Average Salary

• Cardio technicians earned a median annual salary of $47,010 as of May 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those employed within a hospital setting earned a median salary of $46,670, while cardio radiographers who worked in physicians' offices earned $48,590.
  
  

Salary by Region

• Salary potential within this field varies significantly throughout different parts of the country. Those looking to maximize earnings should look for jobs in Massachusetts or New Jersey, where cardio technicians earn more than $63,000 per year on average. The Pacific Northwest also offers strong wages, with cardio radiographers in Oregon and Washington earning an average of more than $60,000 per year. While the state of Florida offers some of the best job prospects within this field, wages remain below the national average in this state.
  
  

Credentials

• The majority of employers require cardio radiographers to obtain credentialing through either the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers or Cardiovascular Credentialing International. As part of this credentialing process, candidates must complete a two or four year degree in a cardio technician or vascular sonography program.
  
  

Increased Earning Potential

• Candidates may increase earnings potential and advance in this field through increased education and credentialing. Supervisory and management positions generally offer higher wages, as do jobs in education or laboratory research. Employees can also earn more as they work their way up through the pay scale within hospitals and other facilities.
  
  

Job Prospects

• The cardiovascular technician field is expected to grow by nearly 24 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This represents a faster growth rate than the average for all industries, which means that candidates within this field will find many job opportunities. Approximately 77 percent of cardio radiographers are employed in a hospital setting, while the remainder work in physicians' offices or medical imaging centers.