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Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Also called: RDMS (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer), Staff Sonographer, Ultrasound Technician (Ultrasound Tech), Ultrasound Technologist (Ultrasound Tech)

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

No four-year degree needed Bright outlook Healthcare
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Median pay
$96,590/yr
Typical range
$67,820 – $129,370
Outlook
Bright outlook

What does a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer do?

  • 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.

How to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Training: An associate's degree or other 2-year degree or bachelor's degree. Employees in these careers need one or two years of training. Both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers may be needed. An apprenticeship program may be a good choice for these careers.

Skills you'll use

Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questionsTalking to othersUnderstanding people's reactionsChanging what is done based on other people's actionsNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Is it a fit for you?

  • Cooperation
  • Cautiousness
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability

Tools and technology

eClinicalWorks EHR softwareMEDITECH softwareMicrosoft ExcelEmail software

Questions people ask

How much does a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer make?

About $96,590 a year at the U.S. median. Most earn between $67,820 and $129,370. Pay depends on the state, the employer and experience.

How long does it take to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?

Employees in these careers need one or two years of training. Both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers may be needed. An apprenticeship program may be a good choice for these careers.

Do you need a college degree to be a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?

No four-year degree is needed. An associate's degree or other 2-year degree or bachelor's degree.

Is Diagnostic Medical Sonographer a good career to get into?

O*NET lists it as a Bright Outlook career: it's expected to grow quickly or have lots of openings in the next few years.

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National wage figures via O*NET Web Services. This application incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Figures are national estimates and vary by state, employer and experience. Career details from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

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