular technologists and technicians work:
Tools and Technology
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Physical Proximity
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How to Become Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Entry-level cardiovascular technologists and technicians positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Radiation Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Respiratory Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Radiologists (Supplemental)
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
- Pediatric Surgeons (Supplemental)
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring cardiovascular technologists and technicians typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
4 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2031.00 (Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians).
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