Online Ultrasound Tech Schools

As a diagnostic sonographer or ultrasound technician, the salary you receive is directly dependent on a number of factors, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Location
• Years of Experience
• Education Level
• Type of Employer
• Specialty

In all areas of this field, job outlook is good, as the health field is rapidly expanding and qualified workers are needed in all areas, including sonography. If you want to make the most money, you need to take the above characteristics into consideration.

Location

As of May 2008, the median wage for all sonographers was about $61,980 annually, according to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can expect more if you live in some areas, however. As of 2009, the states where you could earn the most money as a sonographer, on average were as follows:

• Massachusetts: $78,460
• Oregon: $78,320
• Colorado: $77,380
• Washington: $76,980
• Alaska: $75,500

In general, you can also earn more money if you live and work in a city, rather than in a more rural area, though it is important to note that cost of living is higher in cities as well. As of 2009 statistics, sonographers in the following metropolitan cities were paid the most:

• Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: $97,530
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $92,680
• Worcester, MA-CT: $90,440
• Boulder, CO: $83,790
• Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA: $83,130

Year of Experience

No matter where you live, the longer you work as a sonographer, the more you’ll get paid. Even without going back to school for more advanced education, working in the field allows you to learn technical skills that help you perform your job better.

Keep in mind, that you’ll also often earn more if you stay with a single employer over the years. Companies like to reward employees as much as possible, and you’ll qualify for bigger bonuses every year you continue to work for the same facility. It makes more sense, in most cases, than jumping from company to company.

Education Level

If you want to be a sonographer, you can choose a two-year program or a four-year program. You’ll earn more if you go through the longer program, since you’ll have a deeper knowledge base in your field from the start. Currently, states do not require that you’re certified to work as a sonographer, but if you take this extra step and go through the certification process, not only will you qualify for more jobs, but employers will offer you higher salaries.

Type of Employer

While the most sonography jobs can be found in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and laboratories, the most lucrative positions can be found with employment services, management companies, specialty hospitals, colleges/universities, and outpatient care centers. In general, larger companies also pay more than smaller companies, but it depends on the specific company.

Specialty

In some sonography specialties, you can expect to make more money than in others. Usually, this depends both on demand and on degree of difficulty. For example, you can expect to make more money as a neurosonographers than you can as a an OB-GYN sonographer. Other specialties you can consider include breast sononography and abdominal sonography.

Having a degree in the healthcare field is a wise move for anyone looking to become a part of a growing medical field. Becoming an ultra sound tech generally requires some formal training, with the most popular form of education being a two-year degree in a field such as medical assisting, as there aren't really any degrees specific to ultrasound technicians. The following schools offer accredited online degree programs in related healthcare fields.

AS in Health IT	DeVry University - DeVry University is offering a health information technology associate's degree program, though not specifically an ultrasound program, intended to prepare individuals to work with health information systems and databases in their future careers assisting nurse staffs and physicians.
AS in Medical Assisting	Herzing University - The AS in medical assisting online degree program from Herzing University gives students a general introduction to the basic operations of a physician's office, with training in medical examination and laboratory procedures. Please note that this is not an ultrasound technologist degree.
BS in Health Services Mgmt AS in Medical Office Admin	Virginia College - The health services management degree from Virginia College Online is a bachelor's level degree program that is geared toward medical professionals looking to advance their careers within the medical industry. The health services management degree is not an ultrasound technician program, but is related to the heathcare field. Graduates of this program will be suited for management positions in hospitals, private practices, home health agencies, and more. Virginia College also offers a degree in medical office administration.
AS in Medical Assisting AS in Health Info Tech	Kaplan University - The medical assisting program from Kaplan University, while not an ultrasound technologist degree program, is a related healthcare service program and a flexible and affordable way for anyone to train to become a certified ultrasound technician. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant examination given by the American Association of Medical Assistants. Kaplan also offers a program in health information technology.
AS in Health IT	Hodges University - Those graduating with an HIT degree from Hodges University's Online are trained to become specialists at overseeing computer information systems, managing patient health information and medical records, programming and coding the diagnoses and procedures for healthcare services provided to patients. Though this is not specifically a medical ultrasound degree, it could provide a good background.
AAS in Medical Billing	Lincoln College - Lincoln College Online does not have an ultrasound program, but does have related healthcare service programs such as the associate's degree in medical billing and coding which is geared specifically for students looking to advance their careers within the healthcare administration business. Specifically, this degree program will prepare individuals with the skills needed to properly bill patients and health insurance companies, a useful skill in many hospitals, ultrasound facilities, or physician offices.
AS in Health IT AS in Healthcare Admin	Carrington College California - Although this Carrington College California program is not an ultrasound technician degree, students of Carrington College California have two online degree options available to them: the AS in healthcare information technology focuses on the gathering and handling of patient-related health data; the AS in health administration focuses on developing entry-level administrators or administrative assistants within a healthcare setting such as a hospital or lab.
AAS in Health IT	Rasmussen College - The healthcare information technology program allows students to learn medical coding skills when obtaining an A.A.S. degree from Rasmussen College. Note: This is not an ultrasound tech degree. Students learn to the techniques and skills required for maintaining patient files, medical records and disseminating data needed within their medical agency. Enrollees will also be required to receive management and supervisory training.
AS in Medical Assisting BS in Health Science	Keiser University - The BS degree in health science offered by Keiser University prepares students for both health service administration as well as business endeavors. Ultrasound techs can have a variety of degrees and healthcare backgrounds, but the BS degree in health science is not a diagnostic ultrasound technician degree. The entirely online coursework focuses on business law, management, medical anatomy, physiology, and more. Keiser also offers an associates degree in medical assisting.
AS in Medical Assisting	San Joaquin Valley College - Though not a specialized sonography program, the AS in medical assisting online degree program from San Joaquin Valley College teaches students essential technical, technological, and organizational tasks within a healthcare office. There may also be an accelerated option for those who wish to get their career underway as soon as possible.
AS in Health Administration	Brookline University - Brookline College does not offer an ultrasound tech degree. The AS degree in health administration from Brookline College Online is a two-year program that educates students on the importance of both ethical and practical issues pertaining to 21st century healthcare and healthcare technologies, such as ultrasound.
AS in Health Administration	Iowa Central College - Iowa Central College's AS degree in health care administration is a two-year program that prepares students for the real world of patient care in a health setting, such as hospital, physician office, or medical ultrasound clinic. Please note - this is not a diagnostic medical sonography degree.
See more online ultrasound degrees...