If you’re thinking about going into ultrasound, we’ve made it easy for you to understand the salary expectations for an ultrasound technician in Ohio. We’ve also included some of the top job opportunities by city and state as well as average salary data by region.
Ultrasound tech salaries in Ohio continue to rise as demand for qualified ultrasound technologists continues to grow. The Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information reports that the mean annual wage for full-time ultrasound technicians in Ohio is $62,900 , or nearly $31 an hour. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ohio is projected to create 5,200 new positions in diagnostic medical sonography from 2012 until 2022.
Ultrasound Tech Salary In Ohio Overview
If you’re interested in becoming an ultrasound technician, you should know that the average salary for an Ultrasound Technician in Ohio is $48,320 a year.
Ultrasound technicians are responsible for performing ultrasounds on patients and operating the equipment used to capture images of internal organs or body parts. They work in different settings including hospitals, clinics, and private offices.
There are many different educational pathways that can lead to employment as an ultrasound technician. Some programs may take less than two years while others require more than four years of study. After graduation from an accredited program, students can expect to earn around $20 per hour while they gain experience through internships or clinical rotations.
After gaining experience and passing certification exams, some ultrasound technicians are able to earn more than $70 per hour!
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
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 Ohio
The median annual salary for ultrasound technicians in Ohio was $60,100 in 2013, which was slightly lower than the national median of $66,400. This translated to a median hourly wage of $28.88 for those technicians working in Ohio. For technicians who earned in the top 10%, their salary was $75,600 while those who earned in the bottom 10% averaged $46,900 annually.
The Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information suspects growth at a slower rate than the rest of the nation will experience, but still positive at a 37% increase in total employment between 2010 and 2020. This increase will result in 3,110 technicians being employed in Ohio by 2020, and with the effects of growth and net replacement analysts are projecting 120 annual job openings.
Ohio Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary by Local Area:
| Local Area | Median Hourly Wage | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio (all) | $28.88 | $60,100 |
| Akron, OH | $28.89 | $60,100 |
| Canton – Massillon, OH | $28.94 | $60,200 |
| Cincinnati – Middletown, OH | $29.98 | $62,400 |
| Cleveland – Elyria – Mentor, OH | $29.22 | $60,800 |
| Columbus, OH | $28.77 | $59,800 |
| Dayton, OH | $31.33 | $65,200 |
| Lima, OH | $26.42 | $55,000 |
| Toledo, OH | $29.42 | $61,200 |
| Youngstown – Warren – Boardman, OH | $25.43 | $52,900 |
