Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between cardiac technicians and cardiovascular sonographers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a cardiac technician and a cardiovascular sonographer. Additionally, a cardiovascular sonographer has an average salary of $80,456, which is higher than the $39,698 average annual salary of a cardiac technician.
The top three skills for a cardiac technician include patients, BLS and CPR. The most important skills for a cardiovascular sonographer are patients, BLS, and RDCS.
| Cardiac Technician | Cardiovascular Sonographer | |
| Yearly salary | $39,698 | $80,456 |
| Hourly rate | $19.09 | $38.68 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 50,689 | 13,174 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Cardiac or cardiovascular technicians are healthcare professionals who participate in saving the lives of patients with a heart attack by helping physicians diagnose and treat cardiac and peripheral vascular ailments. These technicians are experts in conducting electrocardiogram (ECG) tests that measure the electrical activity of a patient's heart. They prepare patients and position them for the medical procedure while setting up the necessary diagnosing and monitoring equipment. Cardiac technicians must also assist cardiovascular surgeons in interpreting the reports for their patients.
A cardiovascular sonographer specializes in operating non-invasive imaging equipment to help physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular issues. They conduct imaging test procedures and assist patients by answering questions, preparing them for the tests, helping them understand the process, providing step-by-step instructions, and making them feel at ease the entire time. They are also responsible for evaluating the images, utilizing their knowledge to sort out abnormalities detected. Moreover, as a cardiovascular sonographer, it is essential to produce accurate results, all while maintaining a transparent and open communication line with physicians and nurses.
Cardiac technicians and cardiovascular sonographers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cardiac Technician | Cardiovascular Sonographer | |
| Average salary | $39,698 | $80,456 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $50,000 | Between $55,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fargo, ND | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Brigham and Women's Hospital | - |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a cardiac technician and a cardiovascular sonographer in terms of educational background:
| Cardiac Technician | Cardiovascular Sonographer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | Emory University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between cardiac technicians' and cardiovascular sonographers' demographics:
| Cardiac Technician | Cardiovascular Sonographer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.4% Female, 65.6% | Male, 23.7% Female, 76.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |