Cardiovascular technologists and technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $74,310 | $35.73 |
| Mean (average) | $76,940 | $36.99 |
| 90th percentile | $121,350 | $58.34 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,650 | $31,390 | $81,310 | 930 | 1.08 |
| Alaska | $79,040 | $48,210 | $137,280 | 160 | 1.19 |
| Arizona | $74,900 | $39,450 | $127,670 | 1,450 | 1.1 |
| Arkansas | $74,800 | $45,410 | $105,140 | 410 | 0.79 |
| California | $78,170 | $54,720 | $157,470 | 5,570 | 0.76 |
| Colorado | $94,190 | $50,230 | $129,730 | 720 | 0.62 |
| Connecticut | $94,940 | $43,880 | $129,020 | 620 | 0.91 |
| Delaware | $87,640 | $39,980 | $111,240 | 290 | 1.46 |
| District of Columbia | $99,380 | $49,520 | $157,420 | 280 | 0.99 |
| Florida | $77,140 | $37,490 | $106,800 | 5,640 | 1.4 |
| Georgia | $78,070 | $40,920 | $112,120 | 2,580 | 1.31 |
| Hawaii | $111,730 | $50,520 | $132,860 | 140 | 0.57 |
| Idaho | $100,100 | $46,460 | $123,200 | 220 | 0.64 |
| Illinois | $61,870 | $40,550 | $105,150 | 1,710 | 0.69 |
| Indiana | $79,380 | $38,930 | $104,130 | 1,380 | 1.06 |
| Iowa | $78,850 | $40,530 | $101,850 | 380 | 0.59 |
| Kansas | $69,060 | $39,820 | $102,440 | 540 | 0.92 |
| Kentucky | $60,980 | $37,870 | $101,250 | 940 | 1.16 |
| Louisiana | $50,050 | $29,830 | $88,010 | 890 | 1.14 |
| Maine | $82,050 | $46,380 | $105,830 | 220 | 0.86 |
| Maryland | $86,440 | $41,160 | $117,140 | 970 | 0.87 |
| Massachusetts | $105,580 | $47,690 | $134,390 | 1,110 | 0.75 |
| Michigan | $80,650 | $38,990 | $96,500 | 2,070 | 1.16 |
| Minnesota | $71,520 | $48,970 | $106,650 | 950 | 0.8 |
| Mississippi | $38,000 | $30,390 | $82,330 | 590 | 1.25 |
| Missouri | $73,680 | $37,500 | $103,930 | 850 | 0.72 |
| Montana | $82,850 | $40,690 | $106,640 | 190 | 0.91 |
| Nebraska | $60,000 | $40,280 | $98,490 | 330 | 0.78 |
| Nevada | $71,240 | $46,020 | $125,480 | 380 | 0.61 |
| New Hampshire | $83,100 | $46,950 | $120,760 | 150 | 0.54 |
| New Jersey | $82,710 | $47,950 | $115,550 | 2,440 | 1.4 |
| New Mexico | $47,340 | $36,720 | $98,760 | 400 | 1.13 |
| New York | $89,570 | $50,540 | $128,750 | 3,540 | 0.9 |
| North Carolina | $55,460 | $38,650 | $101,850 | 1,990 | 1 |
| North Dakota | $65,890 | $38,790 | $110,240 | 120 | 0.67 |
| Ohio | $79,270 | $38,670 | $101,030 | 2,140 | 0.95 |
| Oklahoma | $44,900 | $34,150 | $89,030 | 830 | 1.2 |
| Oregon | $99,240 | $49,740 | $135,060 | 550 | 0.69 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,090 | $40,810 | $100,250 | 3,630 | 1.48 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,160 | $22,320 | $44,000 | 380 | 1 |
| Rhode Island | $104,000 | $64,160 | $126,150 | 260 | 1.29 |
| South Carolina | $59,170 | $35,330 | $101,090 | 890 | 0.95 |
| South Dakota | $67,290 | $40,650 | $103,040 | 200 | 1.07 |
| Tennessee | $76,650 | $39,600 | $103,970 | 1,030 | 0.78 |
| Texas | $53,000 | $36,650 | $103,120 | 6,140 | 1.08 |
| Utah | $113,510 | $47,780 | $224,280 | 1,250 | 1.78 |
| Vermont | $69,620 | $46,110 | $134,570 | 50 | 0.43 |
| Virginia | $76,880 | $38,370 | $131,330 | 2,410 | 1.45 |
| Washington | $83,790 | $56,310 | $150,130 | 1,110 | 0.77 |
| West Virginia | $45,910 | $34,450 | $79,370 | 350 | 1.24 |
| Wisconsin | $74,380 | $47,460 | $108,080 | 900 | 0.75 |
| Wyoming | $84,140 | $49,350 | $105,910 | 60 | 0.55 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist CIP 51.0901
- Electrocardiograph Technology/Technician CIP 51.0902
- Perfusion Technology/Perfusionist CIP 51.0906
- Cardiopulmonary Technology/Technologist CIP 51.0915
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Prepare and position patients for testing.
- Attach electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operate the EKG machine to obtain a reading.
- Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.
Technology skills
- JavaScript (hot technology)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Database software
- Diagnostic image review software
- Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM-compatible image acquisition and integration software products
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Hypertext preprocessor PHP
- Information systems integration software
- Internet or intranet image distribution software
- Practice management software PMS
- Pyxis MedStation software
- Smart Digital Holter Monitor
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Operation and Control.
Common job titles: Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technologist), Cardiac Catheterization Technician, Cardiac Technician, Cardio Tech (Cardiovascular Technician), Cardiology Technician, Cardiopulmonary Technician, Cardiovascular Technologist (CVT), Electrocardiogram Technician (EKG Tech), Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cardiovascular technologists and technicians make?
The national median annual wage for cardiovascular technologists and technicians was $74,310 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $39,000 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $121,350. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do cardiovascular technologists and technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is cardiovascular technologists and technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians to change +3.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay cardiovascular technologists and technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Utah ($113,510), Hawaii ($111,730), Massachusetts ($105,580). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.