Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Overview

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers has a national median salary of $96,590 per year, with +13.9% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.

Work Values

• Relationships
• Support
• Achievement

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Process and code film from procedures and complete appropriate documentation.
• Observe screen during scan to ensure that image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes, making adjustments to equipment as required.
• Decide which images to include, looking for differences between healthy and pathological areas.
• 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.
• Observe and care for patients throughout examinations to ensure their safety and comfort.

Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Getting Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Detailed Work Activities

• Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for an associate's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Diagnostic Medical Sonographers:

Video Resources