Are you an ultrasound technician or considering being one and wondering whether or not pursuing specific certifications is worth it when it comes to salary gains? Ultrasound technician jobs are already pretty rewarding careers. What can make it even more so is an improved earning potential, and advanced certifications can surely help you with that. BLS data shows that the employment growth rate for ultrasound tech jobs will be 11% from 2023 till 2033. In this period, an estimated 12,800 jobs will open up for you to explore. 

Employers usually value specialized skills and certificates. By earning additional credentials, you can end up in higher-paying roles, enjoy better ultrasound tech job security, and access more opportunities for career growth. This is because the field of ultrasound technology is a lucrative and growing career path with salary potential directly related to education, experience, and certifications. If you are wondering how much ultrasound techs make and whether certifications are worth it, this guide will break down the numbers for you and show you exactly how you can increase your salary by pursuing certain certifications. Read along.

How Much Are Ultrasound Techs Able To Make on Average?

Wondering how much you can earn doing ultrasound tech jobs? We have done the research for you:

Entry-Level Ultrasound Technician Salary

When you step into this career as an ultrasound technician, you can typically earn between $50,000 and $65,000 US dollars per year. This is the average for ultrasound techs who do not have advanced certifications but are doing jobs where foundational skills in diagnostic imaging are required.

Mid-Level and Experienced Ultrasound Technician Salary

After a few years of experience, ultrasound technicians can see their salaries rise up and increase to $70,000 to $85,000 annually. If you invest in advanced certifications at this level, you can find yourself at the higher end of this spectrum. 

High-Earning Ultrasound Technicians 

Ultrasound technicians who are doing jobs in highly specialized fields or leadership roles can earn upwards of $100,000 annually. This number can increase further with specializations like cardiovascular sonography or neurosonography, both of which are particularly lucrative. The top earners in these specific ultrasound fields can make an impressive $116,300 annually.

How Advanced Certifications Help In Salary Growth

By having advanced certifications from organizations like ARRT, APCA, or ARDMS, you can reflect expertise and professionalism in the field of ultrasound technology. Employers prefer certified technicians over uncertified ones because these certificates speak for their specialized knowledge and ability to provide high-quality diagnostic services. So, let’s explore how specific certifications can impact your salary as an ultrasound technician:

ARRT Certification 

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists certification, is a nationally recognized credential that can equip you with proficiency in radiologic technology and certify you for it, including ultrasound imaging. 

ARRT certification will open doors to higher-paying hospital positions for you and increase your credibility in the medical imaging field. There are various technicians who hold both ARRT and ARDMS certifications, and they benefit from higher earnings and qualify for a wider range of positions. By getting ARRT certifications, you can earn an additional 10,000 to 20,000 annually compared to your non-certified peers. It’s an especially valuable certification for you if you’re interested in cross-training in other imaging modalities like MRI or CT scans.

APCA Certification 

If you want to secure job roles in specific areas of ultrasound technology like cardiovascular sonography, you can benefit greatly from the American Professional Credentialing Agency, APCA certifications. They offer certificates that are tailored to specific areas within the ultrasound technology. As an APCA-certified technician, you can expect salary increases ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 per year, depending on the specialization that you choose. 

APCA credentials are especially important if you want to work in high-demand areas like echocardiography. For instance, cardiovascular ultrasound is one of the highest-paying specialties in sonography in the U.S. Hospitals and cardiology clinics across different states prefer APCA-certified sonographers. Being an APCA-certified tech, you can earn 100,000 USD or more annually.

ARDMS Certification 

Another great certificate you can have under your belt is the ARDMS certification. Certifications given by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography are lauded as well as recognized across all the states in the US. If you pursue a course or training leading up to receiving your ARDMS certificate, you will be able to prove your additional skills and exclusive expertise to your potential employers. 

Not only that, you’ll automatically become eligible for high-salary-commanding positions, including leadership jobs in the field of diagnostic medical sonography.  These positions usually necessitate having field-specific certifications. By earning one in particular areas like abdominal or obstetrics sonography, you can get a salary gain of an added ten to twenty thousand US dollars.  

The best part about ARDMS certificates is that you can choose from different specialty credentials such as:

• Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS): By pursuing this, you will gain knowledge and skills needed for abdominal, breast, OBGYN, and pediatric sonography.
• Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS): It will focus on training you in adult and fetal echocardiography.
• Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT): If you pursue this particular certificate area, you will be specializing in vascular sonography.  

Which Specializations Can Increase Ultrasound Tech Salaries? 

Unsure about the certifications you should enroll for or specialization you should opt for to increase your salary as an ultrasound tech? Following are some of the best ones you might want to consider:

Cardiovascular Sonography

Choose cardiovascular sonography if you want to rank amongst the highest-earning peers in your field. If you qualify for ultrasound tech jobs with cardiovascular imaging as a specialty area, you’ll earn some of the highest sums in salary. For instance, if you get a Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography certificate, you can earn 90,000 USD or more per annum.  

Neurosonography

You can also choose to go ahead with neurosonography if you want to earn substantially higher amounts. As a neurosonographer, by focusing on imaging the brain and nervous system, you can earn around 100,000 USD every year. It might vary, though, depending on how experienced you are and where exactly you’re working.   

Vascular Sonography

You can consider specializing in vascular sonography as well for high salaries and growth in your field. You’d master imaging skills related to assessing blood flow and detecting abnormal vascular conditions. For this role, you can pursue APCA’s RPVI, Registered Physician Vascular Interpretation Certification, and make anywhere between $80,000 to $1,000 annually. 

Wrap Up!

Finally, if you are an ultrasound technician who has long been wondering how much ultrasound techs make when they get additional certification, you must have gotten your answers! Certifications like ARRT, APCA, and ARDMS, and their specialized credentials can all directly impact how much you earn. Not only will these impact your salary figure but also how employable you are and the level of contentment you have in your job roles.  

So, if you’re serious about stepping into exclusive and high-paying roles or becoming a highly employable candidate on different staffing agency pages and job websites, wait no longer to explore these certifications. Start pursuing them and cut through the competition easily!