Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
A Diagnostic Medical Sonographer—also called an Ultrasound Technician or Sonography Tech—is a specialized healthcare professional who uses sophisticated ultrasound equipment to create real-time images of the body's internal organs, tissues, and blood flow. Using high-frequency sound waves rather than radiation, you'll produce sonograms that physicians rely on to diagnose conditions ranging from tumors to monitoring fetal development. This makes sonography one of the safest imaging modalities available.
| Median Salary | $64,760-$123,170 per year |
| Job Growth (10yr) | +13%Excellent |
| Education | Associate Degree |
| Time to Start | 2 years |
Work Settings
- •Hospitals (57% of sonographers)
- •Physicians' offices (21%)
- •Medical and diagnostic laboratories (10%)
- •Outpatient care centers (4%)
- •Home healthcare and mobile imaging services
Primary Duties
- •Prepare examination rooms and verify ultrasound equipment is functioning correctly
- •Verify patient identity, review medical records, and explain procedures to patients
- •Position patients correctly and operate ultrasound transducers to capture diagnostic images
- •Adjust equipment settings (grayscale, gain, depth, Doppler) to optimize image quality
- •Perform measurements, calculations, and analyze images for potential abnormalities
- •Document findings and create detailed reports for interpreting physicians
- •Upload images to PACS/EMR systems with proper labeling and patient information
- •Communicate results to radiologists, cardiologists, and other physicians, providing immediate verbal reports for critical findings
How to Become Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
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Duration: 48 months
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Certifications & Licenses
- •Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) - required by most employers
- •Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) exam - prerequisite for specialty credentials
- •Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) - for vascular imaging specialization
- •Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) - for cardiac ultrasound
- •Registered Musculoskeletal Sonographer (RMSKS) - for musculoskeletal imaging
- •State licensure in New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon
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