A career as a sonographer is one of the most rewarding careers you can choose. It’s a great fit for people who are detail-oriented and have good communication skills. Since it is not necessarily a cure for others, it is important to develop ultrasound imaging skills to improve your chances of finding employment. Ultrasound technicians can earn $ 45,000 or more annually with no experience.
Ultrasound Technician salary range in Texas: $33,000 to $45,000 per year. Ultrasound Technicians also called diagnostic imaging technicians are professionals who operate medical equipment to take pictures and test on human organs, tissues and muscles. Ultrasound Technician is a highly skilled position with responsibilities ranging from training other technologists to performing tests on pregnant women.
Salary For Ultrasound Tech In Texas Overview
Ultrasound technicians are medical workers who use ultrasound technology to examine various parts of a patient’s body. They typically work in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. Ultrasound techs are also known as sonographers.
The average salary for an ultrasound technician in Texas is $36,000 per year. This includes salaries for entry-level sonographers as well as more experienced sonographers with additional training and certifications.
In addition to their base salary, ultrasound technicians may receive bonuses for working long hours or on weekends. Some employers offer monthly bonuses based on how many patients the ultrasound tech sees each month.
Ultrasound technicians working at hospitals or clinics may also receive benefits such as health insurance coverage (both premiums and copays), dental plans, paid time off (PTO) and sick leave policies that allow them to take vacation days or sick days without having to worry about losing wages if they don’t have enough PTO saved up yet..
What is an Ultrasound Technician?
As an Ultrasound Technician, it’s possible that you can work with many different people, or follow a niche career, like working with pregnant women.
There are Ultrasound Technicians who work with cardiologists, as well as in vascular care, so the type of Ultrasound Technician you choose to be is up to you.
This career is important, as Ultrasound Technicians help prepare patients for procedures and operations, as well as assist with diagnosing and examining issues within the body.
Using ultrasound technology, an Ultrasound technician takes an instrument called a transducer and places it on patients’ bodies to create images of the inside of their body.
Duties
No day is the same for an Ultrasound Technician, as there are many things that they must do throughout the day.
On average, you can find an Ultrasound Technician:
- Perform ultrasounds with a transducer
- Maintain ultrasound equipment
- Explain the procedure to the patient
- Evaluate images from the ultrasound
- Present images and findings to the doctor or medical team
- Maintain patient records
What is the Starting Salary for an Ultrasound Tech?
The average starting salary for a sonographer can be up to about $59,000, or $25.86 an hour, though that can differ depending on the employer and job market. Many different factors can influence the amount an entry-level ultrasound technologist can earn, including whether the tech has obtained an Associate or a Bachelor’s degree in medical sonography.
Students that pursue dual concentrations during their degree program may also be more marketable. For example, receiving certification in both cardiac and vascular sonography may increase employment opportunities. Not all schools offer a degree or certificate in more than one concentration, but many do and it’s something to consider and discuss with the program director.
How to Become an Ultrasound Technician
Step 1 Get an Education
It’s not legally required to possess a degree in order to work as an Ultrasound Technician, but many employers do prefer to hire ones that do.
The most common type of degree is an Associate’s degree in diagnostic medical sonography, which takes about two years to finish.
In this type of program, you will learn all kinds of information about ultrasound and sonography procedures, as well as how to care for patients.
A typical Associates degree program will have courses that include:
- Sonography and Ethics
- Abdominal Sonography
- Sectional Anatomy
- Obstetrics and Gynecological Sonography
- Culture and Diversity
Keep in mind that any program you seek should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Some Ultrasound Technicians choose to earn a Bachelor’s degree, which takes about four years to finish.
In a Bachelor’s degree program, you’ll take the required sonography courses but also have courses like English and math.
Step 2 Gain Experience
While getting a formal education is not mandatory, it’s crucial that you gain hands-on experience as an Ultrasound Technician, especially if you would like to become certified at some point.
To gain experience, you’ll need to find a job.
Most hospitals and doctor’s offices need new Ultrasound Technicians, but it’s possible to work in clinics as well as at private ultrasound companies.
Having at least two years of experience is preferred before you can try to become certified.
Enrolling in an internship while going through an Associate’s degree program is a great way to learn the tricks of the trade and gain experience while going to school.
You could also shadow another Ultrasound Technician or even volunteer at your local hospital.
Step 3 Become Certified
Once you have a couple of years of experience, something may push you to become a Certified Ultrasound Technician.
There are many areas that an Ultrasound Technician can gain certification from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography:
- Abdomen
- Breast
- Echocardiography
- OB/GYN
- Vascular
In order to gain these certifications, you must be a part of the ARDMS and take an exam.
The American Registry for Radiologic Technologists offers 15 different certifications including:
- Mammography
- Registered Radiologist Assistant
- Nuclear Medicine Technology
- Radiography
The Cardiovascular Credentialing International Association offers:
- Certified Cardiac Sonographer
- Advanced Cardiac Sonographer
- Registered Cardiac Sonographer
In order to earn these certifications, you must be enrolled in the association that they are from, and also take an exam to show your competence in the field of sonography.
Step 4 Further Your Career
Becoming certified and gaining education over the years can mean that you want to step out into another career, or gain promotion in your current field.
Having many credentials can help with gaining raises and promotions, but there are some other things that you can do to help further your career.
The first is to pick a specialty, that way you know which direction you want to go into.
Network with others in the community and try and see what other possibilities are out there.
Beyond an Ultrasound Technician, it’s possible to gain employment as:
- MRI Technologist
- CT Technologist
- Senior Ultrasound Technician
- Operational Supervisor
Earning a Masters degree can also help with promotions, this two-year program could lead to a career in:
- Advanced Sonographer
- Lead Pediatric Cardiac Sonographer
- Sonographer Educator
Ultrasound Technician Salary In Texas
The ultrasound technician salary in Texas varies from the salaries in the other states of the US . However, even though an ultrasound pay scale varies from one region to another, it is still evident that the ultrasound professionals are paid a little bit higher than other allied health services professionals. The ultrasound salary in Texas, California, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida are listed as the highest salary for sonographers. Here is a breakdown of sonography salary in Texas.
The average wage in Texas ranges from $17.45 to $31.62 per hour. The average yearly income for the sonographer employed all over Texas starts from $22,073 to $72,129. An average yearly salary of $68,000 is compensated for the technicians in Houston while in Dallas sonographers are given an average pay of $64,000. The ultrasound experts in Tyler and Beaumont have an average compensation of $62,000 while ultrasound sonographers in Brownsville and Austin earn on average $61,000 per year. In Corpus Christi and McAllen, medical sonographers are compensated with an average salary of $60,000. The average salary for those in San Angelo, Texas is $59,000.
Ultrasound technician income in El Paso and San Antonio is on average $58,000 per year while those in Lubbock and Sherman can expect an annual average of $57,000. In Fort Worth and Victoria, diagnostic medical sonographers earn an average of $56,000. Those in College Station, Texarkana and Odessa have an average income of $54,000 per year. All the figures mentioned above are just averages and can still be affected by many factors that could make it higher or lower. Some factors that could alter the salary ranges in Texas are experience (in terms of years in the sonography field), certifications and specializations.
For young professionals and students who are planning to pursue an ultrasound technician career, choosing working in Texas is an intelligent step to be able to have a brighter future ahead. The high salary in Texas as well as the abundance of more opportunities will guarantee all medical sonographers successful careers in the field of ultrasound sonography.
