How to hire ultrasound technicians for your facility?
In today’s competitive healthcare market, locating and keeping certified ultrasound technicians is beneficial because they are vital to getting accurate diagnoses and a better patient care experience. Ultrasound technicians, or sonographers, are part of the healthcare team to help physicians provide proper diagnostic imaging to base their treatment decisions on.
However, the ultrasound technician hiring process has some steps that must be followed, particularly when there is no game plan. Knowing exactly how to hire an ultrasound technician allows facilities to find qualified candidates at a pace that will enable the facility to provide a level of care that patients expect from their healthcare team.
This blog will guide you through the process of identifying and analyzing hiring needs, writing an effective job description, finding qualified ultrasound technicians, and conducting a successful interview and orientation. Suppose you are a treatment facility looking to strengthen your internal ultrasound technician staffing or planning to hire other allied healthcare roles. In that case, this information is designed to help you build your imaging team.
The job of an ultrasound technician
Before you start the recruiting process, it is essential to understand how to hire an ultrasound technician by first knowing the key responsibilities of the role. To better evaluate applicants, it is important to consider the roles and responsibilities of an ultrasound technician in a healthcare facility, which form the foundation for both clinical performance and patient interaction. Specifically, ultrasound technicians (also referred to as diagnostic medical sonographers) operate imaging equipment to produce high-quality diagnostic images.
Specifically, ultrasound technicians (also referred to as diagnostic medical sonographers) operate imaging equipment to produce high-quality diagnostic images. These ultrasound images are crucial for assessing internal conditions and help physicians plan appropriate treatment.
When planning to hire, verify that candidates hold certifications such as ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) or RDMS (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer) to demonstrate their competency. While hiring an ultrasound technician, technical proficiency remains the foundation of effective performance; skills in operating imaging equipment, understanding anatomy, and capturing accurate diagnostic images are essential.
Along with the technical skills, interpersonal qualities such as empathy and communication, especially when interacting with patients during sensitive procedures, are also crucial. With steady projected growth, now is an excellent time to streamline your recruitment process and take strategic steps to hire an ultrasound technician effectively. To get a more detailed breakdown of both hard skills (technical skills) and soft skills, see below.
Identifying your hiring needs
Before you start, identify what your facility needs to hire. Do you require this person to have some experience in obstetrics, vascular imaging, or cardiac imaging? Having this clarity will help you devise your ultrasound technician staffing plan, especially if you are partnering with a healthcare staffing platform to streamline the hiring process.
For example, the maternity clinic may want a technician who specializes in fetal echocardiography, while a cardiology clinic may be interested in candidates with cardiovascular imaging experience. In addition, consider whether you need full-time employees or contract professionals, which many facilities are now doing through flexible arrangements with an ultrasound technician staffing agency.
As a recruiter, you may wonder: Can ultrasound technicians be hired on contract for hospitals? The answer is yes, many facilities now use flexible, short-term, or long-term contract models to meet fluctuating patient care needs.
Writing a job description that packs a punch
Creating a clear job post prepares the recruitment process for success from the beginning. It gets everyone on the same page regarding the job role and illustrates the professionalism of your facility. A strong job post also prompts qualified candidates to take the next step with confidence. A well-written job post reduces mismatching and enhances your ability to successfully hire top talent later on. Your ultrasound technician job description should provide information on:
- A clear job title
- Job responsibilities outlined
- Required qualifications (e.g., ARDMS certification)
- Experience level
- The work context
- Soft skills (communication, empathy)
- Salary and benefits
Although hiring an ultrasound technician begins with openness and honesty, a solid job description will attract candidates aligned with your clinical purpose and expectations. Here is a summary of what you might write:
Position Summary: We need a compassionate and detail-oriented ultrasound technician to join our imaging team. In this position, you will perform diagnostic ultrasound procedures as directed by physicians, maintain the ultrasound equipment, and exhibit strong verbal and written communication skills while demonstrating sensitivity to patient care.
Best ways to source candidates
Finding the right talent does not begin and end with posting to generic job boards. Consider modern and technology-able platforms like MedSquirrels, LinkedIn, and specialized healthcare associations like SDMS (Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography). These platforms provide greater reach among qualified ultrasound professionals and offer better engagement than traditional methods. Using tech-enabled platforms also speeds up the process of identifying and connecting with the right candidates.
Other approaches to sourcing the right candidates include:
- Partnering with accredited Ultrasound training programs
- Leveraging alumni networks and structured referral programs
- Engaging in industry conferences, you and your team participate in
If you want to efficiently hire an ultrasound technician, these outreach approaches will widen the potential pool of candidates and improve the quality of candidates. Along with these efforts, employers must also ensure they offer compensation packages that align with market trends or are competitive within their specific state. A detailed image is provided below to help you better understand ultrasound technician salaries by state.
Annual wage of diagnostic medical sonographers by state in the USA
Source: www.bls.gov
Screening and interviewing candidates
After receiving applications, review resumes and applications to assess candidates’ technical capabilities, certifications, and years of experience. Screening candidates through a phone call will help to gauge soft skills and cultural fit.
The interview process will explore the following:
- Level of proficiency when operating equipment
- Type of patients experienced with (peds or elderly)
- Experience with urgent requests for diagnostics
- Specific question: “Describe a patient you had to calm down, prior to performing imaging. What did you do?”
Evaluating cultural fit and the ability to work collaboratively
In addition to clinical qualifications, consider whether the person aligns with your workplace culture. Be sure to ask the candidate situational questions to explore how they might behave in those circumstances. Situational questions could include:
- How have you handled disagreements about the treatment of patients with other healthcare professionals?
- How would you adjust to a team of personnel with varying degrees of experience?
Asking these kinds of questions can help you select a technician who not only provides excellent technical skills but can also work well with your team, which is crucial when you are interested in knowing the process of how to hire an ultrasound technician for long-term success.
Understanding the roles and responsibilities of ultrasound technicians in a healthcare facility also helps interviewers frame more relevant questions and align expectations during hiring.
Seamless onboarding and retaining employees
Upon hiring the ultrasound technician, a well-designed onboarding plan will help them assimilate into your work environment with little stress. Training encompasses understanding facility protocols, ensuring colleagues meet their expectations, and providing support during their initial weeks on the job.
Retaining ultrasound technicians is less complicated when employees feel welcomed and prepared from the first day of employment! Providing a clear growth path and ongoing mentorship opportunities can further strengthen retention. Regular feedback check-ins also help technicians feel valued and aligned with team goals.
Why modern staffing solutions matter
The clinical environment has changed, and we need to be smarter and faster. Traditional agencies may fill positions quickly; however, they come with expensive mark-ups and hidden costs, which significantly constrain you if you need a fast and affordable option. In many cases, these agencies also lack transparency in their sourcing process and do not provide long-term retention support. This can result in repeated short-term hires that disrupt workflow continuity and patient care.
Working with an ultrasound technician staffing agency or healthcare hiring platform like MedSquirrels provides your facility with the capability to hire an ultrasound technician faster, with greater compliance and improved scalability. These platforms offer AI-matching, flat-fee pricing, and faster credentialing to help your immediate imaging needs.MedSquirrels offers three affordable hiring plans designed to support healthcare facilities at different stages of the hiring process:
- Blue Plan – Designed for healthcare facilities looking to hire full-time ultrasound technicians. This plan offers end-to-end recruitment support, from sourcing qualified candidates to coordinating interviews and ensuring culture fit.
- Purple Plan – Ideal for facilities that already have a preferred candidate lined up but need assistance managing employment logistics. MedSquirrels handles payroll and credentialing, ensuring the technician is legally and professionally fit to work for your facility.
- Orange Plan – A full-service solution for facilities seeking complete hiring and workforce management support. This plan covers everything—from sourcing and recruitment to onboarding, credentialing, and payrolling.
To explore which plan aligns with your hiring strategy, book a demo and see how MedSquirrels can streamline your ultrasound technician staffing from sourcing to onboarding.
FAQs
What qualifications should a hospital ultrasound technician have?
A hospital ultrasound technician should typically hold an ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) certification or equivalent. Most hospitals also require a degree in diagnostic medical sonography and hands-on clinical experience.
How can I ensure cultural fit during the hiring process?
Use situational and behavioral interview questions to evaluate how a candidate works with diverse teams and responds to stress or disagreement.
Can ultrasound technicians be hired on contract for hospitals?
Absolutely. Many facilities now use short-term or long-term contracts to meet fluctuating demands, especially in high-volume departments.
Can MedSquirrels help if I already have a candidate but need help with hiring logistics?
Yes. The Purple Plan is designed for facilities that already have a candidate lined up and only need help with payroll, credentialing, and legal compliance.
Can I hire ultrasound technicians on a contract basis through MedSquirrels?
Yes. The Purple and Orange Plans support contract staffing for clinicians and non-clinicians, including ultrasound technicians. While both plans cover HR, onboarding, payroll, and compliance, the Orange Plan also includes full recruitment support.
