Healthcare practitioners
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.
Median pay
$74,310
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
3,400
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to cardiovascular technologists and technicians
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians: 13% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- 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.
Also called: Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technologist) · Cardiac Catheterization Technician · Cardiac Technician · Cardio Tech (Cardiovascular Technician) · Cardiology Technician · Cardiopulmonary Technician · Cardiovascular Technologist (CVT) · Electrocardiogram Technician (EKG Tech)
Outlook and AI
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians held 64,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 66,900 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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