The ultrasound tech makes clear images of the patient’s internal organs and soft tissues to help the registered medical doctor to diagnose the medical condition of the patient. Just like the ultrasound technician, the x-ray technician is responsible in getting clear images of the patient’s body parts, which is being requested by the medical doctor to be photographed. With the duties and responsibilities of both the x-ray technician and the ultrasound tech, which career is more enjoyable?
One of the main ultrasound educational requirements is that one must be able to complete any of the sonography programs such as one-year certificate programs, two-year associate programs and the four-year bachelor programs. While the one-year certificate programs are intended for medical professionals, associate and bachelor degree programs are intended for high school graduates. The educational requirement to become X-ray technician is just the same as the ultrasound technician. There is also a certificate program, associate degree and bachelor degree to become x-ray tech.
Both the ultrasound sonographers and the x-ray technicians are mostly spotted in hospitals, doctor’s clinics and diagnostic centers. They are in demand in areas where diagnosis of disease is needed. The difference between the two professions is the working environment.
While the sonographer is working in a safer environment with his non-invasive ultrasound machine, the x-ray technician is exposed in radiation with the x-ray machines he uses. The ultrasound machines use sound waves that are safer for both the technician and the patient while x-ray machines emit radiation that is harmful for the health of the patients and the technician. Although there is a protocol that patients must be protected from radiation, there is a risk that patients can be affected by the radiation especially if the patient is always exposed under the x-ray machines.
The annual ultrasound salary starts from $38,581 – $79,109 while x-ray technicians are paid yearly starting from $25,931 to $59,969. The sonographer salary range is a little bit higher than the x-ray technicians. According to the report of the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, employment growth for the ultrasound sonography field from 2008 to 2016 is expected to be 19% while for the x-ray technicians is expected to have a growth of 17% from 2008-2016. More job opportunities for both professionals are at stake in the coming years. Though x-ray is not already an option of most patients because of radiation, still the employment growth is high and job outlook for x-ray technicians is good in the future.
There are no quantifiable factors to conclude that either ultrasound technician or x-ray technician career is enjoyable. However, the facts provided above can make one decide of which career he will enjoy more based on his qualifications of an enjoyable profession. Every individual has its own personality and lines of interest and this are the factors, which will direct his decision of whether to pursue the sonographer career or the x-ray tech career.