The ultrasound technician salary is the highest in Australia, where professionals earn AU$95,000 (US$72,217) per year. The United States follows Australia at a distance with a yearly salary of $61,000; ultrasound techs working in Canada are next in line with C$71,000 (US$53,505), closely followed by those in New Zealand with a yearly income of NZ$70,000 (US$50,655). The lowest salaries for ultrasound techs are registered in the UK where professionals earn ₤33,000 (US$41,787), South Africa with R243,000 (US$18,582), and India with Rs392,885 (US$6,089).
How Much Does an Ultrasound Technician Make per Year?
| Ultrasound Technician Salary |
US | Canada | UK | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa |
| Hourly Wage | $29.33 | C$34.13 (US$25.71) |
₤15.87 (US$20.09) |
AU$45.67 (US$34.71) |
NZ$33.65 (US$24.36) |
Rs188.89 (US$2.93) |
R116.83 (US$8.92) |
| Annual Wage | $61,000 | C$71,000 (US$53,505) |
₤33,000 (US$41,787) |
AU$95,000 (US$72,217) |
NZ$70,000 (US$50,655) |
Rs392,885 (US$6,089) |
R243,000 (US$18,582) |
Also known as diagnostic medical sonographers and ultrasound technologists, ultrasound technicians usually operate special imaging equipment to create images and conduct tests. These tests help medical specialists and physicians diagnose and assess various medical conditions, some even assisting surgeons during special procedures.
Most of the ultrasound technicians work full time in hospitals, clinics, or private practices. The offices of physicians and diagnostics and medical laboratories were also some of the preferred venues to practice this trade. Most ultrasound technologists need an associate’s degree and certification to practice in most states.
Factors that Influence the Ultrasound Technician Salary
As with most jobs in healthcare, several internal and external factors affect the ultrasound technician salary. The most noteworthy are the place of employment, the level of experience of each employee, or the industry in which the sonography technician practices their trade.
Geographic Area
Ultrasound Technician Salary in the US
According to PayScale, an ultrasound technician earns $61,000 per year on average. Most ultrasound technicians start off at $36,284 per year and can reach $83,276 after about 10-15 years on the job. Bonuses can account for up to $4,546 of this amount, and profit sharing opportunities – for another $3,500.
Since every state has its own ultrasounds demand, as well as its own economy, it’s only natural that the ultrasound technician salary is affected so much by the geographical location of the place of employment.
The following tables document the states, as well as the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas which offer the highest rates of employment, and also those which provide the highest ultrasound technician salary.
Highest Rates of Employment for Ultrasound Technicians in the US
The highest rates of employment by state for people with the ultrasound technician salary are as follows:
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | 5,060 | 0.33 | 0.73 | $46.10 | $95,880 |
| Florida | 4,780 | 0.60 | 1.36 | $29.88 | $62,160 |
| New York | 4,780 | 0.53 | 1.20 | $33.16 | $68,980 |
| Texas | 4,650 | 0.40 | 0.91 | $35.89 | $74,640 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,480 | 0.43 | 0.98 | $31.12 | $64,730 |
The metropolitan areas with the highest rates of employment for the profession are the following:
| Metropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| New York – Jersey City – White Plains, NY – NJ Metropolitan Division | 2,750 | 0.42 | 0.96 | $34.56 | $71,870 |
| Houston – The Woodlands – Sugar Land, TX | 1,290 | 0.44 | 0.99 | $40.14 | $83,500 |
| Los Angeles – Long Beach – Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,190 | 0.29 | 0.66 | $42.75 | $88,910 |
| Nassau County – Suffolk County, NYC Metropolitan Division | 1,030 | 0.81 | 1.82 | $32.63 | $67,870 |
| Boston – Cambridge – Newton, MA NECTA Division | 1,010 | 0.58 | 1.30 | $39.34 | $81,830 |
| Chicago – Naperville – Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 1,010 | 0.28 | 0.64 | $37.12 | $77,200 |
| Washington – Arlington – Alexandria, DC – VA – MD – WV Metropolitan Division | 940 | 0.39 | 0.88 | $37.75 | $78,530 |
| Minneapolis – St. Paul – Bloomington, MN – WI | 920 | 0.49 | 1.10 | $36.07 | $75,030 |
| Phoenix – Mesa – Scottsdale, AZ | 880 | 0.47 | 1.06 | $39.16 | $81,460 |
| Atlanta – Sandy Springs – Roswell, GA | 870 | 0.35 | 0.79 | $30.60 | $63,650 |
These are the nonmetropolitan areas offering the highest employment rates for ultrasound technicians:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 0.60 | 1.35 | $29.69 | $61,750 |
| Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 100 | 0.40 | 0.91 | $31.62 | $65,780 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 100 | 0.49 | 1.11 | $34.65 | $72,080 |
| North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) | 100 | 0.29 | 0.65 | $28.67 | $59,630 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 0.34 | 0.77 | $27.75 | $57,720 |
Highest Salaries for Ultrasound Technicians in the US
Meanwhile, the states offering the highest ultrasound technician salaries are the following:
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | 5,060 | 0.33 | 0.73 | $46.10 | $95,880 |
| District of Columbia | 150 | 0.23 | 0.51 | $42.42 | $88,230 |
| Oregon | 550 | 0.32 | 0.72 | $41.53 | $86,390 |
| Washington | 1,480 | 0.50 | 1.11 | $40.92 | $85,120 |
| Massachusetts | 1,760 | 0.52 | 1.17 | $39.12 | $81,370 |
Meanwhile, the metropolitan areas where you can find the biggest ultrasound technician salaries are:
| Metropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Vallejo – Fairfield, CA | 130 | 1.06 | 2.39 | $58.17 | $120,990 |
| San Francisco – Redwood City – South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division | 290 | 0.29 | 0.64 | $57.48 | $119,550 |
| Oakland – Hayward – Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 560 | 0.53 | 1.19 | $55.13 | $114,660 |
| San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara, CA | 270 | 0.26 | 0.59 | $52.31 | $108,800 |
| Sacramento –Roseville – Arden – Arcade, CA | 370 | 0.43 | 0.96 | $50.45 | $104,930 |
| Modesto, CA | 90 | 0.53 | 1.19 | $47.25 | $98,270 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 70 | 0.36 | 0.81 | $46.53 | $96,780 |
| Kennewick – Richland, WA | 70 | 0.72 | 1.62 | $45.88 | $95,430 |
| Salinas, CA | 50 | 0.31 | 0.71 | $45.31 | $94,240 |
| Stockton – Lodi, CA | 60 | 0.27 | 0.60 | $44.86 | $93,310 |
The nonmetropolitan areas where you can find the highest ultrasound technician salary are the following:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.54 | 1.21 | $44.80 | $93,190 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.40 | 0.89 | $40.84 | $84,940 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.26 | 0.59 | $40.69 | $84,630 |
| East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.61 | 1.37 | $37.70 | $78,410 |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | Not released | Not released | Not released | $35.90 | $74,670 |
Ultrasound Technician Salary in Canada
An ultrasound technician working in Canada earns about C$71,000 (US$53,519) per year on average, according to PayScale. The starting salary for ultrasound technicians in Canada is C$49,643 (US$37,420), while experienced professionals can take home up to C$84,044 (US$63,352) per year.
Ultrasound Technician Salary in the UK
Ultrasound technicians are called sonographers in the UK. The average sonographer salary for the United Kingdom according to PayScale is ₤33,000 (US$41,787) per year. Beginners in this field can take home as little as £22,575 (US$28,586) in their first years, but experienced professionals can earn over £61,825 (US$78,288). Of this amount, bonuses account for up to £6,500 (US$8,230).
Plotr.co.uk reports the diagnostic medical sonographer salary between £25,000 and £50,000 per year (US$31,657 – US$63,317).
Ultrasound Technician Salary in Australia
The mean ultrasound technician salary in Australia is AU$95,000 (US$72,217), according to PayScale. The same source reports the starting salary of an ultrasound technician or a sonographer working in Australia at AU$49,657 (US$37,746). Experienced professionals here can earn up to AU$130,919 (US$99,522) per year.
, on the other hand, reports the starting ultrasound technician salary at AU$60,000 (US$45,609), the average at AU$78,000 (US$59,279), and the senior salary at AU$93,000 (US$70,769). The same source estimates employment levels for 2017 at 17,400.
Ultrasound Technician Salary in New Zealand
Even though no info is available on the ultrasound tech salary in New Zealand, we can take the sonographer salary as a reference. A professional working in New Zealand as a sonographer starts off somewhere between NZ$50,000 and NZ$69,000 (US$36,182 – US$49,947). Those with more than 6 years of experience behind can earn up to NZ$98,000 per year (US$70,940). Therefore, we can estimate the average at NZ$70,000 (US$50,655) per year.
Ultrasound Technician Salary in India
According to SalaryExpert, an ultrasound technician working in India earns about Rs392,885 (US$6,089) per year on average, with bonuses averaging around Rs7,268 (US$113) per year. A beginner in this field can make about Rs324,685 (US$5,032) per year. With experience and in the right industry, an ultrasound tech working in India can get to earn over Rs492,710 (US$7,637) yearly.
Ultrasound Technician Salary in South Africa
PayScale reports the national average for this profession is R243,000 (US$18,582). The starting salary for an ultrasound tech working in South Africa is R170,762 (US$13,058) for the first few years. An experienced professional, however, can bring home up to R332,879 (US$25,431) per year, out of which R6,040 – R29,799 (US$462 – US$2,274) as bonus.
Experience
Even though the geographical location is the biggest determinant in the salary of an ultrasound tech, the hourly ultrasound technician salary is influenced quite a bit by the seniority and level of experience. The salary can double or even triple over the course of more than twenty years of experience no matter the location. Nevertheless, after the 15- or 20-year mark depending on location, the hourly salary remains steady and can even decrease for those who give up certain responsibilities.
If you are interested in similar positions, you can also see our guide to the surgical tech salary and a rundown of the nuclear medicine technologist salary.
Industry
The industry in which each sonography expert performs their trade is yet another highly influential factor when it comes to the ultrasound technician salary. These tables show the mean annual salary of ultrasound technicians in the United States as this data was not available for all the countries we reviewed.
The industries offering the highest employment levels for ultrasound technicians are the following:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 36,680 | 0.70 | $33.90 | $70,500 |
| Offices of Physicians | 14,190 | 0.57 | $32.91 | $68,460 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | 6,350 | 2.49 | $35.75 | $74,360 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 1,900 | 0.26 | $40.19 | $83,600 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 540 | 0.22 | $35.88 | $74,630 |
Finally, the industries where you are most likely to get the highest ultrasound technician annual salary are:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 1,900 | 0.26 | $40.19 | $83,600 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 60 | Less than .005 | $39.83 | $82,860 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 440 | 0.01 | $36.47 | $75,850 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 540 | 0.22 | $35.88 | $74,630 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | 6,350 | 2.49 | $35.75 | $74,360 |
Note: all tables are courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Work Hours
Most ultrasound technicians work normal, 40-hour work weeks. Still, overtime can be pretty frequent, particularly in the form of emergencies or on-call shifts for people working in hospitals.
Meanwhile, technologists working for medical laboratories may sometimes have to travel for work to perform tests. Some of these work travels can be in remote places, possibly for people without access to the technology necessary for testing.
Bonuses and Benefits Packages
Additional sources of income for people with the ultrasound technician salary turn out to be in the form of bonuses, profit sharing, and overtimes. As for the benefits packages which come with the ultrasound technician salary, they include a fair number of paid and sick leave days, a 401(K) plan, as well as insurance for those working in the US.
About 70% of ultrasound technicians in the US receive medical insurance, 59% get dental, about 46% get vision, while 25% get no insurance at all. In Canada, about 50% of the ultrasound techs have no type of health insurance.
Job Outlook
The employment rate of ultrasound technologists is estimated to grow 24% by 2024. That is much faster than the 8% average for all the professions in the United States.
Imaging technology has already been advancing over the past few years, replacing older, more intrusive technology. With the current scientific advances we are making, the job outlook for ultrasound technicians is only looking more and more positive.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that it requires some time spent in educational and formative training, as well as a certification, the ultrasound technician salary can be motivation enough for many to pursue the job. While the raises may taper off after a long and fruitful career, the position is still one of the most coveted in healthcare.
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