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ASA Sonographers Employment and Salary Report
ASA Sonographers Employment and Salary Report
In November 2021, 1,153 sonographers from Australia and New Zealand took part in the ASA Sonographers Employment and Salary Survey. The survey was the biggest inquiry of its kind for sonographers, and is important as it provides valuable benchmark data on Australasian sonographer workforce conditions, as well as a snapshot of what is currently happening in our profession. The findings below were compiled by Survey Matters on behalf of the ASA from the responses to the survey.
RESPONDENT PROFILE
GENDER: 79% female, 21% male
LOCATION: 66% metropolitan, 34% rural and remote
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: 60% have prior experience as a radiographer, 7% have a Master's or PhD
Primary Place of Employment 2019 & 2021
AUSTRALIA
Private practice: 2019 - 55% | 2021 - 60%
Private practice in a private hospital: 2019 - 12% | 2021 - 12%
Private Radiology practice in a public hospital: 2019 - 5% | 2021 - 4%
Public hospital/department: 2019 - 25% | 2021 - 22%
Other: 2019 - 3% | 2021 - 2%
NEW ZEALAND
Private practice: 2019 - 66% | 2021 - 60%
Private practice in a private hospital: 2019 - 8% | 2021 - 9%
Private Radiology practice in a public hospital: 2019 - 1% | 2021 - 1%
Public hospital/department: 2019 - 24% | 2021 - 30%
Other: 2019 - 2% | 2021 - 0%
In 2021, more than half (53%) of sonographers indicated they worked part time, with similar percentages across Australia (53%) and New Zealand (54%). The total proportion was up from 47% in 2019, with a continual upward trend since 2010.
In contrast, the proportion of sonographers working full time declined from 46% in 2019, and over 50% in 2010, to 40% in 2021. In Australia, this 2021 figure was 40%, while the New Zealand figure was higher at 45%.
The proportion of sonographers working on a casual basis, or as a locum, remained stable across these years at almost 7% in both 2021 and 2019, although there has been a general downward trend over the past decade. This percentage for New Zealand was only 1.1% in 2021 (7% for Australia).
There was no significant difference across Australia, with the proportion of sonographers employed on a part-time basis increasing in all states of Australia.
While more non-cardiac sonographers reported working on a part-time basis in 2021, there was a big jump in casual work among cardiac sonographers.
The proportion of cardiac sonographers working part time remained relatively stable in 2021 at 43%, while casual positions increased to 19% in 2021, up from 15% in 2019.
Average Hours Worked per Week
PUBLIC HOSPITAL: 2019 - 31.8 | 2021 - 30.2
PRIVATE PRACTICE: 2019 - 31.1 | 2021 - 29.8
NON-CARDIAC: 2019 - 31.1 | 2021 - 30.1
CARDIAC: 2019 - N/A | 2021 - 28.6
Reflecting the trend towards part-time employment, sonographers worked an average of 29.9 hours per week in 2021, down from 31 hours in 2019.
Sonographers working in public hospitals reported the biggest decline in working hours, down from 31.8 hours in 2019 to 30.2 hours in 2021. This remains higher than private practice-based sonographers who worked an average of 29.8 hours per week in 2021, down from 31.1 hours in 2019.
Non-cardiac sonographers worked longer hours on average than cardiac sonographers. This group reported an average weekly workload of 30.1 hours per week, compared to 28.6 hours for cardiac sonographers.
On average, sonographers in New Zealand worked longer hours than their Australian counterparts, at 31.1 hours on average per week. Australian-based sonographers worked an average of 29.8 hours per week. Sonographers in New South Wales (28.8) worked significantly fewer hours on average per week than those based in Queensland (31.1) or Victoria (30.1).
Secondary Roles
One in five (21%) respondent sonographers have a secondary sonographer role in 2021, almost unchanged from 24% in 2019.
SONOGRAPHER PRODUCTIVITY
Average Number of Scans per Day
Non-Cardiac Sonographers
PUBLIC HOSPITAL: 11.9
PRIVATE HOSPITAL: 15.7
Cardiac Sonographers
PUBLIC HOSPITAL: 7.3
PRIVATE HOSPITAL: 10.1
The average number of scans performed per day by a non-cardiac sonographer in a private practice was 15.7 in 2021 (up from 15.3 in 2019), with an allocated scan time of approximately 28 minutes. This compares with a public hospital, where the average was 11.9 scans per day (down from 12.8 in 2019), with an average allocated scan time of 31 minutes.
For cardiac sonographers, the average number of scans per day in a private practice was 10.1 in 2021 (down from 10.3 in 2019), with an average time allocated per scan at about 40 minutes. This compares with public hospitals where the average number of patients scanned per day was 7.3 in 2021 (7.7 in 2019), with an average allocated scan time of around 47 minutes.
It should be noted that public hospitals generally have more complex scans to perform.
Average Time Allocated per Scan (Minutes)
Overall, seven out of 10 (70%) respondent sonographers indicated that they were satisfied with their time allocation per scan in 2021, unchanged from 2019. In Australia, 69% of sonographers were satisfied, compared with 80% in New Zealand.
At 82%, non-cardiac sonographers in public hospitals have the highest satisfaction with the time allocated for their scans. This percentage was unchanged from 2019.
However, non-cardiac sonographers in private practice have seen a drop in satisfaction from 70% to 66%.
Down from 84% in 2019, only 69% of cardiac sonographers working in public hospitals were satisfied with time allocated per scan in 2021. This follows a fall in the average time allocated from 49.1 minutes per scan in 2019 to 47.4 minutes per scan in 2021.
% Satisfied with Time per Scan
NON-CARDIAC
PUBLIC HOSPITAL: 2019 - 82% | 2021 - 82%
PRIVATE PRACTICE: 2019 - 70% | 2021 - 66%
CARDIAC
PUBLIC HOSPITAL: 2019 - 84% | 2021 - 69%
PRIVATE PRACTICE: 2019 - 61% | 2021 - 75%
WORK DUTIES DISTRIBUTION
Percentage of Time Spent on Work Duties, 2010 to 2021
More time has been allocated to core sonographic services over the last decade, at the expense of time dedicated to supervision and training.
Percentage of Time Spent on Work Duties, by Employer
Public Hospitals
70% Sonographic services, including administration
12% Clinical supervision & training
5% Management or administrative tasks
2% Delivery of sonographic education
8% Non-ultrasound imaging
3% Other non-scanning duties
Private Practices
81% Sonographic services, including administration
9% Clinical supervision & training
3% Management or administrative tasks
1% Delivery of sonographic education
1% Non-ultrasound imaging
4% Other non-scanning duties
Sonographers in private practice tend to spend more time on sonographic services and related administrative tasks than those in public hospitals.
OVERTIME
Proportion of Sonographers Working Overtime, 2017-2021
The trend of fewer sonographers working overtime each week continued in 2021, with the exception of cardiac sonographers who reported working more overtime hours than in 2019.
Australian sonographers are more likely to work overtime than those in New Zealand.
Overtime Payment Method
Public Hospitals
10% Standard hourly rate
48% Time and a half
19% Double time
10% Time in lieu
1% Other
12% Not compensated for overtime
Private Practices
23% Standard hourly rate
38% Time and a half
6% Double time
12% Time in lieu
3% Other
19% Not compensated for overtime
Almost one in five sonographers in private practice are still not compensated for working overtime.
In New Zealand, 43% of respondents indicated they were paid their standard hourly rate for working overtime in 2021, compared with only 18% in Australia. Further, 34% of New Zealand sonographers were paid time and a half for overtime, with Australia-based sonographers at 40%.
While 18% of sonographers in Australia were not compensated for working overtime, this figure was 9% in New Zealand.
PAY ARRANGEMENTS
The practice of sonographers being remunerated by the hour continued in 2021, with over four in five sonographers paid on an hourly rate basis.
The numbers of those paid per scan was consistent at 3% in 2021. The percentage paid per scan is 4% in Australia, and 1% in New Zealand.
SONOGRAPHER WAGES
Average Hourly Rate, 2010 to 2021
Sonographers hourly rate increased 2.3% in 2021, continuing the upward growth.
This hourly pay rate rise continued a steady growth trend from 2012, with a $14.30 an hour increase seen since 2011. This rise represented an overall increase of 28.3%, or an annualised growth rate of 2.3% to an average of $64.80.
RATE PER HOUR
Australia: 2019 - $62.00 | 2021 - $65.10
New Zealand: 2019 - $61.60 | 2021 - $61.10
While sonographer pay rates increased in Australia, those working in New Zealand saw their hourly rate fall.
NON-CARDIAC SONOGRAPHERS
Public Hospitals:
Minimum - $39 | Mean - $63.40 | Maximum - $130
Private Practice:
Minimum - $24 | Mean - $65.70 | Maximum - $140
CARDIAC SONOGRAPHERS
All employers
Minimum - $30.00 | Mean - $59.20 | Maximum - $86.00
There is a clear correlation between experience as a sonographer and remuneration, with an upward trend in sonographer hourly rates as experience rises to 15 years.
PERFORMANCE BONUS
One in five sonographers receive a performance-based bonus; however, it is much more common in Australia than in New Zealand.
Sonographer Bonus Amount, 2021
The average bonus amount among sonographers that received a bonus in 2021 was $9,475, with nearly all of those receiving a bonus working in private practice.
How performance bonuses are calculated
73% Set number of scans personally
12% Overall business/department performance
6% Overall personal performance
3% Set number of scans per department
6% Other
Performance bonuses are largely based on sonographers achieving a set number of scans personally. For sonographers that received a performance-based bonus in 2021, more than seven out of 10 (73%) were based on achieving over a set number of scans personally. This is up significantly, from 63% in 2021.
CPD SUPPORT
NON - CARDIAC SONOGRAPHERS
PUBLIC HOSPITALS
Conference leave: Paid in full 61% | Partially paid 20% | Taken in 2021 25%
Support to present at conferences: Paid in full 27% | Partially paid 20% | Taken in 2021 5%
National conference registration fee: Paid in full 24% | Partially paid 32% | Taken in 2021 30%
Attendance at a local professional development: Paid in full 20% | Partially paid 22% | Taken in 2021 19%
National conference travel & accommodation: Paid in full 19% | Partially paid 21% | Taken in 2021 10%
Attendance at international professional development: Paid in full 11% | Partially paid 21% | Taken in 2021 10%
PRIVATE PRACTICE
Conference leave: Paid in full 26% | Partially paid 23% | Taken in 2021 18%
Support to present at conferences: Paid in full 14% | Partially paid 17% | Taken in 2021 8%
National conference registration fee: Paid in full 22% | Partially paid 38% | Taken in 2021 29%
Attendance at a local professional development: Paid in full 16% | Partially paid 28% | Taken in 2021 30%
National conference travel & accommodation: Paid in full 11% | Partially paid 31% | Taken in 2021 11%
Attendance at international professional development: Paid in full 8% | Partially paid 26% | Taken in 2021 9%
CARDIAC SONOGRAPHERS
PUBLIC HOSPITALS
Conference leave: Paid in full 57% | Partially paid 14% | Taken in 2021 12%
Support to present at conferences: Paid in full 20% | Partially paid 23% | Taken in 2021 0%
National conference registration fee: Paid in full 20% | Partially paid 26% | Taken in 2021 13%
Attendance at a local professional development: Paid in full 17% | Partially paid 27% | Taken in 2021 0%
National conference travel & accommodation: Paid in full 6% | Partially paid 26% | Taken in 2021 18%
Attendance at international professional development: Paid in full 3% | Partially paid 23% | Taken in 2021 11%
PRIVATE PRACTICE
Conference leave: Paid in full 24% | Partially paid 14% | Taken in 2021 11%
Support to present at conferences: Paid in full 14% | Partially paid 4% | Taken in 2021 18%
National conference registration fee: Paid in full 14% | Partially paid 21% | Taken in 2021 21%
Attendance at a local professional development: Paid in full 11% | Partially paid 14% | Taken in 2021 29%
National conference travel & accommodation: Paid in full 10% | Partially paid 15% | Taken in 2021 8%
Attendance at international professional development: Paid in full 5% | Partially paid 9% | Taken in 2021 8%
One-third (33%) of sonographers receive support for their CPD in the form of a direct monetary allowance in 2021, although on average, monetary CPD allowances were lower than in 2019.
