The job market for diagnostic medical sonographers is booming, expected to grow a whopping 34.8 percent through the year 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Estimated salary for entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers employed in the DFW metroplex is $52,000 and up. For the past 10 years, 90 percent of El Centro’s sonography graduates have been employed by affiliates in the metroplex. El Centro is affiliated with 36 area hospitals in four surrounding counties, providing a broad range of clinical experience to augment instruction.

Sonographers should experience excellent job opportunities as ultrasound becomes an increasingly attractive alternative to radiologic procedures (which use X-rays or radioactive material). With the strong shift towards outpatient care, more procedures are performed outside of hospitals and clinics, creating even more job openings for qualified sonographers.

More information about careers in sonography can be found on the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography Web site. You can view a free five-minute podcast about Diagnostic Medical Sonography on your computer or video iPod.