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Perfusion Technology

Types of Degrees Perfusion Technology Majors Are Earning

Those studying Perfusion Technology may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Master’s Degree	156

What Perfusion Technology Majors Need to Know

Studies in Perfusion Technology develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Perfusion Technology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Perfusion Technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills emphasized by a Perfusion Technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Perfusion Technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Perfusion Technology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.1 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.9 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	3.8 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Perfusion Technology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Pyxis MedStation software	Inventory management software	—
Structured data entry software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Smart Digital Holter Monitor	Medical software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
MEDITECH software	Medical software	—
JavaScript	Web platform development software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Perfusion Technology graduates include:

• Pulmonary Function Technologist
• Cath Lab Tech (Catheterization Laboratory Technologist)
• Catheterization Laboratory Technician (Cath Lab Tech)
• Electrocardiogram Technician (EKG Tech)
• Perfusionist
• Holter Scanning Technician
• Cardiac Catheterization Technician
• Cardiopulmonary Technician
• ARRT Technologist (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Technologist)
• Electrocardiograph Operator
• Cardiology Technician
• Cardiovascular Operating Room Technologist (CVOR Technologist)
• Echo Technologist (Echocardiogram Technologist)
• Medical Technologist (MT)
• Pulmonary Function Technician

What Can You Do With a Perfusion Technology Degree?

Graduates with a degree in Perfusion Technology commonly enter the following occupations:

Occupation	Job Growth	Median Salary	25th–75th Pctile
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians	-0.3%	$36,739	$30,005–$43,473

^{Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*}

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Perfusion Technology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	38.2%
Master’s degree	15.3%
Doctoral degree	10.6%
Postsecondary certificate	8.6%
Post-doctoral training	8.1%
Bachelor’s degree	6.9%
High school diploma or equivalent	5.7%
Some college courses	4.5%
First professional degree	2.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Perfusion Technology?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 55.1% women and 44.9% men among Perfusion Technology graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	86	55.1%
Men	70	44.9%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Perfusion Technology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	111	71.2%
Asian	10	6.4%
Hispanic or Latino	9	5.8%
Black or African American	6	3.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	1	0.6%
Two or More Races	7	4.5%
Race Unknown	10	6.4%
International Students	1	0.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Perfusion Technology Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Perfusion Technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$67,845
4 years	$61,295
5 years	$69,015

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $69,015 — roughly 2% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Perfusion Technology Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Perfusion Technology graduates earn a median of $61,295 four years after completion — roughly 61% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	90,379
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)	29,337
Physician Associate/Assistant	13,046
Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer	11,777
Surgical Technology/Technologist	7,626
Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician	7,272
Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	6,686
Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist	4,111
Athletic Training/Trainer	3,132
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other	2,445
Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist	1,540
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology/Technician	1,055

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.