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Hospitals and Health Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, HCA Healthcare
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
These workers place electrodes, run heart tests, and watch the readings while the patient is on the table or treadmill. The job is hands-on and detail-heavy: you have to calm anxious patients and still catch a small rhythm change or equipment problem fast enough to alert the clinician.
Also known as EKG TechnicianECG TechnicianCardiovascular TechCardiac TechnicianCardiographic Technician
Median Salary
$67,260
Mean $72,890
U.S. Workforce
~61K
3.8K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3%
64.7K to 66.6K
Entry Education
Associate's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~61K workers, with a median annual pay of $67,260 and roughly 3.8K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 64.7 K in 2024 to 66.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Associate's degree in cardiovascular technology or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around EKG/Telemetry Trainee and can progress toward Cardiac Services Supervisor. High-value skills usually include EKG Machines, Lead Placement & Rhythm Reading, Telemetry Monitors & Vital-Sign Equipment, and Stress-Test Treadmills & Cardiac Testing Systems, paired with soft skills such as Active listening, Clear verbal communication, and Attention to detail.
Core Responsibilities
- Position patients and attach the small sensors that let the machine read heart activity.
- Run heart tests such as EKGs, echocardiograms, and stress tests using the correct equipment.
- Explain what will happen during the test, answer questions, and help patients stay calm and cooperative.
- Watch heart rate, blood pressure, and rhythm during the procedure and alert the clinician if something looks off.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Position patients and attach the small sensors that let the machine read heart activity.
02 Run heart tests such as EKGs, echocardiograms, and stress tests using the correct equipment.
03 Explain what will happen during the test, answer questions, and help patients stay calm and cooperative.
04 Watch heart rate, blood pressure, and rhythm during the procedure and alert the clinician if something looks off.
05 Check, clean, and test cardiac equipment so it stays accurate and safe to use.
06 Record patient information, medical history, and test results in the chart.
Industries That Hire
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Outpatient Cardiology Clinics
Cardiovascular Institute of the South, HeartPlace, Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia
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Academic Medical Centers
Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mass General Brigham, Stanford Health Care
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Integrated Health Plans and Systems
Kaiser Permanente, Geisinger, Intermountain Health
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Diagnostic and Testing Centers
Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, RadNet
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with an associate's degree, and the BLS says no work experience or on-the-job training is required.
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The pay is solid for a clinical support job, with a median annual wage of $67,260 and a mean of $72,890.
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There are still about 3.8 thousand annual openings, so hiring demand is steady even with modest growth.
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The work is hands-on and measurable: you can see right away whether the test was done correctly and whether the patient needs follow-up.
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You get regular patient contact without the years of schooling required for many other cardiovascular careers.
Challenges
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Growth is only 3% through 2034, so this is a steady job rather than a fast-expanding one.
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Pay can level off in the mid-$60Ks unless you move into supervision or another specialty.
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Most jobs must be done in person with equipment and patients, so remote work is rare.
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The work can be repetitive and physically awkward because you spend a lot of time standing, positioning patients, and repeating the same procedures.
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Routine testing is fairly standardized, which can limit advancement unless you earn additional credentials or move into a different clinical role.
Career Progression
EKG/Telemetry Trainee
0-2 years
$38K-$48K
Learns patient prep, basic electrode placement, and how to record clean test results under close supervision.
Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician
2-5 years
$58K-$74K
Handles routine heart tests, monitors patients during procedures, and works with little day-to-day oversight.
Senior Cardiovascular Technologist THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$75K-$93K
Takes on more complex studies, spots problems faster, and often helps train newer staff.
Lead Cardiac Diagnostics Technologist
9-12 years
$94K-$114K
Oversees workflow, checks equipment readiness, and helps maintain quality and consistency in the testing area.
Cardiac Services Supervisor
12+ years
$115K-$140K
Manages staffing, schedules, protocols, and coordination with physicians or department leaders.
Education Paths
Associate's degree in cardiovascular technology or a related field
The most common entry point, held by 62.9% of workers in this role.
Post-secondary certificate
A shorter alternative used by 12.85% of workers, often paired with clinical training in EKG or cardiovascular testing.
High school diploma plus job-specific training
A smaller path used by 9.85% of workers, usually followed by extra hands-on practice in a hospital or clinic.
Cardiovascular technology certificate or similar credential
Some employers accept a focused certificate route for people who already have patient-care experience or prior healthcare training.
Key Skills
Technical
EKG Machines, Lead Placement & Rhythm Reading 78%
Telemetry Monitors & Vital-Sign Equipment 75%
Stress-Test Treadmills & Cardiac Testing Systems 75%
Echocardiography Equipment 75%
Epic, Cerner & EHR Documentation 72%
Cardiology Equipment Troubleshooting & Calibration 65%
Soft Skills
Active listeningClear verbal communicationAttention to detailCalm under pressureCritical thinkingPatient empathy Job Outlook and Trends
+3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
3.8K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 64.7K to 66.6 K over the next decade, representing 3% growth. Around 3.8 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.