Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 75,900 people employed as diagnostic medical sonographers in the United States. The median annual salary is $75,900. Entry level employees earn approximately $53,790 per year and senior employees earn approximately $105,340 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Perform clerical duties, such as scheduling exams or special procedures, keeping records, or archiving computerized images.
• Perform legal and ethical duties, including preparing safety or accident reports, obtaining written consent from patient to perform invasive procedures, or reporting symptoms of abuse or neglect.
• Supervise or train students or other medical sonographers.
• Perform medical procedures, such as administering oxygen, inserting and removing airways, taking vital signs, or giving emergency treatment, such as first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Maintain stock and supplies, preparing supplies for special examinations and ordering supplies when necessary.
• Process and code film from procedures and complete appropriate documentation.
• Load and unload film cassettes used to record images from procedures.
• Provide sonogram and oral or written summary of technical findings to physician for use in medical diagnosis.
• Select appropriate equipment settings and adjust patient positions to obtain the best sites and angles.
• Operate ultrasound equipment to produce and record images of the motion, shape, and composition of blood, organs, tissues, or bodily masses, such as fluid accumulations.
• Decide which images to include, looking for differences between healthy and pathological areas.
• Prepare patient for exam by explaining procedure, transferring patient to ultrasound table, scrubbing skin and applying gel, and positioning patient properly.
• Determine whether scope of exam should be extended, based on findings.
• Obtain and record accurate patient history, including prior test results or information from physical examinations.
• Maintain records that include patient information, sonographs and interpretations, files of correspondence, publications and regulations, or quality assurance records, such as pathology, biopsy, or post-operative reports.
• Record and store suitable images, using camera unit connected to the ultrasound equipment.
• Coordinate work with physicians or other healthcare team members, including providing assistance during invasive procedures.
• Clean, check, and maintain sonographic equipment, submitting maintenance requests or performing minor repairs as necessary.
• Observe screen during scan to ensure that image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes, making adjustments to equipment as required.
• Observe and care for patients throughout examinations to ensure their safety and comfort.

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