What You Need to Know About Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Occupation Description Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians.
Life As a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Maintain stock and supplies, preparing supplies for special examinations and ordering supplies when necessary.
- Provide sonogram and oral or written summary of technical findings to physician for use in medical diagnosis.
- Process and code film from procedures and complete appropriate documentation.
- 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.
- Clean, check, and maintain sonographic equipment, submitting maintenance requests or performing minor repairs as necessary.
- Load and unload film cassettes used to record images from procedures.
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Skills Needed to be a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
When polled, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Jobs
- Sonographer
- Medical Sonographer
- Sonography Technician
- Ultrasound Tester
- Vascular Sonographer
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 67,300 jobs for Diagnostic Medical Sonographer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 23.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 15,600 new jobs for Diagnostic Medical Sonographer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 5,400 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Diagnostic Medical Sonographer are Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Illinois, or Connecticut. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary
The typical yearly salary for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is somewhere between $51,430 and $100,480.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers who work in Hawaii, Alaska, or California, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $56,450 |
Alaska | $93,740 |
Arizona | $83,320 |
Arkansas | $63,140 |
California | $92,660 |
Colorado | $83,430 |
Connecticut | $82,370 |
Delaware | $72,230 |
District of Columbia | $90,860 |
Florida | $65,830 |
Georgia | $61,960 |
Hawaii | $94,350 |
Idaho | $80,330 |
Illinois | $76,700 |
Indiana | $68,970 |
Iowa | $68,960 |
Kansas | $72,020 |
Kentucky | $65,790 |
Louisiana | $60,360 |
Maine | $78,220 |
Maryland | $75,270 |
Massachusetts | $83,780 |
Michigan | $61,130 |
Minnesota | $80,390 |
Mississippi | $61,200 |
Missouri | $73,920 |
Montana | $76,700 |
Nebraska | $64,200 |
Nevada | $76,220 |
New Hampshire | $79,680 |
New Jersey | $77,110 |
New Mexico | $63,840 |
New York | $74,960 |
North Carolina | $66,850 |
North Dakota | $70,950 |
Ohio | $65,840 |
Oklahoma | $68,900 |
Oregon | $86,380 |
Pennsylvania | $66,470 |
Rhode Island | $84,990 |
South Carolina | $65,870 |
South Dakota | $60,500 |
Tennessee | $64,080 |
Texas | $71,580 |
Utah | $75,070 |
Vermont | $78,210 |
Virginia | $74,390 |
Washington | $87,960 |
West Virginia | $61,740 |
Wisconsin | $83,670 |
Wyoming | $66,090 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Diagnostic Medical Sonographers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Database software
- MEDITECH software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Calendar and scheduling software
How do I Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?

What work experience do I need to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?

Where Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer may also be interested in:
References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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