Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Summary

Diagnostic medical sonographers use sound waves to perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients.

Quick Facts: Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
2010 Median Pay	$64,380 per year $30.95 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Associate’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	53,700
Job Outlook, 2010-20	44% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	23,400

What Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Do

Diagnostic medical sonographers use special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient’s body (in a procedure commonly known as an ultrasound, sonogram, or echocardiogram) to assess and diagnose various medical conditions.

Work Environment

Most diagnostic medical sonographers work in hospitals. Some work in physicians’ offices or imaging clinics. Sonographers may be on their feet for long periods and may need to lift or turn disabled patients.

How to Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Diagnostic medical sonographers need formal education, such as an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate. Many employers also require professional certification.

Pay

The median annual wage of diagnostic medical sonographers was $64,380 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow by 44 percent between 2010 and 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. As ultrasound technology evolves, it will become a more common method used to assist in diagnosing medical conditions, favored over more invasive procedures.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of diagnostic medical sonographers with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about diagnostic medical sonographers by contacting these additional resources.

What Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Do About this section

Echoes are sent to the ultrasound machine, which processes them and displays them as images.

Diagnostic medical sonographers use special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient’s body (in a procedure commonly known as an ultrasound, sonogram, or echocardiogram) to assess and diagnose various medical conditions.

Duties

Diagnostic medical sonographers typically do the following:

• Prepare patients for procedures by taking a patient’s history and answering any questions about the procedure
• Prepare and maintain imaging equipment
• Apply a gel to aid the sound waves’ ability to show the inside of the body
• Operate equipment to get diagnostic images of areas in the patient’s body
• Analyze the images to check for quality and adequate coverage of the area needed for diagnosis
• Recognize the difference between normal and abnormal images
• Analyze images to provide preliminary findings for physicians
• Record findings and keep track of patients’ records

Diagnostic ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. The sonographer presses an instrument called an ultrasound transducer to the parts of the patient’s body that are being examined. The transducer emits pulses of sound that bounce back, causing echoes. The echoes are then sent to the ultrasound machine, which processes them and displays them as images.

Diagnostic medical sonographers specialize in different parts of the body. The following are examples of specific types of sonographers:

Abdominal sonographers specialize in imaging a patient’s abdominal cavity and nearby organs, such as the kidney, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, or spleen.

Breast sonographers specialize in imaging a patient’s breast tissues. Sonography aids mammography in the detection of breast cancer.  Breast sonography is also used to track tumors in breast cancer patients.

Musculoskeletal sonographers specialize in imaging muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints.

Neurosonographers specialize in imaging a patient’s nervous system, including the brain.

Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers specialize in imaging the female reproductive system. Many pregnant women receive ultrasounds to track the baby's growth and health.

Cardiovascular and vascular technologists use sonography to assist physicians in diagnosing problems with a patient’s heart, arteries and veins. For more information, see the profile on cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists.

Work Environment About this section

Diagnostic medical sonographers must understand how to operate complex machinery.

Diagnostic medical sonographers held about 53,700 jobs in 2010 and work in healthcare facilities. About 61 percent worked in hospitals in 2010, others worked in areas such as physician’s offices and medical and diagnostic laboratories: 

Diagnostic medical sonographers do most of their work at diagnostic imaging machines in dimly lit rooms, but they may also perform procedures at patients' bedsides. Sonographers may be on their feet for long periods and may need to lift or turn patients who are disabled.

Work Schedules

Most diagnostic medical sonographers work full time. Because imaging is sometimes needed in emergencies, sonographers sometimes work evenings, weekends, or overnight.

How to Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer About this section

Diagnostic medical sonographers must work closely with patients.

Diagnostic medical sonographers need formal education, such as an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate. Many employers also require professional certification.

Education

Colleges and universities offer both associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in sonography. One-year certificate programs also are available, although these are usually useful only to those who are already employed in related healthcare jobs, such as nursing. Employers prefer a degree or certificate from an accredited institute or hospital program. The accredited programs usually follow a specific course of study and include clinical training. These programs also include courses in medical terminology and interpreting sonographic images. Most programs are divided into the specialized fields that correspond to the relevant certification exams, such as abdominal sonography or breast sonography.

Some sonographers graduate with a degree in radiologic technology or nursing and then receive on-the-job training by their employer. High school students who are interested in diagnostic medical sonography should take courses in anatomy, physiology, and mathematics.

Licenses and Certification

Most employers prefer to hire sonographers who have professional certification. A sonographer can get certification by graduating from an accredited program and passing an exam. Most exams relate to the specialty that the sonographer is most interested in—for example, an exam to be become certified in abdominal sonography. A few states require diagnostic medical sonographers to be licensed. Typically, professional certification is required for licensure; other requirements vary by state. Sonographers must take continuing education to keep their certification current.

Important Qualities

Detail oriented. Diagnostic medical sonographers must follow precise instructions to obtain the images needed to diagnose and treat the patient. They also must pay attention to the screen while scanning a patient's body because the cues that contrast healthy areas with unhealthy ones may be subtle.

Hand-eye coordination. To get quality images, diagnostic medical sonographers must be able to move equipment on the patient’s body in response to what they see on the screen.

Interpersonal skills. Diagnostic medical sonographers must work closely with patients. Sometimes patients are in extreme pain or mental stress, and the sonographer must get cooperation from the patient to create usable images.

Stamina. Diagnostic medical sonographers work on their feet for long periods and must be able to lift and move patients who need assistance.

Technical skills. Diagnostic medical sonographers must understand how to operate complex machinery and computerized instruments.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of diagnostic medical sonographers was $64,380 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $44,900, and the top 10 percent earned more than $88,490.

As shown below, the median annual wage of diagnostic medical sonographers in hospitals was $64,440 in May 2010:

Most diagnostic medical sonographers work full time. Because imaging is sometimes needed in emergencies, sonographers sometime work evenings, weekends, or overnight.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow by 44 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. As ultrasound imaging technology evolves, it will be used by medical facilities as a substitute for procedures that are costly, invasive, or expose patients to radiation. The use of sonography will continue to increase as patients, when given the option, choose to avoid exposure to radiation or undergo invasive procedures. Although hospitals remain the main employer of diagnostic medical sonographers, employment is expected to grow more rapidly in physicians' offices and in medical and diagnostic laboratories. Employment in these healthcare settings is expected to increase because of the shift toward outpatient care whenever possible. Outpatient care is encouraged by third-party payers as a cost-saving measure and is made possible by technological advances, such as less expensive ultrasound equipment, which allow for more procedures to be done outside of hospitals.

As the large baby-boom population ages and remains active later in life, the need to diagnose medical conditions, such as blood clots and tumors, with imaging technology should increase. Diagnostic medical sonographers will be needed to use and maintain the imaging equipment.

Job Prospects

Sonographers who are certified in more than one specialty are expected to have better job opportunities.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about diagnostic medical sonographers, visit

Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

For more information on becoming a registered diagnostic medical sonographer, visit

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography

For information on certification as a diagnostic medical sonographer, visit

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists

For more information on the use of ultrasound in medicine and accredited practices, visit

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

For a current list of accredited education programs in diagnostic medical sonography, visit

Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs