MRI Technologist
Median wage · national
$95,480
Range: $81K – $106K
Employed
43K
Openings/yr
2K
Typically: associate's degree
HEALTH
Cardiovascular Technologist
Cardiovascular Technologist earn $74,310 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $47,890 and $98,110. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Cardiovascular Technologist
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a cardiovascular technologist: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Allied Health Diagnostic and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.
- Median Wage
- $74,310
- Employed Nationally
- 63K
- Openings / Year
- 3,400
- Entry Education
- Associate's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
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
How Much Do Cardiovascular Technologists Make?
Most cardiovascular technologists take home around $74,310 a year, above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $47,890 and $98,110, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$74,310
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$48K–$98K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$47,890
Entry-level
$74,310
Median
$98,110
Experienced
What Do Cardiovascular Technologists Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
- Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
- Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
- Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
- Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Speaking
Operations Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Who Thrives Here
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Cardiovascular Technologists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
High
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
What Is the Job Outlook for Cardiovascular Technologists?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +3.7%, meaning it is growing slowly, a little behind the average job. Around 3,400 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +3.7%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
3,400
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
63K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Cardiovascular Technologist professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $74,310 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 6,140 | $53,000 | -28.7% |
| 2 | Florida | 5,640 | $77,140 | +3.8% |
| 3 | California | 5,570 | $78,170 | +5.2% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 3,630 | $58,090 | -21.8% |
| 5 | New York | 3,540 | $89,570 | +20.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a associate's degree. The program below is the most common route in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
Typical Entry Education
Associate's degree
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allied Health Diagnostic | 85,413 | $70,786 | 1,768 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Cardiovascular Technologists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 2 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 92 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
| 3 | North Florida College Madison, FL | 91 | $804 | $33,929 |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 6 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | 90 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Cardiovascular Technologist, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Cardiovascular Technologist pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Cardiovascular Technologist Pros & Cons
The data on Cardiovascular Technologist shows 2 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $74,310 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a associate's degree, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- High earnings variance The gap between the 25th ($47,890) and 75th ($98,110) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, location, and specialization.
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $47,890 is considerably below the $74,310 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
Cardiovascular Technologist Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Cardiovascular Technologist professionals earn?
Around $74,310 a year for the typical worker, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $47,890 and $98,110. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Cardiovascular Technologist a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $74,310 median, with +3.7% projected growth through 2035, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How do I become a Cardiovascular Technologist?
Most Cardiovascular Technologist positions require a associate's degree as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Allied Health Diagnostic are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Cardiovascular Technologist?
Employment is projected to change by +3.7% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 3,400 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 63K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
Why do Cardiovascular Technologist salaries vary so widely?
The $50,220 gap between the 25th ($47,890) and 75th ($98,110) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Cardiovascular Technologist professionals need?
Mainly Active Listening, Speaking, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, and Monitoring. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
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- Median wage
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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