Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Salary

The median cardiovascular technologists and technicians salary in the United States is $74,310 per year ($35.73/hour). Salaries range from $39,000 at the entry level to $121,350+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 62,960 cardiovascular technologists and technicians jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 3% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asCardiovascular TechEKG Tech
Median Salary
$74,310
per year
Hourly Rate
$35.73
per hour
Employment
62,960
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$39,000
25th percentile
$47,890
Median
$74,310
75th percentile
$98,110
90th percentile
$121,350

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+3%
As fast as average

Annual Openings

3,800
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Associate's degree

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for cardiovascular technologists and technicianss.

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians perform diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures β€” echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, EP (electrophysiology), vascular ultrasound, and stress testing. Entry techs earn $52-72k; established techs earn $72-98k; RCIS/RCS registered cath and echo techs at major academic centers earn $95-135k; EP specialty and lead techs at high-volume cath labs reach $125-165k+. Call pay and shift differentials often add $15-30k on top of base at hospital-based cath and EP labs.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Cardiac catheterization procedures
Scrub, monitor, and circulate for diagnostic and interventional cath β€” coronary angio, PCI, IVUS/OCT, hemodynamics. Understand coronary anatomy, contrast timing, and manifold operation.
Electrophysiology (EP)
Support ablations (AFib, VT, SVT), pacemaker/ICD implants, and 3D mapping systems (Carto, EnSite, Rhythmia). Understand intracardiac electrograms and mapping strategy.
Echocardiography (2D, 3D, TEE, stress)
Acquire and measure images on GE Vivid, Philips EPIQ, Siemens systems. Read wall motion, LVEF, valve function, and diastology. Handle TEE support and stress-echo protocols.
Hemodynamic monitoring and pressure interpretation
Read Swan-Ganz, right-heart cath, and IABP pressures. Recognize tamponade, pulmonary hypertension, and shock physiology in real time.
Radiation safety and fluoroscopy
ALARA principles, shielding, dose reduction, and pregnancy dose limits. Cath lab techs get one of the highest occupational doses in medicine β€” discipline matters.
Emergency response and ACLS
Recognize STEMI activation, run defibrillation and pacing, support code teams in the lab. ACLS is table stakes.
Documentation and inventory (supply and implant tracking)
Log implants (stents, valves, pacemakers) with lot and serial numbers for FDA/UDI compliance and rep reconciliation. Bad documentation costs hospitals millions in un-billable procedures.

How to Become a Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

  1. 1
    Complete a CAAHEP-accredited cardiovascular technology program
    18-24 month AAS or 4-year BS at CAAHEP-accredited programs (Sanford-Brown, Concorde, several state universities). Some hospital-based programs run 12 months for RNs/RTs transitioning in.
  2. 2
    Earn credentials through CCI or ARDMS
    RCIS (invasive), RCS (echo), RVS/RVT (vascular), CEPS (EP). Multi-credentialed techs earn top-band pay.
  3. 3
    Take a hospital or cath lab tech job
    Start in echo, stress lab, or as a monitor/scrub trainee in a cath lab. $52-72k. Level-1 trauma and academic centers ramp faster but demand more call.
  4. 4
    Specialize in EP, structural (TAVR/MitraClip), or advanced imaging
    EP and structural specialty add $10-25k/yr. TEE and 3D echo add $8-15k for RCS-credentialed techs at academic centers.
  5. 5
    Advance to Lead / Cardiac Lab Coordinator or Cross-Train to Additional Modalities
    $115-165k+. Lead techs run scheduling, staff education, and vendor management. Multi-modal techs (cath + EP + echo) command premium at community hospitals with lean staffing.

Career Progression

New Grad / Entry Cardiovascular Technologist
0-2 yrs$52-72k
  • β€’Monitor and circulate under supervision
  • β€’Rotate across echo, stress, cath lab
  • β€’Complete CCI or ARDMS credential during first year
  • β€’Learn hospital and departmental protocols
Next: Registered Tech at 1-2 years with RCIS or RCS.
Registered Cardiovascular Tech (RCIS / RCS)
2-8 yrs$72-98k + call and shift diff
  • β€’Independent scrub or echo scan
  • β€’Participate in on-call STEMI activations
  • β€’Train new hires and students
  • β€’Own procedural documentation and inventory
Next: Specialty or Lead Tech at 5-10 years.
Specialty Tech (EP, Structural, Advanced Imaging)
5-15 yrs$95-135k + call and shift diff
  • β€’Lead scrub on EP ablations or structural cases (TAVR, MitraClip)
  • β€’Operate 3D mapping systems (Carto/EnSite)
  • β€’Support attending physicians on complex cases
  • β€’Own device-tracking and UDI compliance
Next: Lead / Coordinator at 10-18 years.
Lead Tech / Cardiac Lab Coordinator
12+ yrs$125-175k + call (top academic centers $155-215k)
  • β€’Staffing, scheduling, and on-call coordination
  • β€’Vendor relationships and capital equipment planning
  • β€’Quality metrics (door-to-balloon, complications, readmissions)
  • β€’Regulatory compliance (Joint Commission, ACC accreditation)
Next: Cardiac services manager or move into clinical education / applications specialist (industry).

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through a STEMI activation.technical
Page hits, we mobilize the team while patient's still in transit β€” usually 20-30 minutes to get from ED or field to cath lab table. My role in the room depends on the day: scrub, monitor, or circulator. Confirm consent, prep, gain access (radial preferred), the operator engages the culprit vessel, we get door-to-balloon in under 90 minutes. Debrief after every activation for continuous improvement.
Q2. How do you handle a hemodynamic collapse on the table?situational
Recognize early β€” sudden pressure drop, changed waveform, patient symptoms. Call it out clearly ('BP is 60 over 30'), get the crash cart, prep for pressor and IABP if needed. If it's tamponade, we're moving to pericardiocentesis in seconds. Team communication in a code is the difference between save and mortality β€” never hesitate to speak up.
Q3. Tell me about a difficult case you supported.behavioral
STAR: 74-year-old with CTO of the RCA, 3-hour retrograde attempt with a J-CTO score of 3. My job was tracking wire and balloon inventory, imaging support (IVUS runs), and radiation monitoring. Case was successful, no complications. Interviewers want to see calm under a long procedure and attention to detail on inventory and dose.
Q4. How do you approach radiation safety?technical
Shield first β€” lead vest, thyroid collar, glasses, table shields. Distance from the source, minimize fluoro time, and use pulsed fluoro when possible. Wear the dosimeter every case, check monthly reports. My cumulative dose has stayed under 400 mrem/yr β€” the sloppy techs are the ones you see with cataracts at 45.
Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer
Registered in both RCIS and RCS, specialty in structural heart (TAVR/MitraClip), and moving toward Lead Tech at a high-volume center. I'm also considering the applications-specialist path with device companies β€” same clinical depth, different environment. Both keep me hands-on with the technology and patients.

Resume Template β€” Registered Cardiovascular Technologist (2-8 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Registered Cardiovascular Technologist (2-8 yrs)
  • β–ΈRCIS + RCS-credentialed CVT at a 550-bed level-1 trauma center; scrub, monitor, and circulate 900+ cases/yr.
  • β–ΈTeam lead on 45+ TAVR cases; zero device-tracking errors and 100% UDI compliance.
  • β–ΈSupported EP ablation program; trained on Carto 3D mapping system and CryoBalloon procedures.
  • β–Έ$88k base + $18k call + $4k shift differential. ACLS + BLS current; radiation dose 340 mrem/yr.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—No CCI or ARDMS credential and no plan to sit for the exam β€” signals lack of investment.
  • βœ—Weak ACLS/BLS response β€” cath labs code frequently and every tech needs to run point.
  • βœ—Poor documentation habits β€” implant tracking errors cost hospitals and expose to FDA scrutiny.
  • βœ—Casual about radiation safety (skips shielding, dosimeter not worn).
  • βœ—Cannot read basic hemodynamic waveforms independently.
  • βœ—Difficulty with call schedule β€” STEMI programs require reliable 24/7 coverage.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“RCIS + RCS dual credentials are worth 8-15% premium at most hospitals.
  • βœ“EP specialty premium: $8-18k/yr on top of base.
  • βœ“Call pay ($3-8/hr standby + 1.5x callback rate + 4-hour minimum) is negotiable and often forgotten.
  • βœ“Shift differential (nights $4-8/hr, weekends $3-6/hr) adds materially to total comp.
  • βœ“Signing bonus $5-15k common in tight markets; up to $20k for EP-experienced techs.
  • βœ“Tuition reimbursement for BS Cardiovascular Sonography or master's program.
  • βœ“CEU budget ($1.5-3k/yr) plus paid time for national conference (SICP, ASE).

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Resume Review β€” $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired cardiovascular technologists and technicianss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

  • βœ“ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
  • βœ“ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
  • βœ“ Missing skills / keywords flagged
  • βœ“ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
  • βœ“ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Career Kit β€” $19

  • βœ“ All 13 interview questions with expert answers
  • βœ“ 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
  • βœ“ Interview format intel for 6 top employers
  • βœ“ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
  • βœ“ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
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Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$38K
$114Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Utah
$114K
+53%
Hawaii
$112K
+50%
Massachusetts
$106K
+42%
Rhode Island
$104K
+40%
Idaho
$100K
+35%
District of Columbia
$99K
+34%
Oregon
$99K
+34%
Connecticut
$95K
+28%
Colorado
$94K
+27%
New York
$90K
+21%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Utah$113,510+52.8%
Hawaii$111,730+50.4%
Massachusetts$105,580+42.1%
Rhode Island$104,000+40.0%
Idaho$100,100+34.7%
District of Columbia$99,380+33.7%
Oregon$99,240+33.5%
Connecticut$94,940+27.8%
Colorado$94,190+26.8%
New York$89,570+20.5%
1–10 of 51

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$224,280+201.8%
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$128,530+73.0%
Urban Honolulu, HI$111,730+50.4%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$107,710+44.9%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$107,000+44.0%
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$106,340+43.1%
Modesto, CA$105,400+41.8%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$104,050+40.0%
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$104,000+40.0%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$103,060+38.7%
1–10 of 190
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
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A cardiovascular technologists and technicians earning $74,310/year would need 802 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 861 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
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View Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians salary trend (2011–2024) β†’