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Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

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What You Need to Know About Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Job Description & Duties Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians.

Life As a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer: What Do They Do?

  • Perform clerical duties, such as scheduling exams or special procedures, keeping records, or archiving computerized images.
  • Supervise or train students or other medical sonographers.
  • Select appropriate equipment settings and adjust patient positions to obtain the best sites and angles.
  • Determine whether scope of exam should be extended, based on findings.
  • Clean, check, and maintain sonographic equipment, submitting maintenance requests or performing minor repairs as necessary.
  • 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.

Things a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Should Know How to Do

When polled, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Other Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Job Titles

  • Sonography Technician
  • Cardiac/Vascular Sonographer
  • Ultrasound Technologist (Ultrasound Tech)
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
  • Sonogram Technician

Is There Job Demand for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers?

In the United States, there were 67,300 jobs for Diagnostic Medical Sonographer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 23.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 15,600 new jobs for Diagnostic Medical Sonographer by 2026. There will be an estimated 5,400 positions for Diagnostic Medical Sonographer per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Diagnostic Medical Sonographer are Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Illinois, or Connecticut. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

The typical yearly salary for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is somewhere between $51,430 and $100,480.

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Diagnostic Medical Sonographers who work in Hawaii, Alaska, or California, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $56,450
Alaska $93,740
Arizona $83,320
Arkansas $63,140
California $92,660
Colorado $83,430
Connecticut $82,370
Delaware $72,230
District of Columbia $90,860
Florida $65,830
Georgia $61,960
Hawaii $94,350
Idaho $80,330
Illinois $76,700
Indiana $68,970
Iowa $68,960
Kansas $72,020
Kentucky $65,790
Louisiana $60,360
Maine $78,220
Maryland $75,270
Massachusetts $83,780
Michigan $61,130
Minnesota $80,390
Mississippi $61,200
Missouri $73,920
Montana $76,700
Nebraska $64,200
Nevada $76,220
New Hampshire $79,680
New Jersey $77,110
New Mexico $63,840
New York $74,960
North Carolina $66,850
North Dakota $70,950
Ohio $65,840
Oklahoma $68,900
Oregon $86,380
Pennsylvania $66,470
Rhode Island $84,990
South Carolina $65,870
South Dakota $60,500
Tennessee $64,080
Texas $71,580
Utah $75,070
Vermont $78,210
Virginia $74,390
Washington $87,960
West Virginia $61,740
Wisconsin $83,670
Wyoming $66,090

Tools & Technologies Used by Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Diagnostic Medical Sonographers:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office
  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Database software
  • MEDITECH software
  • Medical procedure coding software
  • Calendar and scheduling software

How do I Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?

Are there Diagnostic Medical Sonographers education requirements?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?

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Where Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Work

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Diagnostic Medical Sonographers work in the following industries:

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Those thinking about becoming a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

Image Credit: via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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