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Diagnostic Medical Sonographer: Occupations in Alberta - alis
Are you interested in health care and like working on a team? Are you good at recognizing potential problems? Are you observant? Then you may want to sound out your interest in a career as a diagnostic medical sonographer.
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Occupations in Alberta
Updated

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Diagnostic medical sonographers use ultrasound equipment to produce and record images of body organs, masses, and fetuses.

Contents Expand All
Also Known As

Medical Sonographer, Sonographer, Ultrasound Technologist

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 3216: Medical Sonographers

2006 NOC-S

  • D216: Medical Sonographers

2011 NOC

  • 3216: Medical sonographers

2016 NOC

  • 3216: Medical sonographers

2021 NOC

  • 32122: Medical sonographers

2023 OaSIS

  • 32122.00: Medical sonographers
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Diagnostic medical sonographers work as part of a health-care team. The team may include doctors, nurses, and other medical technologists. Ultrasound is used to:

  • Monitor pregnancies
  • Help diagnose internal health issues such as heart, brain, vascular, muscle, abdominal, and pelvic disorders
  • Assist in some medical procedures such as amniocentesis, venous ultrasound, and biopsies

In general, sonographers:

  • Review and combine information from patient history, physical exams, and supporting clinical data to help with diagnoses
  • Report initial findings, both oral and written, to doctors (sonologists, if needed)
  • Use ultrasound equipment to produce and interpret high-quality sonographic images
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Strength Required Lift up to 10 kg

Diagnostic medical sonographers may do shift work (mornings and evenings). Services required after regular working hours, on weekends, or on  holidays are covered on an on-call (standby) basis shared by staff technologists.

Sonographers may need to travel on occasion for deployment throughout different provinces and territories.

Sonographers often work with patients who are anxious. They help patients get on and off examining tables. They may experience unpleasant sights and odours, and medically stressful situations. Working in awkward positions can cause repetitive strain injuries.

Interests & Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Medical Sonographers

2006 NOC: 3216

Interest Codes

Interest Codes for This NOC Group
OBJECTIVE

Interest in operating ultrasound imaging equipment and in recording, storing and processing scanned images by using camera unit connected to ultrasound equipment; and in performing quality control checks on ultrasound equipment to ensure proper operation and in performing minor repairs and adjustments

METHODICAL

Interest in speaking with patients while observing and caring for them throughout examinations to ensure their safety and comfort

innovative

Interest in compiling information to aid in the monitoring of pregnancies and the diagnoses of cardiac, abdominal, ophthalmic, vascular and other disorders

Your Interest Codes

To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. 

It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn About Interests

Abilities

Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Mental Abilities

General Learning Ability

Verbal Ability

Numerical Ability

Visual Abilities

Spatial Perception

Form Perception

Clerical Perception

Physical Abilities

Motor Coordination

Finger Dexterity

Manual Dexterity

Understanding Abilities

A Quick Guide

You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Learn About Abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Diagnostic medical sonographers need:

  • Good health
  • Upper body and shoulder strength
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Communication and observation skills
  • The ability to visualize in 3 dimensions
  • Extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology
  • Attention to detail
  • Critical-thinking skills
  • Perseverance
  • The ability to self-direct
  • The ability to handle unpleasant situations and work under pressure
  • The ability to work as a team member
  • The ability to maintain a high standard of medical ethics at all times
  • Verbal and written communication skills
  • Self-confidence and good judgment
  • Situational awareness
  • The confidence and knowledge to speak authoritatively about technical topics and diagnostic decisions

They should enjoy:

  • Working with people
  • Travelling
  • Using technical equipment
  • Compiling information

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Medical sonographers

2016 NOC: 3216

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 26 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Dec 31, 2021 and May 13, 2024.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Monitor examination to evaluate quality and consistency of diagnostic images, and make adjustments to equipment, as required
Tasks: Check ultrasound equipment to ensure proper operation
Tasks: Operate ultrasound imaging equipment to produce and record images
Tasks: Observe and care for patients throughout examinations
Tasks: Prepare examination reports for physicians
Work Setting: Hospital/medical facility or clinic
Construction Specialization: Reliability
Construction Specialization: Dependability
Construction Specialization: Flexibility
Construction Specialization: Excellent oral communication
Tasks: Monitor examination to evaluate quality and consistency of diagnostic images, and make adjustments to equipment, as required 22
Tasks: Check ultrasound equipment to ensure proper operation 22
Tasks: Operate ultrasound imaging equipment to produce and record images 21
Tasks: Observe and care for patients throughout examinations 21
Tasks: Prepare examination reports for physicians 20
Work Setting: Hospital/medical facility or clinic 18
Construction Specialization: Reliability 17
Construction Specialization: Dependability 17
Construction Specialization: Flexibility 17
Construction Specialization: Excellent oral communication 16
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Minimum Education 3 years post-secondary

The minimum educational requirement is a 3-year diploma in diagnostic medical sonography.

Required Education

The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

British Columbia Institute of Technology
MCG Career College - Calgary

To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Certification Not Regulated

In 2016 the Health Professions Act [pdf] was amended to include sonographers under the Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists (ACMDTT). Regulations are being developed for sonography to become a regulated profession in the future.

Upon becoming regulated, all sonographers will need to be approved by ACMDTT to work in the profession and to use the diagnostic medical sonographer (DMS) designation. Sonographers who wish to use the CRGS®, CRCS®, or CRVS® credentials must be members in good standing of Sonography Canada.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Ultrasound does not expose patients to known hazards (such as ionizing radiation). As a result, its use in medicine is growing rapidly and positions are becoming available. Ultrasound is used in:

  • Internal medicine (abdominal and superficial structures)
  • Obstetrics and gynecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Vascular studies
  • Muscular studies
  • Pediatrics

Most diagnostic medical sonographers work in hospitals or private clinics.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

In the 3216: Medical sonographers occupational group, 95.5% of people work in:

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

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OCCinfo

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors. Learn how these factors can affect your career decisions.
  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, the 3216: Medical sonographers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.8% from 2021 to 2025. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 27 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2024

For information about current collective agreements in the public and not-for-profit sectors, see the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Medical sonographers

2016 NOC: 3216
Average Wage
$46.83
Per Hour
Average Salary
$85,828.00
Per Year
Average Hours
35.3
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
12
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
 2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 3216 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

B: Good Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $35.34 $40.69 $38.93 $39.27
Overall $45.77 $52.52 $46.83 $45.77
Top $50.64 $53.62 $51.22 $50.64

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Health Care & Social Assistance
ALL INDUSTRIES $85,828
Health Care & Social Assistance $85,828

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
N/A
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
N/A
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
N/A
Vacancy Rate
N/A
Related High School Subjects
  • English Language Arts
  • Health, Recreation and Human Services
    • Health Care Services
    • Human and Social Services
  • Mathematics
  • Science
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Health Care and Medical Sciences
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists (ACMDTT) website: acmdtt.com

Alberta Diagnostic Sonographers Association (ADSA) website: www.ultrasound.ca

American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) website: www.ardms.org

Sonography Canada website: www.sonographycanada.ca

Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website: www.hsaa.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2024. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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