Occupations: Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Overview of the profession:
Certified Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (CDMS) play a vital role in healthcare by performing ultrasound examinations that help diagnose various medical conditions, monitor fetal development during pregnancy, and guide specific medical procedures. Beyond technical skills, sonographers work with patients to explain procedures and provide comfort during procedures. To become a CDMS, individuals must earn an associate's or a bachelor's degree in diagnostic medical sonography from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health/Education Programs. Upon graduation, individuals must take one or more certification examinations through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS), which, once passed, awards individuals with a certification and a credential for each additional examination taken. CDMSs typically work in hospitals, physician offices, or diagnostic medical labs. Due to their specialized role in conducting and interpreting imaging, CDMSs are important in condition diagnosis and patient care.
Policy Highlights
Includes recent proposed legislation.
Current Workforce Data
We've provided the latest data from Lightcast below. Click on the images to enlarge them and review them in further detail.
2024 Hourly Wages
10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$29.21 | $31.87 | $37.49 | $39.41 | $42.04 |
Top Posted Job Titles
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Travel Ultrasound Technologists
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Ultrasound Technologists
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Sonographers
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Ultrasonographers
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Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
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Ultrasound Technicians
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Vascular Sonographers
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Lead Ultrasound Technicians
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Vascular Ultrasound Technicians
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Ultrasound Technologists/Sonographers
Index Ranking
Ranked 4th (out of 36) "healthiest" profession according to the 2024 Michigan Healthcare Workforce Index.
Learn more here.
2024 Employment: 3,333
Projected 2034 Employment: 3,681 (+10%)
Highlighted Workforce Initiatives
Name: Alpena Public Schools CTE
Prosperity Region: 3
Description: Health-related CTE courses at Alpena Public Schools include the Healthcare Occupations Cluster for students considering post-secondary programs in health-related careers and the Healthcare Occupations Certification Section where students can obtain a nurse assistant certification at course completion. Alpena Public Schools has a state-of-the-art learning lab for their health courses.
Name: Summer Youth Work Experience Program
Prosperity Region: 6
Description: The Summer Youth Work Experience Program is offered through GST Michigan Works! and the Greater Flint Health Coalition. The purpose of the program is to attract youth in Genesee, Shiawassee and thumb counties who are between 18-24 and who have either a high school diploma or GED to work temporary positions in the healthcare industry. Participants get to explore healthcare careers, develop soft skills to increase their employability, build their professional experience through a job and earn money. The goal of the program is to increase the number of healthcare workers in Genesee and surrounding counties.
Name: Health Science Summer Camps
Prosperity Region: 10
Description: The camp welcomes students entering the 10th, 11th, or 12th grades to explore the extensive variety of future health careers that match their current interests. At this camp, students discover the broad range of health fields included in the four departments of the School of Health Sciences: Interdisciplinary Health Sciences - where life and health interests intersect; Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences - serving the sciences of clinical determination; Human Movement Science - advancing and restoring physical function; and Public and Environmental Wellness - pursuing society's big health challenges.
Career Pathway
What is needed to become a Certified Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (CDMS) in Michigan?
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers are not required to hold licensure to practice in Michigan. However, many employers require individuals to be certified through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). To become credentialed, individuals must first earn an associate or bachelor’s in diagnostic medical sonography from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied
Health/Education Programs. Individuals must then pass at least one sonography credentialing examination through the ARDMS which earns them certification, and a credential in the exam focus area.
Latest Diagnostic Medical Sonographer News
