Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2031) earn a median $74,310 a year ($35.73 an hour) in the United States, with 62,960 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Utah.
What cardiovascular technologists and technicians do
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians conduct tests on the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic, therapeutic or research purposes. They run electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, echocardiogram and stress tests to record cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment and recording devices. For an electrocardiogram, they attach electrodes to the patient's chest, arms and legs, connect them to the machine's leads and operate it to obtain a reading. They prepare and position patients, explain the procedure to gain cooperation and reduce anxiety, record identification, medical history and results, and adjust the equipment according to physicians' orders or established protocol. During diagnostic or therapeutic procedures they monitor blood pressure and heart rate, watch the patient's comfort and safety, and alert the physician to abnormalities. The SOC adds that the work may include cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary function tests and lung capacity tests. O*NET alternate titles include cardiac catheterization technologist, cardiac monitor technician and cardiograph operator. Nearly two thirds of respondents report an associate degree. Sonographers have their own code.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report an associate degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (63 percent).
Also called: ARRT Technologist (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Technologist), Cardiac Cath Lab Technician (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technician), Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technologist), Cardiac Catheterization Special Procedures Technologist, Cardiac Catheterization Technician.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.75 | $23.02 | $35.73 | $47.17 | $58.34 | $36.99 | 62,960 |
| Annual | $39,000 | $47,890 | $74,310 | $98,110 | $121,350 | $76,940 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where cardiovascular technologists and technicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Utah | Hourly | $22.97 | $40.58 | $54.57 | $107.83 | $107.83 | $67.45 | 1,250 | 0.72 | 1.78 |
| Annual | $47,780 | $84,410 | $113,510 | $224,280 | $224,280 | $140,290 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $24.29 | $27.57 | $53.72 | $62.59 | $63.88 | $47.23 | 140 | 0.23 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $50,520 | $57,350 | $111,730 | $130,180 | $132,860 | $98,250 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $22.93 | $30.42 | $50.76 | $61.20 | $64.61 | $48.21 | 1,110 | 0.31 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $47,690 | $63,270 | $105,580 | $127,300 | $134,390 | $100,280 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $30.85 | $39.64 | $50.00 | $50.22 | $60.65 | $45.23 | 260 | 0.52 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $64,160 | $82,450 | $104,000 | $104,460 | $126,150 | $94,080 | ||||
| Idaho | Hourly | $22.34 | $40.48 | $48.13 | $56.38 | $59.23 | $44.92 | 220 | 0.26 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $46,460 | $84,190 | $100,100 | $117,270 | $123,200 | $93,420 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.62 | $20.12 | $25.48 | $39.74 | $49.58 | $30.88 | 6,140 | 0.44 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $36,650 | $41,840 | $53,000 | $82,660 | $103,120 | $64,230 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.02 | $19.77 | $37.09 | $45.85 | $51.34 | $34.55 | 5,640 | 0.57 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $37,490 | $41,110 | $77,140 | $95,370 | $106,800 | $71,870 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $26.31 | $31.77 | $37.58 | $59.71 | $75.71 | $44.94 | 5,570 | 0.31 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $54,720 | $66,090 | $78,170 | $124,200 | $157,470 | $93,480 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $19.62 | $22.00 | $27.93 | $41.33 | $48.20 | $33.04 | 3,630 | 0.60 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $40,810 | $45,760 | $58,090 | $85,960 | $100,250 | $68,720 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $24.30 | $29.33 | $43.06 | $51.76 | $61.90 | $42.08 | 3,540 | 0.37 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $50,540 | $61,010 | $89,570 | $107,650 | $128,750 | $87,530 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | Hourly | $23.66 | $52.11 | $107.83 | $107.83 | $107.83 | $80.37 | 810 | 0.98 | 2.42 |
| Annual | $49,210 | $108,390 | $224,280 | $224,280 | $224,280 | $167,160 | ||||
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | Hourly | $24.59 | $37.62 | $61.79 | $70.04 | $79.48 | $53.87 | 50 | 0.17 | 0.41 |
| Annual | $51,150 | $78,250 | $128,530 | $145,690 | $165,330 | $112,050 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $24.29 | $24.67 | $53.72 | $61.87 | $63.88 | $46.15 | 130 | 0.30 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $50,520 | $51,310 | $111,730 | $128,700 | $132,860 | $95,980 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $29.70 | $36.14 | $51.79 | $65.19 | $77.37 | $51.22 | 640 | 0.31 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $61,770 | $75,170 | $107,710 | $135,600 | $160,930 | $106,530 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $24.28 | $36.30 | $51.44 | $61.64 | $74.55 | $52.14 | 780 | 0.29 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $50,500 | $75,510 | $107,000 | $128,210 | $155,070 | $108,440 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.59 | $29.76 | $41.93 | $51.76 | $61.98 | $42.20 | 4,180 | 0.44 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $49,070 | $61,890 | $87,210 | $107,650 | $128,920 | $87,780 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $29.22 | $31.77 | $31.77 | $48.99 | $64.82 | $40.87 | 2,600 | 0.42 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $60,780 | $66,090 | $66,090 | $101,900 | $134,820 | $85,000 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $22.51 | $22.93 | $35.28 | $46.85 | $50.66 | $36.65 | 1,880 | 0.65 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $46,820 | $47,700 | $73,380 | $97,450 | $105,370 | $76,230 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $19.12 | $21.74 | $24.32 | $39.77 | $53.80 | $31.53 | 1,660 | 0.41 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $39,770 | $45,210 | $50,590 | $82,720 | $111,910 | $65,580 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $18.65 | $21.41 | $29.16 | $39.88 | $49.19 | $32.15 | 1,480 | 0.45 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $38,780 | $44,530 | $60,650 | $82,940 | $102,310 | $66,870 | ||||
Top industries employing cardiovascular technologists and technicians
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals employ 76.5% of cardiovascular technologists and technicians nationally (48,190 jobs) at a median $71,320 a year ($34.29 an hour), followed by Offices of Physicians (13.0%) and Outpatient Care Centers (2.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 48,190 | 76.5% | $71,320 | $34.29 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 8,200 | 13.0% | $76,850 | $36.95 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 1,410 | 2.2% | $95,080 | $45.71 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals NAICS 622300 | 1,020 | 1.6% | $51,240 | $24.64 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories NAICS 621500 | 970 | 1.5% | $81,200 | $39.04 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (62,960). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $60,570 for cardiovascular technologists and technicians in May 2021 and $74,310 in May 2025, with employment of 55,760 and 62,960.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $60,570 | $29.12 | 55,760 |
| May 2022 | $63,020 | $30.30 | 55,750 |
| May 2023 | $66,170 | $31.81 | 55,660 |
| May 2024 | $67,260 | $32.34 | 61,180 |
| May 2025 | $74,310 | $35.73 | 62,960 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah profile | $54.57 | $113,510 | $47,780 | $224,280 | 1,250 | 0.72 | 1.78 |
| 2 | Hawaii profile | $53.72 | $111,730 | $50,520 | $132,860 | 140 | 0.23 | 0.57 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $50.76 | $105,580 | $47,690 | $134,390 | 1,110 | 0.31 | 0.75 |
| 4 | Rhode Island profile | $50.00 | $104,000 | $64,160 | $126,150 | 260 | 0.52 | 1.29 |
| 5 | Idaho profile | $48.13 | $100,100 | $46,460 | $123,200 | 220 | 0.26 | 0.64 |
| 6 | District of Columbia profile | $47.78 | $99,380 | $49,520 | $157,420 | 280 | 0.40 | 0.99 |
| 7 | Oregon profile | $47.71 | $99,240 | $49,740 | $135,060 | 550 | 0.28 | 0.69 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | $45.64 | $94,940 | $43,880 | $129,020 | 620 | 0.37 | 0.91 |
| 9 | Colorado profile | $45.29 | $94,190 | $50,230 | $129,730 | 720 | 0.25 | 0.62 |
| 10 | New York profile | $43.06 | $89,570 | $50,540 | $128,750 | 3,540 | 0.37 | 0.90 |
| 11 | Delaware profile | $42.13 | $87,640 | $39,980 | $111,240 | 290 | 0.59 | 1.46 |
| 12 | Maryland profile | $41.56 | $86,440 | $41,160 | $117,140 | 970 | 0.35 | 0.87 |
| 13 | Wyoming profile | $40.45 | $84,140 | $49,350 | $105,910 | 60 | 0.22 | 0.55 |
| 14 | Washington profile | $40.28 | $83,790 | $56,310 | $150,130 | 1,110 | 0.31 | 0.77 |
| 15 | New Hampshire profile | $39.95 | $83,100 | $46,950 | $120,760 | 150 | 0.22 | 0.54 |
| 16 | Montana profile | $39.83 | $82,850 | $40,690 | $106,640 | 190 | 0.37 | 0.91 |
| 17 | New Jersey profile | $39.76 | $82,710 | $47,950 | $115,550 | 2,440 | 0.57 | 1.40 |
| 18 | Maine profile | $39.45 | $82,050 | $46,380 | $105,830 | 220 | 0.35 | 0.86 |
| 19 | Michigan profile | $38.77 | $80,650 | $38,990 | $96,500 | 2,070 | 0.47 | 1.16 |
| 20 | Indiana profile | $38.16 | $79,380 | $38,930 | $104,130 | 1,380 | 0.43 | 1.06 |
| 21 | Ohio profile | $38.11 | $79,270 | $38,670 | $101,030 | 2,140 | 0.39 | 0.95 |
| 22 | Alaska profile | $38.00 | $79,040 | $48,210 | $137,280 | 160 | 0.48 | 1.19 |
| 23 | Iowa profile | $37.91 | $78,850 | $40,530 | $101,850 | 380 | 0.24 | 0.59 |
| 24 | California profile | $37.58 | $78,170 | $54,720 | $157,470 | 5,570 | 0.31 | 0.76 |
| 25 | Georgia profile | $37.53 | $78,070 | $40,920 | $112,120 | 2,580 | 0.53 | 1.31 |
| 26 | Florida profile | $37.09 | $77,140 | $37,490 | $106,800 | 5,640 | 0.57 | 1.40 |
| 27 | Virginia profile | $36.96 | $76,880 | $38,370 | $131,330 | 2,410 | 0.59 | 1.45 |
| 28 | Tennessee profile | $36.85 | $76,650 | $39,600 | $103,970 | 1,030 | 0.32 | 0.78 |
| 29 | Arizona profile | $36.01 | $74,900 | $39,450 | $127,670 | 1,450 | 0.45 | 1.10 |
| 30 | Arkansas profile | $35.96 | $74,800 | $45,410 | $105,140 | 410 | 0.32 | 0.79 |
| 31 | Wisconsin profile | $35.76 | $74,380 | $47,460 | $108,080 | 900 | 0.31 | 0.75 |
| 32 | Missouri profile | $35.43 | $73,680 | $37,500 | $103,930 | 850 | 0.29 | 0.72 |
| 33 | Minnesota profile | $34.38 | $71,520 | $48,970 | $106,650 | 950 | 0.32 | 0.80 |
| 34 | Nevada profile | $34.25 | $71,240 | $46,020 | $125,480 | 380 | 0.25 | 0.61 |
| 35 | Vermont profile | $33.47 | $69,620 | $46,110 | $134,570 | 50 | 0.17 | 0.43 |
| 36 | Kansas profile | $33.20 | $69,060 | $39,820 | $102,440 | 540 | 0.37 | 0.92 |
| 37 | South Dakota profile | $32.35 | $67,290 | $40,650 | $103,040 | 200 | 0.43 | 1.07 |
| 38 | North Dakota profile | $31.68 | $65,890 | $38,790 | $110,240 | 120 | 0.27 | 0.67 |
| 39 | Illinois profile | $29.75 | $61,870 | $40,550 | $105,150 | 1,710 | 0.28 | 0.69 |
| 40 | Kentucky profile | $29.32 | $60,980 | $37,870 | $101,250 | 940 | 0.47 | 1.16 |
| 41 | Nebraska profile | $28.85 | $60,000 | $40,280 | $98,490 | 330 | 0.32 | 0.78 |
| 42 | South Carolina profile | $28.45 | $59,170 | $35,330 | $101,090 | 890 | 0.39 | 0.95 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania profile | $27.93 | $58,090 | $40,810 | $100,250 | 3,630 | 0.60 | 1.48 |
| 44 | North Carolina profile | $26.67 | $55,460 | $38,650 | $101,850 | 1,990 | 0.40 | 1.00 |
| 45 | Texas profile | $25.48 | $53,000 | $36,650 | $103,120 | 6,140 | 0.44 | 1.08 |
| 46 | Louisiana profile | $24.06 | $50,050 | $29,830 | $88,010 | 890 | 0.46 | 1.14 |
| 47 | Alabama profile | $22.91 | $47,650 | $31,390 | $81,310 | 930 | 0.44 | 1.08 |
| 48 | New Mexico profile | $22.76 | $47,340 | $36,720 | $98,760 | 400 | 0.46 | 1.13 |
| 49 | West Virginia profile | $22.07 | $45,910 | $34,450 | $79,370 | 350 | 0.50 | 1.24 |
| 50 | Oklahoma profile | $21.59 | $44,900 | $34,150 | $89,030 | 830 | 0.49 | 1.20 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $18.27 | $38,000 | $30,390 | $82,330 | 590 | 0.51 | 1.25 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-2030), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-2031 Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-2031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-2031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.