Healthcare · Career brief

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$74,310

Above the middle on pay

2025 national median. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

3.7%

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

3,400

Moderate opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Associate degree

Usually a two-year-level credential or equivalent route

Associate's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic…

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

ChooseField take

The national benchmarks are mixed, so the work itself and the route in matter more than any standout pay or demand signal. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with an associate-degree path. Main tradeoff: The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

Before choosing, compare:Radiologic Technologist Radiation Therapists Respiratory Therapists

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians with another field Explore rankings in Healthcare Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$74,310

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

3.7%employment growth3,400openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Associate's degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

64,500

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Cardiovascular technologists and technicians (29-2031).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

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.
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.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.
Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.
The helping mission includes documentation, direct care, and safety-critical routines where a missed detail can affect a patient.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Assisting and Caring for Others4.6
Documenting/Recording Information4.5
Working with Computers4.3
Getting Information4.2
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.1

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic5.6
Investigative5.3
Conventional4.7
Social4.3
Enterprising1.3
Artistic1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Medicine and Dentistry Computers and Electronics Mathematics Public Safety and Security

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Try an approved first-aid, CPR, patient-care, or health-science workshop. Use supervised training or simulation only.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Cardiovascular technologists and technicians nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options

Compare before committing

The useful question is not whether one field wins overall, but what changes when you choose a nearby path. Explore the full career guides for Radiologic Technologist, Radiation Therapists, Respiratory Therapists, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.