Find Trade Colleges
Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology
Types of Degrees Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology Majors Are Earning
People majoring in Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology may pursue degrees at several award levels.
| Award Level | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Certificate | 1,351 |
| Associate’s Degree | 4,813 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 959 |
| Master’s Degree | 128 |
What Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology Majors Need to Know
Studies in Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology graduates commonly enter.
Knowledge Areas
Coursework in Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
- Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
- English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
- Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
- Education and Training — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
- Administrative — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*
Skills
The skill set emphasized by a Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
- Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
- Speaking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
- Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
- Critical Thinking — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
- Social Perceptiveness — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
Abilities
Innate abilities most relevant to Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:
- Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
- Oral Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
- Written Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
- Written Expression — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
- Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
Common Job Activities
Day-to-day, Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology graduates report doing:
| Activity | Frequency / Importance |
|---|---|
| Getting Information | 4.3 / 7 |
| Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge | 4.3 / 7 |
| Working with Computers | 4.1 / 7 |
| Documenting/Recording Information | 4.1 / 7 |
| Assisting and Caring for Others | 4.1 / 7 |
| Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates | 4.0 / 7 |
| Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships | 4.0 / 7 |
| Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others | 3.9 / 7 |
| Making Decisions and Solving Problems | 3.8 / 7 |
| Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events | 3.8 / 7 |
Technology Skills Used on the Job
Most frequently-cited tools used by Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology professionals:
| Tool / Software | Category | In-Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Calendar and scheduling software | Calendar and scheduling software | — |
| Medical procedure coding software | Medical software | — |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | — |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | — |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | — |
| MEDITECH software | Medical software | — |
| Database software | Data base user interface and query software | — |
| Word processing software | Word processing software | — |
| eClinicalWorks EHR software | Medical software | — |
| Spreadsheet software | Spreadsheet software | — |
| Patient medical record software | Medical software | — |
| Sakai CLE | Computer based training software | — |
Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*
Sample Job Titles
Real job postings for Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology graduates include:
- Vascular Ultrasound Technologist
- Cardiac Sonographer
- Ultrasonic Tester
- Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS)
- Cardiovascular Sonographer
- Polysomnographic Technician
- Polysomnographic Technologist
- Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer
- Travel Ultrasound Technologist
- Ultrasound Technologist (Ultrasound Tech)
- Echocardiogram Technician
- Sonogram Technician
- Echocardiology Technologist
- Echocardiographic Technologist
- Travel OB Ultrasound Tech (Travel Obstetrics Ultrasound Technician)
What Can You Do With a Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology Degree?
Graduates with a degree in Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology commonly enter the following occupations:
| Occupation | Job Growth | Median Salary | 25th–75th Pctile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 3.2% | $91,848 | $73,886–$109,809 |
Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*
Education Typically Required
Across the occupations open to Sonographer/Ultrasound 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) | 35.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 14.9% |
| First professional degree | 12.2% |
| Master’s degree | 9.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.1% |
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Who Is Earning a Degree in Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology?
Gender Distribution
This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 93.2% of Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology degrees.
| Gender | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 6,774 | 93.2% |
| Men | 498 | 6.8% |
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology graduates is as follows:
| Race / Ethnicity | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| White | 3,325 | 45.7% |
| Asian | 510 | 7.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,223 | 30.6% |
| Black or African American | 572 | 7.9% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 33 | 0.5% |
| Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander | 20 | 0.3% |
| Two or More Races | 252 | 3.5% |
| Race Unknown | 302 | 4.2% |
| International Students | 35 | 0.5% |
See minority definition below.
How Much Do Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology Graduates Earn?
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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.
Online Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology Programs
Online study is reported by IPEDS for Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).
| Award Level | Distance-Ed Available | Distance-Ed Only |
|---|---|---|
| Associate’s | 1 | 11 |
| Bachelor’s | 8 | 4 |
| Master’s | 1 | 0 |
Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.
Is a Degree in Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology Worth It?
Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Sonographer/Ultrasound 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:
Explore Sonographer/Ultrasound Technology by State
Alabama
California
District of Columbia
Idaho
Kansas
Maryland
Mississippi
Nevada
New York
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Utah
West Virginia
Alaska
Colorado
Florida
Illinois
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Missouri
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Oregon
South Dakota
Vermont
Wisconsin
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.
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.