Employment Outlook

As the population grows and ages, the demand for diagnostic imaging will increase. More doctors are turning to sonographs for images because they do not expose patients to radiation the way x-rays do. The types of images that sonographers will be able to take are expected to evolve rapidly. The main limit on how fast these new technologies will spread is their cost.

Hospitals will continue to be the main employers of sonographers. However, employment is expected to grow rapidly in doctors' offices. New jobs will also be created in medical labs, including diagnostic imaging centers. Facilities such as these are expected to grow rapidly because of the shift to outpatient care.  In addition to job openings due to growth, some job openings will arise from the need to replace sonographers who leave the occupation.

The demand for sonographers continues to exceed the supply with faster than average job growth anticipated. It is estimated the field is growing at a 23% growth rate.  The supply and demand ratio affects salaries, depending on experience and responsibilities. On average, sonographers earn an annual salary of $32.50/hour ($68,591/yr) (data from 2011 www.iSEEK.org).