The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) has updated its Sonographer and Sonography Educator Salary and Benefits Reports, as well as its SDMS Compensation Calculator.
The reports have been updated with 2018 data to provide salary and benefits data, including compensation for sonographers by credential, bonuses and salary increases, benefits provided, hours worked per week, and the average number of scans performed in a typical workday, according to the SDMS.
As of July 1, 2018, the median base hourly wage for sonographers was $35.16, up 3.4% from the median base hourly wage of $34 in 2015. In addition, the SDMS said the average sonographer has been working in sonography for 14.5 years and 94% of sonographers were employees of facilities, institutions, clinics, or private offices.
What's more, 65% held a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) certification -- most commonly in abdominal (51%) or ob/gyn (50%), the society said. In addition, 26% held a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) credential, while 39% held a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credential.
Sonography educators had a median annual base salary of $78,000 as of July 1, 2018, up 4% from the $75,000 median annual base salary in 2015. The typical sonography educator has worked in the field of sonography for 21 years and has been a sonography educator for 10 years, according to the SDMS.
The society said that 63% of sonography educators indicated their institutional setting was a college or university; 14% were in a hospital-based or sponsored program setting, while 14% were at specialty/technical institutes. An additional 1% worked in an ultrasound equipment, services, or supply company setting.
The SDMS also noted that 77% of sonography educators held an RDMS certification, most commonly in abdominal (72%) or ob/gyn (67%). In addition, 51% held an RVT credential and 30% held an RDCS credential.
Meanwhile, the updated SDMS Compensation Calculator enables SDMS members to generate customized compensation reports based on variables such as position, education level, experience, credentials, and other demographic information, the SDMS said.
SDMS members can access the Sonographer and Sonography Educator Salary and Benefits Reports for free as part of their member benefits, while nonmembers may purchase the reports in the SDMS online store. Only members can access the SDMS Compensation Calculator, however.
