Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

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.

Duties

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians typically do the following:

• Prepare patients by explaining the procedure to them and answering their questions
• Prepare exam rooms and maintain test equipment
• Properly position patients for testing and procedures
• Operate equipment to conduct tests
• Review test results to check for quality
• Analyze results for abnormalities and other diagnostic information and provide a summary of findings to physicians
• Record findings and keep track of patients’ records

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians perform a variety of tests for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. They may specialize in a particular type of test or help with specific types of procedures.

The following are types of cardiovascular technologists and technicians:

Cardiovascular invasive specialists, also known as cardiac catheterization technologists or cardiovascular technologists, monitor patients’ heart rates and help physicians in diagnosing and treating heart problems. They assist with cardiac catheterization, which involves threading a catheter through a patient’s artery to the heart. They also prepare and monitor patients during open-heart surgery and during insertion of pacemakers, defibrillators, and stents. Technologists may prepare patients for procedures by shaving and cleansing the area into which the catheter will be inserted and by administering topical anesthesia. During the procedure, they monitor the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate.

Cardiographic or electrocardiogram (EKG) technicians specialize in EKG testing. EKG machines monitor the heart’s performance through electrodes attached to a patient’s chest, arms, and legs. Tests record heart metrics while the patient is at rest or is physically active, such as walking on a treadmill.

Pulmonary function technologists monitor and test patients’ lungs and breathing. For example, they use a spirometer to measure how much and how fast patients can inhale or exhale. These technologists help physicians in diagnosing and treating problems of the pulmonary system.

For information about workers who operate ultrasound equipment to create images of inside the body, including the heart, blood vessels, and lungs, see the profile on diagnostic medical sonographers.

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians held about 64,700 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of cardiovascular technologists and technicians were as follows:

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians work in healthcare settings. They may need to stand for long periods and to lift or turn patients who are ill or disabled.

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians work as part of a healthcare team that includes physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, and respiratory therapists.

Work Schedules

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.

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.

The median annual wage for cardiovascular technologists and technicians was $67,260 in May 2024.

Employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 3,800 openings for cardiovascular technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. 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.