Cardiovascular Technologist Salary

The cardiovascular technologist salary is one of the best compensation packages available to unlicensed allied health personnel. Individuals who pursue this specialized career opportunity may have a wide variety of job titles and often offer an array of services that are critical to the evaluation and treatment of many heart diseases. While some technologists are trained to perform several activities associated with patient care, others are encouraged to focus on specific tasks that do require a high degree of precision and accuracy.

Common Job Titles

A few of the most common titles assigned to people in this profession include things like EKG technician, the cardiac catheterization technician, cardiovascular technician, and the cardiovascular invasive specialist. The role that the individual has within the department is generally reflected in the title that is assigned and can change over time as knowledge and experience is acquired. In general, those who are responsible for added activities and who have worked in the field for many years might expect to benefit from a more competitive cardiovascular technologist salary than those who are just starting out and who do not have the education and training required to work independent of professional supervision.

Employment Settings

Some of the most appealing aspects of the profession include low barriers to entry and the availability of jobs in different types of healthcare organizations. Medical facilities that offer cardiac care often include general and surgical hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, outpatient care centers, and the offices of physicians. This gives people a variety of work options when seeking a position as an unlicensed provider in the cardiology field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those who work in the office of a physician enjoy a higher cardiovascular technologist salary than those who pursue employment in other establishments. While this might be true in a general sense, it is important to consider the other factors that could impact the size of the compensation package before committing to a particular opportunity or choosing to sign a long-term employment contract.

The Impact of Credentials

While some technologists are able to enter the specialty with no previous work experience in the medical industry, most employers prefer to hire applicants who have mastered the basics of patient care and who have a list of positive references. This usually requires that an individual start their career in a general area of practice before making the transition to a specialized department like cardiology. Most facilities will not expect an applicant to have a four-year college degree, but they may offer hiring preference to individuals who have an associate’s degree and national certification that is relevant to the department. The initial years of employment as a medical assistant or nurse aide is an excellent time to develop a more informed understanding of the many challenges associated with patient care and to complete a few certification exams that will help compete against more qualified applicants.

Individuals who are new to the cardiovascular care division will likely be required to pass a training program before offering direct care to patients. There are a couple of methods that companies might use to train new employees including in-house instruction and supervision as well as formal certificate programs offered through community colleges and universities. It is a good idea to find out which approach is preferred by an employer before enrolling in classes being administered by an independent educational institution.

This approach will ensure that the credentials being issued are approved as a legitimate way of demonstrating competence and will be recognized by others in the industry. Those who complete an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in a health related field may be able to benefit from a more competitive cardiovascular technologist salary, but it is typically not expected as a condition of employment in this profession.

Geographic Location

Another important point to consider when evaluating one’s potential earnings is the effect that geographic location can have on employment opportunities. In general, an individual who plans on living and working in a region that has a high population density and a strong healthcare community can expect to benefit from competition that occurs between facilities trying to attract desirable personnel. The government has collected a significant amount of data relating to pay in different regions of the United States and has found that Florida, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, and New York have the most job openings while Alaska, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, and New Jersey pay the most. These statistics make sense given the fact that these states enjoy a high demand for care, but lack the number of personnel required to keep their facilities fully staffed.

Those who want to maximize the cardiovascular technologist salary, but who live in areas that do not have many job opportunities, might want to consider relocating in order to take advantage of more lucrative options in other parts of the US. Individuals who are willing to move in order to earn more can expect to be paid as much as $55,000 – $60,000 each year as a technologist. This assumes full-time employment with a few years of experience and some form of national certification. As an employee becomes more acquainted with the profession, they may be asked to accept responsibility for certain administrative tasks such as training new employees, supervising coworkers, and providing performance evaluations. This type of promotion usually comes with an increase in pay associated with the additional value that the technologist brings to the organization.

Industry Growth

The unlicensed allied health provider is an important part of providing high quality care to the public and is currently experiencing significant job growth associated with an increased demand secondary to the growing population, the aging Baby Boomer generation, and the rising prevalence of diabetes and obesity in the US. As chronic disease becomes far more common, the rate of morbidity and mortality will rise substantially. According to federal statistics, the number of jobs in the cardiac care specialty is expected to rise by 30% over the next 10 years. This will result in several new career advancement opportunities and an increasingly competitive cardiovascular technologist salary. Those who are willing to work hard to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become successful in this specialty can expect solid job security for the foreseeable future.

A career as a technologist in cardiac care is one of the most demanding and rewarding work experiences available within the medical field. Few professions offer as much opportunity to have a positive influence on the lives of others while contributing to the health and well-being of society. Individuals who are considering this option are encouraged to honestly evaluate the appropriateness of the profession based on the personality traits they have. A medical setting is often stressful and can demand compassion, patience, understanding, and empathy.