Whether you are getting ready to graduate from an ultrasound technician program or you are an experienced certified sonographer looking to relocate, you are in an occupation where you have great prospects almost anywhere in the country.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts demand for ultrasound techs will grow exponentially during the next decade, so the job outlook in 2017 for sonographers will be strong. Additionally, the ultrasound technician salary in 2017 is also forecasted to be on the increase.
The States with the Highest Salaries for Sonographers
Your salary as a sonographer will depend on the level of education you have achieved, the number of years of experience that you have, as well as the state where you live and type of setting in which you work.
The state that has the highest average salary for an ultrasound technician is California with an annual average salary of $93,350, which is significantly more than the national annual mean wage of $ 71,750. The top paying states for medical sonographers include:
If you are considering relocating to one of these areas, remember some of the towns and cities in these states have higher costs of living than other areas of the country.
The States with the Lowest Ultrasound Technician Salary
It is important to remember that the areas with the lowest salaries for ultrasound techs often have significantly lower costs of living than other areas. Additionally, facilities in rural areas will often pay less than facilities in metropolitan areas do. Of course, sonographers who are just entering the workforce will have starting salaries less than the wages experienced technicians earn.
The U.S. state with the lowest sonographer salary is Alabama, with an average annual salary of $54,940. The states that are in the lowest paying tier for ultrasound technicians in the country include:
It is important to note that all of these states are predominantly rural, thus the reason for the low wages. The average annual salaries for sonographers in these states range from $54,940 to $60,710, which is significantly more than the average annual salaries for all of the jobs in the state.
A List of Sonographer Salaries by State
Where to Find Sonographer Jobs in the United States
According to the BLS, the majority of ultrasound technician jobs are found in hospitals and ambulatory care centers. When looking for sonographer positions, it is likely you will find the most openings in metropolitan areas. The states that have most openings for medical sonographers include:
The Best States to Live in the United States and Medical Sonographer’s Salaries
According to CNBC.com best states with the best quality of life include New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Minnesota. New Hampshire ranked first because of its excellent environment and low crime rate. The average sonographer annual salary is $76,560, which is above the national average. This balances the fact that the cost of living in New Hampshire is higher than the national average according to Sperling’s Best Places.
Burlington, Vermont is rated as the Best Green City in the County. Additionally, the state of Vermont has a very low crime rate and is one of the healthiest states in the country. Its cost of living is slightly above that of the rest of the country, but so is the hourly mean wage for ultrasound technicians who work in Vermont. | See Job Openings
Maine offers its residents surroundings with an abundance of natural beauty, along with the lowest crime rate in the nation. The cost of living is Maine is above average with the rest of the county. The average annual salary for an ultrasound technician in Maine is $70,690, which is very close to the national average annual salary. | See Job Openings
The Three Best Places in the Country to Live if you are an Ultrasound Technician
Based upon rankings by Bloomberg’s Business Week, as well as cost of living and medical sonographer salaries, the three best places to live if you are an ultrasound technician include the following:
- Larimer County Colorado, located in the north central part if the state, is home of the Rocky Mountain National Park and Colorado State University. The two major towns in the county include Fort Collins and Loveland. | See Job Openings
- In Oregon, Benton County offers affordable housing in Corvallis, which is home to Oregon State University. The cost of living is relatively low, yet Oregon ranks near the top of states with the highest ultrasound technician salaries. | See Job Openings
- Orange County California offers residents more than 40 miles of coastline, three harbors, and a wide variety of urban and wilderness parks. Anaheim and Irvine are the most affordable areas in Orange County, while California offers the top ultrasound salary in the country. | See Job Openings
One of the advantages of being an ultrasound technician is having the security you will be able to have a comfortable salary with the flexibility to find a job in most places in the United States.
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