Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $74,310 per year ($35.73/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.7% through 2035, with about 3,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
- SOC 29-2031
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $74,310a year, or $35.73/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $39KTop 10% $121K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.7%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,40064,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202564.5K
- Projected 203566.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 64.5K Projected 2035 66.9K - Typical education
- Associate'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school9.9%
- Certificate12.9%
- Some college7.8%
- Associate's62.9%
- Bachelor's2.8%
- Professional degree3.8%
Highest education held by cardiovascular technologists and technicians Segment Value High school 9.9% Certificate 12.9% Some college 7.8% Associate's 62.9% Bachelor's 2.8% Professional degree 3.8%
Also advertised as: Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technologist), Cardiac Catheterization Technician, Cardiac Technician, Cardio Tech (Cardiovascular Technician), Cardiology Technician, Cardiopulmonary Technician.
Pay
How much do Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians make?
Every cardiovascular technologist and technician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$74,310
Middle half earn $47,890 to $98,110
- 10th
- $39,000
- 25th
- $47,890
- 75th
- $98,110
- 90th
- $121,350
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,000 |
| 25th | $47,890 |
| Median | $74,310 |
| 75th | $98,110 |
| 90th | $121,350 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $74,310
- Median hourly wage
- $35.73/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $76,940
- People employed
- 62,960
Versus all US occupations
At $74,310, Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians earn 46% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $23,330 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 28% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $121,350 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,000, a gap of 3.1×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 48% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Utah pays the most at $113,510, and still leads at $114,814 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Utah | $113,510 | $114,814 | 1,250 |
| 2Hawaii | $111,730 | $101,618 | 140 |
| 3Massachusetts | $105,580 | $99,833 | 1,110 |
| 4Rhode Island | $104,000 | $101,682 | 260 |
| 5Idaho | $100,100 | $104,823 | 220 |
| 6District of Columbia | $99,380 | $90,427 | 280 |
| 7Oregon | $99,240 | $96,013 | 550 |
| 8Connecticut | $94,940 | $91,632 | 620 |
| 9Colorado | $94,190 | $91,400 | 720 |
| 10New York | $89,570 | $82,996 | 3,540 |
Job outlook
Is Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | +3.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,400 openings are projected each year, 5.3% of the 64,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The need to diagnose medical conditions that affect older adults, such as coronary artery disease, will likely increase as the population continues to age. Moreover, as the prevalence of cardiovascular disease grows, demand for cardiac tests and procedures is likely to increase. These factors are expected to contribute to employment growth of cardiovascular technologists and technicians.
Getting in
How to become a Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians typically need formal education, such as an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate. Some workers need a license or certification.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Associate's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as cardiovascular technologists and technicians.
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree62.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate12.9%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)9.9%
- Some College Courses7.8%
- First Professional Degree3.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 62.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 12.9% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 9.9% |
| Some College Courses | 7.8% |
| First Professional Degree | 3.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician do?
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 conduct tests and assist in procedures involving the heart or lungs. They work closely with physicians and surgeons, who use the test results to assess and diagnose medical conditions.
Day-to-day tasks
- Prepare and position patients for testing.
- Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
- Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.
- Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
- Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
- 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.
- Check, test, and maintain cardiology equipment, making minor repairs when necessary, to ensure proper operation.
- Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most cardiovascular technologists and technicians work full time, although part-time work is common. Because they may work in medical facilities that are always open, they may have shifts that include evenings, weekends, or overnights.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where cardiovascular technologists and technicians work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Hospitals; state, local, and private77%
- Offices of physicians13%
- Outpatient care centers2%
- Medical and diagnostic laboratories2%
- Self-employed workers1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 77% |
| Offices of physicians | 13% |
| Outpatient care centers | 2% |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 2% |
| Self-employed workers | 1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Writing3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Science3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Science | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.8
- Social Perceptiveness3.6
- Service Orientation3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Operation and Control3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.6 |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Internet browser software
- Inventory management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Realistic5.6
- Investigative5.3
- Conventional4.7
- Social4.3
- Enterprising1.3
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with cardiovascular technologists and technicians highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician$74,310
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician | $74,310 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within cardiovascular technologist and technician
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician appears on
Questions
Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician: frequently asked questions
How much do Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians make?
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $74,310 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 46% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $35.73/hr. The middle half earn between $47,890 and $98,110. The top 10% earn $121,350 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician?
Usually a two-year degree rather than a four-year one. BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 62.9% hold associate's degree or other 2-year degree.
Is Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician do?
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians conduct tests and assist in procedures involving the heart or lungs. A core O*NET task: prepare and position patients for testing. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Medical software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians are Utah ($113,510), Hawaii ($111,730), Massachusetts ($105,580) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician?
O*NET scores Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.