Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-2031 · O*NET 29-2031.00
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.
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians earn a median salary of $67,260 per year, ranking in the top 36% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.0% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an associate degree or accredited postsecondary certificate, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do cardiovascular technologists and technicians earn?
The median annual wage for cardiovascular technologists and technicians is $67,260. That puts cardiovascular technologists and technicians at #290 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $37,890 |
| 25th percentile | $46,470 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $67,260 |
| 75th percentile | $91,430 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $108,900 |
| Median hourly wage | $32.34/hr |
Is cardiovascular technologists and technicians a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for cardiovascular technologists and technicians is +3.0%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 64K positions in 2024 to 66K in 2034, a net change of 2K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do cardiovascular technologists and technicians do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working cardiovascular technologists and technicians, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.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.
- 2.Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
- 3.Check, test, and maintain cardiology equipment, making minor repairs when necessary, to ensure proper operation.
- 4.Supervise or train other cardiology technologists or students.
- 5.Prepare and position patients for testing.
- 6.Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
- 7.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.
- 8.Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
Top skills for cardiovascular technologists and technicians
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become cardiovascular technologists and technician?
Entry into cardiovascular technologists and technicians typically requires an associate degree or accredited postsecondary certificate, often coupled with state licensing exams or clinical hours. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about cardiovascular technologists and technicians
What is the median salary for cardiovascular technologists and technicians?
The median annual salary for cardiovascular technologists and technicians is $67,260 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is cardiovascular technologists and technicians a growing career?
BLS projects +3.0% growth for cardiovascular technologists and technicians from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become cardiovascular technologists and technician?
The typical entry path requires an associate degree or accredited postsecondary certificate, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to cardiovascular technologists and technicians?
Related occupations within the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.