Massachusetts is the 7th smallest state in the nation but home to many renowned cities including Salem, Boston, and Cambridge. The state ranked 5th in CNBC’s tally of the “Top States for Business for 2010.” Its health care workers don’t fair too poorly, either, as Massachusetts is the fourth highest paying state for sonographers. Massachusetts is also home to Harvard University, which in itself is affiliated with a number of medical institutions including Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. As of 2013, there were a total of 1,330 diagnostic medical sonographers employed in the state with future employment numbers expected to reach 1,720 by 2020.
Massachusetts is one of the top paying states for ultrasound technicians, and its median annual salary $80,500 is significantly higher than the national median. Employment for ultrasound technicians in Massachusetts is projected to grow 41% between 2010 and 2020.
Certification Requirements in Massachusetts
It is not required for ultrasound technicians in Massachusetts to become licensed prior to employment. There are a number of schools throughout Massachusetts that offer programs for future diagnostic medical sonographers. Of these, 3 of the schools offer a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) also offers an exam ultrasound technicians may choose to take to gain certification.
Ultrasound Technician Salary in Massachusetts
For diagnostic medical sonographers in Massachusetts, their median annual salary in 2013 was $80,500; much higher than the national median of $66,400. Ultrasound technicians who were in the top 10% of earners averaged an annual salary of $101,700 while those in the bottom 10% earned $54,600. Technicians who were paid on an hourly basis received a median hourly wage of $38.71 in 2013.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development estimates a 41% growth rate for total employment of diagnostic medical sonographers between 2010 and 2020. Massachusetts’ employment growth would bring total technicians employed in 2020 to 1,720. Due to growth and net replacement, analysts project 70 new job openings per year.
Massachusetts Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary by Local Area:
| Local Area | Median Hourly Wage | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (all) | $38.71 | $80,500 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $40.92 | $85,100 |
| Boston – Cambridge – Quincy, MA | $39.19 | $81,500 |
| Brockton – Bridgewater – Easton, MA | $40.42 | $84,100 |
| Framingham, MA | $38.35 | $79,800 |
| Haverhill – North Andover – Amesbury, MA | $38.44 | $80,000 |
| Lowell – Billerica – Chelmsford, MA | $38.48 | $80,000 |
| Springfield, MA | $34.58 | $71,900 |
| Worcester, MA | $35.57 | $74,000 |
Source: Massachusetts Wage Information (2013)
Recommended Schools in Massachusetts
More Ultrasound Schools in Massachusetts
Other diagnostic medical sonography schools in Massachusetts include:
| School Name | School Address |
|---|---|
| Bunker Hill Community College | 250 New Rutherford Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02129 |
| Cape Cod Community College | 2240 Iyannough Rd, West Barnstable, Massachusetts 02668 |
| Massasoit Community College | One Massasoit Boulevard, Brockton, Massachusetts 02302 |
| Middlesex Community College | Springs Rd, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | 1 Armory Sq, Springfield, Massachusetts 01105 |