EKG Technician Salary Guide

The average EKG technician salary is $66,170 as of May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). According to Payscale.com, EKG technicians earned $17.56 per hour or $42,736 per year. 

EKG Technician Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$65,020
Alaska	$90,770
Arizona	$94,650
Arkansas	$73,840
California	$122,670
Colorado	$99,460
Connecticut	$99,610
Delaware	$88,380
District of Columbia	$99,530
Florida	$77,790
Georgia	$78,080
Hawaii	$111,690
Idaho	$89,020
Illinois	$90,690
Indiana	$81,140
Iowa	$80,870
Kansas	$85,870
Kentucky	$74,610
Louisiana	$70,690
Maine	$82,940
Maryland	$89,490
Massachusetts	$101,420
Michigan	$74,770
Minnesota	$96,630
Mississippi	$68,150
Missouri	$85,910
Montana	$86,510
Nebraska	$80,900
Nevada	$91,000
New Hampshire	$89,160
New Jersey	$91,850
New Mexico	$78,520
New York	$94,180
North Carolina	$81,390
North Dakota	$80,380
Ohio	$78,780
Oklahoma	$78,800
Oregon	$104,260
Pennsylvania	$82,760
Rhode Island	$98,890
South Carolina	$77,660
South Dakota	$68,190
Tennessee	$74,070
Texas	$81,200
Utah	$92,610
Vermont	$96,010
Virginia	$86,120
Washington	$94,480
West Virginia	$70,730
Wisconsin	$97,670
Wyoming	$78,760

Via BLS

EKG Technician Salary by City

Metropolitan area	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$ 54.65	$ 113,680
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$ 52.48	$ 109,150
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH	$ 52.02	$ 108,200
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$ 51.43	$ 106,980
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$ 47.39	$ 98,580
Medford, OR	$ 46.34	$ 96,390
Chico, CA	$ 46.15	$ 95,980
Salem, OR	$ 45.84	$ 95,350
Modesto, CA	$ 45.76	$ 95,180
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA	$ 45.71	$ 95,070

EKG technicians have the ability to increase their hourly wage based on experience. According to Payscale.com as of August 2024, EKG technicians earn the following, 

• Less than 1 years of experience earn an average hourly salary of $15.43
• 1-4 years of experience earn an average hourly salary of $16.84
• 5-9 years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $17.33
• 10-19 years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $20.19
• 20+ years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $21.91

EKG technicians can work in a variety of settings but the highest earners were in outpatient care centers. According to the BLS, EKG technicians earned the following annual salaries,

• Outpatient care centers: $88,200
• Offices of physicians: $76,470
• Medical and diagnostic laboratories: $66,580
• Hospitals; state, local, or private: $63,480

How to Increase Your EKG Technician Salary

If you’re interested in increasing your earnings potential as an EKG technician, you have several good options. These include:

Negotiation

This might be uncomfortable for some EKG technicians but is one of the most effective methods of getting an increase in pay. 

EKG technicians with experience and increased levels of training will find an easier time negotiating for a higher salary. The key to an effective negotiation is to do your research. Ensure you know what other facilities in your area are paying for people with your qualifications. 

Overtime

EKG technicians who work overtime are entitled to increased pay for their additional work hours. Generally, this is considered time and a half pay.  In most cases, this means working over 40 hours a week. 

The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires that all "non-exempt" employees receive overtime pay equal to one-and-one-half times their regular rate of pay for every hour over 40 hours worked during a work week. 

Per Diem or Contract Employment

Per diem and contract employees earn a higher wage than staff members. They are paid a premium for working less desirable shifts and having shifts canceled at any given time. 

Per diem employees are not offered guaranteed hours so remember that a paycheck most likely will not be consistent. This might not be a viable option for individuals with families who need a steady paycheck. 

Shift Differential

EKG technicians may have an opportunity to earn more income without increasing the number of hours they work. A shift differential means making increased per-hour pay for working nights, weekends, or holidays.

Hazard Pay

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, hazard pay means “additional pay for performing a hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship.” It may also include work duty that causes “extreme physical discomfort and distress.” 

EKG technicians require less training than most other medical professionals and can be utilized as a building block to a more advanced healthcare degree. EKG technicians are only required to have a specialty EKG certification. Most EKG tech programs can be completed in three to six months. 

Once you have at least one year of experience in the field working as an EKG tech, you are eligible for testing to become a certified EKG technician (CET) from the National Healthcare Association. National Performance Specialists also offer an EKG certification (CET). This certification program provides an e-learning platform that includes access to an academic supervisor, free practice tests, the ability to take the exam three times, and a digital copy of the EKG technician certification.

While the salaries for EKG technicians vary and are generally less than most other healthcare-related occupations, the cost of an EKG certification is minimal. 

In fact, most healthcare systems will reimburse individuals upon successful completion of an EKG course and certification. Additionally, the job outlook for EKG technicians is projected to grow 10 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. 

EKG Technician - $66,170

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for an EKG technician is $66,170 in May 2023. 

ekg instructor - $51,210

ZipRecruiter shows the average annual salary for an EKG instructor is $51,210, or $25/hour.

Cardiac Telemetry Technician - $42,084

ZipRecruiter shows the average annual salary for a cardiac telemetry technician is $42,084, or $20/hour.

MRI Technician - $76,020

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for MRI technologists was $76,020 in May 2023. 

Surgical Technician - $60,610

According to the BLS, the national average for surgical technicians was $60,610  in May 2023. 

Radiology Technicians - $73,410

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for radiology technicians was $73,410 in May 2023. 

Ultrasound Techs - $80,850

According to the BLS, the national average for ultrasound techs was $80,850  in May 2023. 

• Where Do EKG Technicians get Paid the Most?

  • According to the BLS, EKG technicians that work in outpatient care centers earn an average annual salary of $88,200, which is significantly more than the national average for this occupation. 

• Is Getting an EKG Certificate Worth it?

  • Passing a national EKG certification exam is required for most positions. These exams will test knowledge of anatomy, medical terminology, bedside manner, and more. 

• Can You Make a Living as an EKG Technician?

  • Yes, it is possible to make a living as an EKG technician; however, it depends on the area of the country and cost of living. Because EKG technicians earn lower wages than other healthcare professionals it is common to pick up overtime or even per diem positions. 

• Is Becoming an EKG Technician Hard?

  • All healthcare-related occupations require hard work and dedication. EKG Technicians are no different. This career does require the least amount of schooling but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t take effort and studying to pass the certification exam. 

• How Long is EKG Technician Training?

  • EKG Technician training takes roughly three to six months to complete.