What does an ultrasound technologist do?
An ultrasound technologist is responsible for assisting medical professionals in operating high-end equipment to diagnose patients' illnesses and monitor health conditions. Ultrasound technologists regularly inspect the efficiency and reliability of the machine and report inconsistencies and defects for immediate repair or replacement. They record scan results and endorse the patient to appropriate medical staff for required medication and further observation. An ultrasound technologist must have excellent knowledge and extensive experience in the medical industry to provide quality care for the patients and address their needs and concerns.
Ultrasound technologist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real ultrasound technologist resumes:
- Perform ABIs while the vascular technologist perform the ultrasound to help with achieving a timely schedule.
- Accomplish general ultrasounds centered on abdominal, OB-GYN, small parts, pelvic (male), and vascular.
- Train new students how to perform PVR, segmental and ABI studies
- Assist and independently perform 2D echo studies using m-mode, color flow, spectral and tissue Doppler, measurements and calculations.
- Provide outpatient ultrasound studies in vascular, observe in echocardiogram
- Perform a variety of procedures including abdomen, vascular and gynecology exams.
- Educate radiology residents on ultrasound findings along with supervising ultrasound exams that the residents perform.
- Perform independent ultrasound examinations on patients in nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities and correctional institutions.
- Provide quality diagnostic ultrasounds in abdomen, gynecology, small parts and vascular for interpretation.
- Perform clinical assessments and diagnostic sonography examinations for neonate, infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult/geriatric.
- stress test, ABI's.
- Use of m-mode, color Doppler, PW Doppler.
- Work as a part-time RVT.
- Establish iv's throughout hospital.
- Register ARDMS in abdomen and physics.
Ultrasound technologist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Ultrasound Technologists are proficient in Patients, ARDMS, and Ultrasound Procedures. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Hand-eye coordination, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Ultrasound Technologists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 17%
Prepare and position patients for examinations; take medical histories and input patient information into medical record.
- ARDMS, 11%
Performed Diagnostic Ultrasound Examinations in busy Clinical setting under ARDMS Registered mentor and Dept.
- Ultrasound Procedures, 11%
Prepared patients for various examinations by researching any previous ultrasounds or other related examinations pertaining to the patient's current exam.
- Patient Care, 8%
Worked collaboratively with vascular surgeons, vascular physician assistants, medical doctors and nurses in providing excellent patient care and treatment.
- Pacs, 7%
Review obtained images on PACS system, record pertinent information into RIS system and present case to Radiologist.
- Vascular Ultrasound, 6%
Perform a wide variety of vascular ultrasound exams, including carotid, peripheral arterial, peripheral venous and abdominal vascular.
"patients," "ardms," and "ultrasound procedures" are among the most common skills that ultrasound technologists use at work. You can find even more ultrasound technologist responsibilities below, including:
Detail oriented. One of the key soft skills for an ultrasound technologist to have is detail oriented. You can see how this relates to what ultrasound technologists do because "diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must follow precise instructions to obtain the images needed to diagnose and treat patients." Additionally, an ultrasound technologist resume shows how ultrasound technologists use detail oriented: "provided detailed sonographic evaluation of small parts including scrotum, thyroid and breast. "
Hand-eye coordination. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling ultrasound technologist duties is hand-eye coordination. The role rewards competence in this skill because "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." According to an ultrasound technologist resume, here's how ultrasound technologists can utilize hand-eye coordination in their job responsibilities: "maintain effective organizational and communication skills with other healthcare professionals to ensure timely coordination of patient care. "
Physical stamina. For certain ultrasound technologist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "physical stamina." The day-to-day duties of an ultrasound technologist rely on this skill, as "diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians stand for long periods and must be able to lift and move patients who need assistance." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what ultrasound technologists do: "obtain and record accurate patient history, including prior test results and information from physical examinations. "
Technical skills. A commonly-found skill in ultrasound technologist job descriptions, "technical skills" is essential to what ultrasound technologists do. Ultrasound technologist responsibilities rely on this skill because "diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must understand how to operate complex machinery and computerized instruments." You can also see how ultrasound technologist duties rely on technical skills in this resume example: "provide technical and clinical assistance for surgical procedures such as liver and thyroid biopsies, thoracentesis and paracentesis. "
The three companies that hire the most ultrasound technologists are:
- Aya Healthcare689 ultrasound technologists jobs
- DispatchHealth388 ultrasound technologists jobs
- Nomad Health327 ultrasound technologists jobs
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Compare different ultrasound technologists
Ultrasound technologist vs. Cardiac sonographer
A cardiac sonographer specializes in operating imaging technologies to help physicians assess and determine the cardiac conditions of patients. Aside from coordinating with physicians, a cardiac sonographer also interacts with patients, providing them assistance throughout the process, and discussing the extent of procedures. Typically, a cardiac sonographer's responsibilities revolve around coordinating with hospital staff to gather patient information, sharing test results to physicians promptly, and even managing the scheduling of patients, all in adherence to the hospital's policies and regulations.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, ultrasound technologist responsibilities require skills like "ultrasound procedures," "vascular ultrasound," "radiology," and "ultrasound exams." Meanwhile a typical cardiac sonographer has skills in areas such as "registry," "rdcs," "bls," and "cardiac ultrasound." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Cardiac sonographers really shine in the health care industry with an average salary of $79,528. Comparatively, ultrasound technologists tend to make the most money in the health care industry with an average salary of $90,559.cardiac sonographers tend to reach similar levels of education than ultrasound technologists. In fact, cardiac sonographers are 2.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Ultrasound technologist vs. Echocardiographer
An echocardiographer has knowledge acquired through years of studying. They assist doctors in diagnosing diseases by producing two- or three-dimensional images of the heart. Non-invasively, they send sonic waves to the heart, where waves bounce on heart's structures, showing areas of high pressures, plaques, and other abnormalities. They bear good communication skills to explain the procedure to the patients. Thus, echocardiographers assist doctors to come up with the best treatment plans for the patient.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real ultrasound technologist resumes. While ultrasound technologist responsibilities can utilize skills like "ultrasound procedures," "vascular ultrasound," "radiology," and "ultrasound exams," echocardiographers use skills like "echocardiography," "bls," "rdcs," and "cardiac ultrasound."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Echocardiographers tend to reach similar levels of education than ultrasound technologists. In fact, they're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Ultrasound technologist vs. Diagnostic medical sonographer
A Diagnostic Medical Sonographer uses ultrasound high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal body tissues. Some typical duties include preparing patients, explaining the exams, and reporting the results to the patients or a physician.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, ultrasound technologists are more likely to have skills like "ultrasound exams," "ultrasound tech," "abd," and "ultrasound images." But a diagnostic medical sonographer is more likely to have skills like "ob-gyn," "abdomen," "doppler," and "exam rooms."
Diagnostic medical sonographers make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $85,336. On the other hand, ultrasound technologists are paid the highest salary in the health care industry, with average annual pay of $90,559.Most diagnostic medical sonographers achieve a similar degree level compared to ultrasound technologists. For example, they're 1.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Ultrasound technologist vs. Registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer
Even though a few skill sets overlap between ultrasound technologists and registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an ultrasound technologist might have more use for skills like "patients," "ultrasound procedures," "vascular ultrasound," and "radiology." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers require skills like "rdcs," "quality images," "diagnostic procedures," and "continuous wave. "
Registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers reach similar levels of education compared to ultrasound technologists, in general. The difference is that they're 1.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of ultrasound technologist
Updated January 8, 2025
