Many people decide to become sonographers because it’s a rewarding and caring occupation. In addition, sonography professionals are highly sought after and can earn an excellent sonographer salary.
If you are considering a career in diagnostic medical sonography, you may want to learn about the things which dictate sonographer salary levels. In addition, we’ll also take a look at the current sonographer salary levels which you could enjoy when working in the UK or America.
Which Factors Can Impact On Your Sonographer Salary?
There are a number of different factors which need to be taken into account when assessing the sonographer salary a trained practitioner will usually earn:
- Qualifications & Experience. As with most professions, the more training and experience you have, then the higher your ultrasound technician salary will be.
- Type of Employment. Where you decide to work will determine your sonographer salary to some degree. If you are looking to earn the most money, think about working for a private diagnostic healthcare provider or at specialist hospitals. If you choose to work within general hospitals or at a physicians practice, you may earn a little less.
- Specialist Skills. Some sonographers decide to become specialists in individual areas like cardiology or neurology. These specialists will often enjoy better packages than general sonographers.
- Location. The geographical area you work in has a big impact on the rate of pay you’ll ultimately receive. For example, sonographers who work in big cities will often earn larger sonographer salary packages than their colleagues who decide to work in the suburbs or in the countryside.
What Sonographer Salary Packages Are Typically Offered In The UK
Within the UK healthcare sector, diagnostic medical sonographers can choose to be employed in either the private sector or in the NHS. As a guide, an NHS sonographer typically earns approximately £23,000 – £29,000. Private sector pay levels are generally a little higher than this, and range between £27,000 to £33,000.
What Are The Current Sonographer Salary Levels In The USA?
The most up to date information about diagnostic sonographer salaries in the US is issued by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to their national 2010 research, an ultrasound technician salary range was between $52,000 and $84,000 per year. The typical sonographer salary for most technicians is around $64,000.
What Are The Career Prospects For Sonographers?
Sonography is generally considered to be one of the best career choices, and there are plenty of jobs. There is a ever increasing demand for sonography professionals, and average salary levels are likely to continue to increase at well above the rate of inflation. This means that a qualified sonographer is likely to enjoy far greater earning potential in the future, especially as new diagnostic medical procedures develop.
In addition, it’s expected that another 10,000 sonographers will be needed in the US alone over the next ten years. This means that there should be plenty of employment opportunities, and job security is very high.
Finally, many sonographers decide to take advanced training courses in order to be qualified in other types of diagnostic imaging (such as MRI or CAT imaging) One of the major benefits of holding these additional certifications is that a technician will be able to enjoy a premium sonographer salary.
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