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Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.
Communication skills. Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians work closely with patients, including those who may be in pain, and must be able to explain the procedure in an understandable way. They also must convey information clearly when discussing images with physicians and other members of the healthcare team.
Detail oriented. Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must follow precise instructions to obtain the images needed to diagnose and treat patients. They also must pay attention to the images they produce, because healthy and unhealthy areas may be subtle.
Hand–eye coordination. To get quality images, diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must accurately move equipment on the patient’s body in response to what they see on the screen.
Physical stamina. Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians stand for long periods and must be able to lift and move patients who need assistance.
Technical skills. Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must understand how to operate complex machinery and computerized instruments.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
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96% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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96% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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93% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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93% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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91% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
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91% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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90% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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89% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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86% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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85% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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82% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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79% | Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. | |
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79% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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76% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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72% | Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. | |
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66% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
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83% | Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service. | |
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78% | Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities. | |
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72% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
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78% | Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. | |
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78% | Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. | |
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67% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
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67% | Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. | |
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61% | Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
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75% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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72% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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72% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
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72% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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72% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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69% | Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. | |
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66% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
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97% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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96% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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95% | Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? | |
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95% | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? | |
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93% | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions? | |
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93% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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92% | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? | |
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87% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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87% | Exposed to Disease or Infections - How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections? | |
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86% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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83% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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82% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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81% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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80% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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76% | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? | |
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75% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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75% | Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? | |
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70% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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65% | Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements? |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
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82% | Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. | |
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81% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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79% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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78% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
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77% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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75% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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73% | Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. | |
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71% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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70% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. | |
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69% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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69% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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69% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
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67% | Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). | |
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67% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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66% | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. | |
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66% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
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65% | Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians operate special equipment to create images or conduct tests. They work closely with physicians and surgeons, who view the images and test results to assess and diagnose medical conditions.
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians typically do the following:
Diagnostic medical sonographers specialize in creating images, known as sonograms or ultrasounds, that depict the body’s organs and tissues. Sonography is often the first imaging test performed when disease is suspected.
Sonography uses high-energy sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. The sonographer uses an instrument called a transducer to scan parts of the patient’s body that are being examined. The transducer emits pulses of sound that bounce back, causing echoes. The echoes form an image on a computer that physicians use for diagnosis.
The following are examples of types of medical sonographers:
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians create images and conduct tests involving the heart and lungs. The following are examples of types of cardiovascular technologists and technicians:
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians held about 58,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of cardiovascular technologists and technicians were as follows:
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 76% |
| Offices of physicians | 12 |
| Self-employed workers | 4 |
| Outpatient care centers | 3 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 1 |
Diagnostic medical sonographers held about 83,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of diagnostic medical sonographers were as follows:
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 56% |
| Offices of physicians | 24 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 10 |
| Outpatient care centers | 4 |
| Self-employed workers | 2 |
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians complete most of their work at diagnostic imaging machines in dimly lit rooms. They may need to stand for long periods and to lift or turn patients who are ill or disabled.
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians work as part of a healthcare team that includes physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, and respiratory therapists.
Most diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians are full time, although part-time work is common. Because they may work in medical facilities that are always open, they may have shifts that include evenings, weekends, or overnights.
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians typically need formal education, such as an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate. Employers may require or prefer that workers have certification.
High school students who are interested in medical sonography or cardiovascular technology should take classes in anatomy, physiology, physics, and math. EKG technicians may qualify for entry-level jobs with a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Colleges and universities offer both associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in sonography and in cardiovascular technology. One-year certificate programs also are available from colleges and some hospitals.
Sonography and cardiovascular education programs usually include courses in anatomy, medical terminology, and applied sciences. Instruction in sonography programs generally corresponds to the relevant certification field, such as abdominal sonography or breast sonography. Cardiovascular programs include coursework in either invasive or noninvasive procedures. Programs also typically include a clinical component in which students earn credit while working under the direction of an experienced technologist in a hospital, a physician’s office, or an imaging laboratory.
Employers may prefer to hire diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians who have professional certification, or they may expect applicants to earn certification shortly after being hired. For payment purposes, insurance providers and Medicare may stipulate that a certified sonographer, technologist, or technician perform certain procedures. Certification is available from several organizations, such as the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, Cardiovascular Credentialing International, and National Healthcareer Association.
All diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must pass an exam to earn certification. To sit for the exam, eligibility requirements vary and may include graduating from an accredited program or a combination of education and experience. Certifications are typically for specialties in diagnostic imaging; for example, a sonographer may earn a certification in areas such as abdominal, breast, or pediatric sonography.
In addition, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have basic life support (BLS) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.
States may require diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians to be licensed. Typically, certification is required for licensure; other requirements vary by state. Contact state medical boards for more information.
Overall employment of diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians is projected to grow 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 9,600 openings for diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of diagnostic imaging workers varies by occupation (see table). As the large baby-boom population continues to age, the need to diagnose medical conditions that affect older adults—such as blood clots and heart disease—will likely increase. Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians use imaging technology as a tool to help physicians diagnose these conditions. Moreover, these workers will continue to be needed in healthcare settings to provide an alternative to imaging techniques that involve radiation.
For more information about diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians, visit
Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals
American Society of Echocardiography
Society for Vascular Ultrasound
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
For more information about certification, visit
American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
Cardiovascular Credentialing International
National Healthcareer Association
For a current list of accredited education programs in medical sonography and cardiovascular technology, visit
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians |
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. |
Bachelor's degree | $57,380 |
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Nuclear Medicine Technologists |
Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs for imaging or treatment. |
Associate's degree | $85,300 |
|
Radiologic and MRI Technologists |
Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients. MRI technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to create diagnostic images. |
Associate's degree | $67,180 |
|
Radiation Therapists |
Radiation therapists administer doses of radiation to patients who have cancer or other serious diseases. |
Associate's degree | $89,530 |
|
Registered Nurses |
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions. |
Bachelor's degree | $81,220 |