Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians: Career Profile
Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Perform?
Typical responsibilities of cardiovascular technologists and technicians include:
- Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
- Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
- Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
- Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
- Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
- Prepare and position patients for testing.
- Attach electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operate the EKG machine to obtain a reading.
- Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.
Skills and Knowledge
Top cardiovascular technologists and technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- ARRT Technologist (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Technologist)
- Cardiac Cath Lab Tech (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technician)
- Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technologist)
- Cardiac Catheterization Special Procedures Technologist
- Cardiac Catheterization Technician
- Cardiac Catheterization Technologist
- Cardiac Monitor Technician
- Cardiac Technician
How Many Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Are There?
There are roughly 1,636,296 cardiovascular technologists and technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -0.3% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $36,739 |
| Hourly median | $17.66 |
| 10th percentile | $23,271 |
| 25th percentile | $30,005 |
| 75th percentile | $43,473 |
| 90th percentile | $50,208 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $118,510 |
| Hawaii | $107,910 |
| Massachusetts | $101,980 |
| Rhode Island | $100,040 |
| Idaho | $98,140 |
| Oregon | $96,550 |
| Utah | $89,420 |
| New York | $86,050 |
| District of Columbia | $86,010 |
| Colorado | $85,710 |
| New Hampshire | $85,630 |
| New Jersey | $81,160 |
| Wyoming | $80,930 |
| Maryland | $80,780 |
| Connecticut | $80,390 |
| Maine | $79,730 |
| Delaware | $79,550 |
| Virginia | $78,720 |
| Michigan | $78,480 |
| Ohio | $77,790 |
| Missouri | $76,640 |
| Washington | $76,470 |
| Montana | $76,370 |
| Illinois | $73,600 |
| Arkansas | $70,930 |
| Kansas | $70,220 |
| Georgia | $69,490 |
| Minnesota | $69,480 |
| North Dakota | $68,860 |
| Iowa | $68,840 |
| Wisconsin | $68,630 |
| Vermont | $68,030 |
| Indiana | $67,970 |
| Arizona | $65,720 |
| California | $64,720 |
| South Dakota | $64,720 |
| Florida | $64,000 |
| Tennessee | $63,940 |
| South Carolina | $63,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,920 |
| Nebraska | $60,670 |
| Kentucky | $58,660 |
| North Carolina | $58,050 |
| Louisiana | $53,610 |
| Nevada | $50,430 |
| Texas | $47,970 |
| Alabama | $45,280 |
| Mississippi | $45,120 |
| New Mexico | $41,860 |
| Oklahoma | $40,970 |
| West Virginia | $35,640 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,240 |
Where Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Earn the Most
Compensation for cardiovascular technologists and technicians vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $92,181 | 3.7% | 0.80 |
| Rocky Mountains | $87,352 | 2.9% | 0.81 |
| Middle Atlantic | $76,597 | 17.4% | 1.24 |
| Great Lakes | $74,429 | 12.9% | 0.96 |
| Plains States | $70,269 | 5.3% | 0.79 |
| Far Western US | $69,292 | 13.6% | 0.82 |
| Southeast | $63,095 | 30.6% | 1.31 |
| Southwest | $50,933 | 12.7% | 1.03 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $124,300 | 210 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $118,510 | 70 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $107,910 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $104,930 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | CA | $103,900 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $103,360 | 830 |
| New Haven, CT | CT | $102,520 | 100 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | UT | $98,690 | 80 |
Which Industries Hire Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
The bulk of cardiovascular technologists and technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 59,530 | $67,260 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 660 | $86,560 |
| Educational Services | 360 | $84,950 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Use
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for cardiovascular technologists and technicians reflects the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Physical Proximity
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
Typical cardiovascular technologists and technicians positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Radiation Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Respiratory Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Radiologists (Supplemental)
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
- Pediatric Surgeons (Supplemental)
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for cardiovascular technologists and technicians often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
4 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2031.00 (Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.