Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
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 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. The role reports a median annual salary of $67,260 in the US and is projected to grow 3% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Associate's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.48 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking, Operations Monitoring.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £29,931 a year for Medical and dental technicians (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £26,955 to £36,120 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3213). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
- Administrative
A day in the life
You start the morning in the cardiology department checking the heart tracing machines and the treadmill used for stress tests. Your first patient is an anxious older man, so you explain the test in simple words, attach electrodes to his chest and record his heart rhythm while he lies still. Next you run a stress test, watching his heart rate and blood pressure on the monitor as the treadmill speeds up, ready to stop at the first warning sign. Mid-morning you assist with an ultrasound of a patient's heart, positioning her carefully and keeping her comfortable. When one tracing shows an irregular rhythm, you alert the doctor immediately. After lunch you help in the catheterisation lab, monitoring readings during a procedure. Between tests you record patient details and results accurately. The work demands focus and calm under pressure, but knowing your tests help catch heart problems early is very rewarding.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- 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.
- Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
- Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
- Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
- Prepare and position patients for testing.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Cardiovascular technologists and technicians 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.
What does a typical day look like in Cardiovascular technologists and technicians?
You start the morning in the cardiology department checking the heart tracing machines and the treadmill used for stress tests. Your first patient is an anxious older man, so you explain the test in simple words, attach electrodes to his chest and record his heart rhythm while he lies still. Next you run a stress test, watching his heart rate and blood pressure on the monitor as the treadmill speeds up, ready to stop at the first warning sign.
How much does Cardiovascular technologists and technicians earn?
The median annual salary for Cardiovascular technologists and technicians in the US is $67,260.
What is the job outlook for Cardiovascular technologists and technicians?
The role is projected to grow 3% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 64,700 workers.
How do I become cardiovascular technologists and technicians?
The typical entry education is a Associate's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Cardiovascular technologists and technicians need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking, Operations Monitoring, Reading Comprehension. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Cardiovascular technologists and technicians?
Our AI-durability model gives Cardiovascular technologists and technicians a score of 0.48 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.