Ultrasound Tech Jobs

Obviously ultrasound techs are going to be working in medical service centers. The only question with regard to the future is to what degree the methods or facilities for diagnostic medical examination change because of a shift in medical insurance and the orientation of medical care.

Currently, a majority of working ultrasound technicians (about 58%) are employed at hospitals. Some of those are categorized as general medical hospitals, others as surgical hospitals. Clearly the ultrasound technician who wants to work with physicians in providing imaging support is going to want a position at a surgical hospital.

Another 24% of all ultrasound technicians are currently employed in physicians’ offices. Medical practices today have grown to include dozens, even hundreds of doctors who have banded together for insurance purposes and for negotiating strength with insurance companies. Many of them maintain pathology labs in their facilities along with X-ray services; it appears that many are adding sonographers as well.

Ten percent are employed in medical and diagnostic laboratories. These are independent facilities that live off of referrals from physicians or from hospitals that don’t have the appropriate equipment. About five percent work in outpatient clinics, and the remainder are employed by colleges and universities or research facilities.

The top five states for pay scale for ultrasound technicians are: Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Alaska in that order. Four of the top five metro areas for ultrasound technician salaries are in Northern California. The fifth is the area around Northern Connecticut and Worcester, MA.