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Are you thinking about becoming an ultrasound technician?
Ultrasound technicians are responsible for performing ultrasound images on patients.
These images will help doctors diagnose and potentially treat medical issues.
But, perhaps you need to do a bit more research before you leap, like knowing the pros and cons of working as an ultrasound technician.
This guide will explain both of these to help you decide whether this career is right for you.
Article Table of Contents
Pros of Being an Ultrasound Technician
Here is a list of the pros of being an ultrasound technician:
1. You Can Make a Great Living
One of the most notable advantages of becoming an ultrasound technician is earning a good living.
Ultrasound technicians make an average salary of $70,380 per year.
This is an exceptional salary for those just beginning their career in the healthcare industry.
Best yet, if you decide to eventually expand your education or earn additional certification, you can expect an increase in your salary as well.
The bottom line is that you can earn a modest living, take care of your family, and comfortably work as an ultrasound technician.
2. Every Day Is Not the Same
Working as an ultrasound technician means that you’ll never get bored.
That is because every day will be different.
Every patient that you perform an ultrasound on will need it for different reasons.
In fact, during the time you are performing an ultrasound, you may even learn something new.
Besides performing ultrasounds on patients, you will have a plethora of other duties to keep you occupied throughout your day.
So, if you are someone who loves variety in your career, this may be a great opportunity for you.
3. Option to Specialize
Ultrasound technicians are needed in a variety of environments and settings.
Another pro of being an ultrasound technician is having the option to earn additional certificates.
So, what options do you have when it comes to certificates?
You can earn a certificate in the following:
- Cardiovascular and vascular sonography
- Abdominal and genitourinary sonography
- Echocardiography and pediatric
- Breast sonography
- Musculoskeletal sonography
- Fetal echocardiography
- Gynecological sonography
- And many more
Having a certificate will make you appear more valuable to employers.
The majority of ultrasound technicians have more than one certificate, which makes them much more versatile.
4. The Training Period Is Short
Ultrasound technicians have an overall short training period.
This is another advantage of working as an ultrasound technician.
The training period can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
So, what does this mean for you?
If you have a limited amount of time on your hands and are anxious to get out there and join the workforce, this may be the perfect career path for you.
You can begin working as soon as you complete the short training program.
You only need a certificate to work as an ultrasound technician, but have the option to pursue a degree if you choose.
5. Get Paid to Travel
One of the other pros of being an ultrasound technician is getting paid to travel.
No matter where you are or where you go, there will always be a need for an ultrasound technician.
Keep this in mind if you would like to eventually travel and earn a salary at the same time.
There is such a thing as being a travel ultrasound technician and this career would enable you to earn good money while traveling.
If you have places on your bucket list you’d like to travel to, this job may provide you with the perfect opportunity to do just that.
6. Job Security
You will always have a job working as an ultrasound technician, and what’s better than job security?
Job security for being an ultrasound technician is primarily due to an aging population.
Because of modern medicine, many are living much longer.
Modern medicine consists of using ultrasounds to diagnose medical conditions and find the appropriate treatment.
Furthermore, the job outlook is expected to increase by 12% by the year 2029.
The good news is that the rate of growth is much faster compared to other careers.
Knowing you will always have a job working as an ultrasound technician should bring you much-needed relief.
7. Flexible Work Hours
Flexible scheduling is doable depending on the setting you work in as an ultrasound technician.
Your schedule will be entirely accommodating so that it will enable you to plan your personal life around work.
For instance, if you work 10 or 12-hour days, you have the option to combine your workdays and have several consecutive days off at once, without having to dip into your vacation time.
Having the luxury of a flexible work schedule is one of the most precious benefits of being an ultrasound technician.
All in all, you can have an even balance between your work life and personal life.
Cons of Being an Ultrasound Technician
Here is a list of cons of being an ultrasound technician:
1. Education Is not Free
When it comes to training and receiving education to become an ultrasound technician, you should know that nothing will be free.
For instance, earning a certificate as an ultrasound technician will cost anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000.
If you want an associate’s degree, you will pay anywhere between $6,000 to $40,000.
Finally, a bachelor’s degree will cost you anywhere from $30,000 to $48,000.
The final cost that you pay for one of these programs will vary on your location and the school you choose.
2. School Loans May be Required
Knowing how much you are going to have to pay for the program is just the beginning.
Have you thought about how you were going to pay for your program?
Depending on where you choose to go to school and the degree you choose to pursue, you may need to take out a loan.
While a student loan will supply you with the money you need to pay for your education expenses, you will still have to pay it all back, and with interest.
Having a student loan will put you in debt.
3. On Your Feet All-Day
For the majority of the day, working as an ultrasound technician means that you’ll be on your feet.
You will be constantly walking from one room to another to perform imaging tests.
During the duration of the tests, you may also be standing up.
According to The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, it’s reported that up to 90% of ultrasound technicians experience musculoskeletal disorders related to their field of work.
With that being said, if you feel that being on your feet all day is exhausting, you may want to re-think this career path.
4. Exposure to Pathogens
Another disadvantage of being an ultrasound technician is being exposed to pathogens consistently.
Unfortunately, this comes with working in the healthcare industry.
Some of the exposure may even come from patients you are performing ultrasounds on, some of which may even have contagious illnesses that you could contract.
This means that you will be putting yourself and your family at risk of these contagious viruses.
At the end of the day, no one wants to constantly worry about potentially catching something from work.
5. May Cause Unwanted Stress
Your job doesn’t have to be stressful, but anytime you work in a profession that is centered around the lives of others, you are bound to experience some type of stress.
For example, you may experience a lot of pressure from an extensive patient caseload that you are required to finish by the end of the day.
You may also experience stress related to problematic ultrasounds.
It’s also possible to be called on to perform a life-saving scan where the outcome depends on your findings.
6. Certification Is Required
If you’re in a rush to find a career where much isn’t required, you may want to think twice about becoming an ultrasound technician.
Certification at the least is required for this career.
In fact, without it, there’s not too much you can do in this field.
Earning a certificate can be a deciding factor for many pursuing a career path.
By law, certification isn’t required, but many employers won’t even consider you without one.
7. Must Be Good at Math & Science
If you are the type of person who dislikes math and science, this is not the career choice for you.
Those pursuing a career as an ultrasound technician must successfully pass various math and science courses as a part of their degree program.
These programs will ultimately become the basis of your career.
Some courses you’ll be expected to complete are chemistry, college physics, biology, college algebra, anatomy, and more.
Pros and Cons of Being an Ultrasound Technician – Summary Table
| Pros of Being an Ultrasound Technician | Cons of Being an Ultrasound Technician |
|---|---|
| 1. You Can Make a Great Living | 1. Education Is not Free |
| 2. Every Day Is Not the Same | 2. School Loans May be Required |
| 3. Option to Specialize | 3. On Your Feet All-Day |
| 4. The Training Period Is Short | 4. Exposure to Pathogens |
| 5. Get Paid to Travel | 5. May Cause Unwanted Stress |
| 6. Job Security | 6. Certification Is Required |
| 7. Flexible Work Hours | 7. Must Be Good at Math & Science |
Should You Become an Ultrasound Technician?
Ultrasound technicians offer a rewarding salary, job security, room for advancement, and more.
Besides the obvious pros of becoming an ultrasound technician, you will have to earn either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree, complete an internship, and excel at math and science.
If you believe you have what it takes to be an ultrasound technician, overall, this is one profession that is highly worth it.