Electrocardiogram technicians (EKG technicians) operate and monitor machines that record the performance of a patient’s heart by attaching electrodes to arms, legs and the chest. In various countries, these job duties may exist under various other job titles. An EKG technician salary in the United States is about $28,621 per year. The mean pay for cardiology technologists in Canada is C$52,000 annually ($39,409 USD). For cardiographers in the United Kingdom, pay runs between £15,251 ($18,987 USD) and £22,458 ($27,955 USD). Medical technicians, which include EKG technicians, in Australia earn a median salary of AU$50,908 ($39,085 USD) per year on a full-time basis. Salaries run between NZD$41,000 ($29,358 USD)and NZD$60,000 ($42,963 USD) for cardiac physiologists.
How Much Does a EKG Technician Make?
| EKG Technician Salary | US | Canada | UK | Australia | New Zealand |
| Annual Salary | $28,621 | C$50,000 ($38,050) | £18,000 ($22,455) | AU$45,000 ($34,660) | NZD$60,000 ($43,220) |
EKG Technician Salary Determinant Factors
EKG technicians typically work in hospitals, physician’s offices and laboratories rather than on a self-employed basis. The setting of the technician will influence pay. EKG technicians can earn bonuses based on relocation and other factors.
Pay also depends on experience. In the United Kingdom and New Zealand, government agencies employ a significant number of EKG technicians. As a result, standardized pay scales based on experience and seniority determine pay.
1. How Much Does a EKG Technician Make by State?
EKG Technician Salary in US
PayScale states that EKG techs in the United States earn $13.76 per hour, which translates to $28,621 per year. For these professionals, total pay ranges from $21,305 to $42,897 per year.
EKG Technician Salary in Canada
According to the Canadian Government’s Job Bank, the median wage for “Cardiology Technologists and Electrophysiological Diagnostic Technologist, N.E.C.” stands at C$25.00 per hour. This translates to C$52,000 per year for EKG technicians in Canada. Hourly pay rates span from C$17.90 to C$33.00. Thus, on an annual basis, an EKG tech salary ranges from C$37,232 to C$68,640.
EKG Technician Salary in UK
In the United Kingdom, EKG technicians are known as cardiographers. A cardiographer employed by the National Health Service earns between £15,251 and £22,458.
EKG Technician Salary in Australia
According to the Australian Government, medical technicians in Australia earn a median salary of AU$979 per week, or AU$50,908 per year, on a full-time basis. This falls below the median of AU$1,200 per week for all occupations in Australia. Accounting for part-time technicians, the median pay stands at AU$843 per week.
EKG Technician Salary in New Zealand
In New Zealand, the duties and responsibilities of EKG technician are fulfilled by cardiac physiologists. The New Zealand Government reports that cardiac physiologists in New Zealand make between NZD$41,000 and NZD$60,000 per year.
2. How Much Does an EKG Technician Make According to Experience?
PayScale depicts a gradual rise in pay for EKG techs in the United States. The entry-level median pay is $28,000, rising to $33,000 after five years. The median for those with ten years of experience is only $34,000 and goes to $36,000 for those with more than 20 years in the position.
As of April 2016, the National Health Service pays entry-level EKG technicians on “Band 2,” with salaries running from £15,251 to £17,978. With more experience, EKG technicians advance to “Band 3,” representing a pay range from £16,800 to £19,655. At “Band 4,” these workers make between £19,217 and £22,458.
In New Zealand, trainee cardiac physiologists start on average at NZD$41,000 per year. Upon qualification, pay reaches an average of NZD$47,000 per year and NZD$60,000 after five years of work.
3. How Much Does an EKG Technician Make According to Work Environment?
In the United States, the median salary for EKG techs in “Medical and diagnostic laboratories” is $66,830 as of May 2015. EKG techs earn a median salary of $64,690 in “Offices of Physicians” and $62,590 in hospitals.
The Canadian Government’s Job Bank identifies median pay for those in the EKG technician field in Canada by province. Alberta had the highest hourly median rate, at C$34.04, while New Brunswick had the lowest at C$23.84. In Ontario, EKG technicians held a mean wage of C$27.88 per hour, while those in Saskatchewan made C$30.73 per hour.
Working Hours
As a general rule, full-time workers constitute the majority of EKG technicians. In Australia, however, medical technicians work on average 35.4 hours per week. For all occupations in Australia, the average work week lasts 40.2 hours per week. Approximately 62.2 percent of medical technicians in the country log full-time hours. Cardiographers in the United Kingdom work an average of 37.5 hours per week.
According to Job Bank, approximately eight out of ten “Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists, n.e.c.” in Canada work full-time.
With hospitals operating 24 hours and seven days per week, EKG technicians often work irregular shifts, such as nights, weekends and holidays. Those who work in physicians’ offices usually have daytime hours during work days. Some offices may operate in the evening or weekends to accommodate patients’ schedule. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only approximately 20 percent of EKG technicians worked in physician’s offices as of 2014. About 68 percent EKG technicians were employed in hospitals.
Bonuses and Benefits
Bonuses for EKG technicians in the United States average $300 on an annual basis, according to PayScale.
In Canada, certain provinces afford incentives for cardiology technologists to relocate. For example, New Foundland offers bursaries of C$3,000, C$5,000 or C$10,000, depending on the number of required service hours the technologist completes.
Cardiographers in the United Kingdom can draw from pensions provided through the National Health Service at age 65. In New Zealand and Australia, EKG techs obtain benefits via superannuation, or contributions by the employer. Also, New Zealand and Australia entitle EKG technicians to paid annual leave and holiday pay.
Career Prospects
Overall, factors such as increased incidents of heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases should sustain the demand for EKG technicians. As people live longer and age, they will increasingly need and seek medical attention.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an increase of 22 percent in employment of “cardiovascular technologists and technicians” through 2024.
According to Canada’s Job Bank, the supply of EKG technicians should generally keep pace with the demand. By 2024, Job Bank projects 23,200 openings available for 22,300 seekers.
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook projects between 10,001 and 25,000 job openings by November 2019. As of November 2015, Australia had 30,200 medical technicians. Similarly, the New Zealand government reportst that job prospects for future EKG technicians are good.
Conclusion
The pay of EKG technicians generally falls in the lower end of medical and health worker salaries overall. Pay prospects generally improve with experience. In certain places, EKG technicians receive bonuses or incentives to serve in rural areas or other locations with shortages or critical needs. These factors can contribute to a better salary.
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