EKG Technician Salary Guide

6 Min Read Published September 6, 2025
EKG Technician Salary Guide 2024 |  Nurse.org

Key Takeaways:

  • EKG technicians earn about $89,340 annually (BLS), though pay varies widely by state and city, with California and New York among the highest-paying locations.
  • EKG technician roles require only 3–6 months of training and certification, have relatively low entry costs, and serve as a stepping stone to higher-paying healthcare careers.
EKG Technician Salary Guide 2024 |  Nurse.org

How Much Does an EKG Technician Make?

The average EKG technician salary is $89,340 as of the latest May 2024 update, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). According to Payscale.com, EKG technicians earned $18.70 per hour or $46,158 per year. 

We Found The Following Schools with Online EKG Technician Programs

EKG Technician Salary by State

State Annual Salary Hourly Wage
Washington $56,317 $27.08
District of Columbia $56,189 $27.01
New York $54,400 $26.15
Massachusetts $54,305 $26.11
Alaska $53,550 $25.75
Vermont $52,869 $25.42
North Dakota $52,612 $25.29
Oregon $52,572 $25.27
Colorado $52,286 $25.14
Hawaii $51,661 $24.84
Nevada $50,634 $24.34
New Jersey $50,481 $24.27
Wisconsin $50,189 $24.13
Pennsylvania $49,843 $23.96
Delaware $49,767 $23.93
South Dakota $49,724 $23.91
Virginia $49,297 $23.70
California $49,073 $23.59
Minnesota $48,700 $23.41
Rhode Island $48,695 $23.41
New Hampshire $48,357 $23.25
Maryland $48,259 $23.20
New Mexico $48,186 $23.17
Illinois $48,184 $23.17
Maine $48,143 $23.15
Wyoming $47,796 $22.98
Nebraska $47,409 $22.79
Indiana $47,315 $22.75
Connecticut $47,302 $22.74
Ohio $47,272 $22.73
Mississippi $47,092 $22.64
Idaho $46,785 $22.49
Iowa $46,704 $22.45
Missouri $46,641 $22.42
Arizona $46,337 $22.28
Texas $46,325 $22.27
South Carolina $46,141 $22.18
Oklahoma $45,912 $22.07
Montana $45,639 $21.94
Utah $45,267 $21.76
North Carolina $45,189 $21.73
Tennessee $45,130 $21.70
Alabama $45,069 $21.67
Kansas $44,346 $21.32
Michigan $43,339 $20.84
Kentucky $43,186 $20.76
Louisiana $42,520 $20.44
Georgia $41,986 $20.19
Arkansas $41,117 $19.77
West Virginia $38,495 $18.51
Florida $37,158 $17.86

Via Zip Recruiter

EKG Technician Salary by Years of Experience

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 $17.96
  • 5-9 years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $17.88
  • 10-19 years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $20.54
  • 20+ years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $21.91

EKG Tech Salary by Work Setting

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: $123,610
  • Offices of physicians: $90,070
  • Medical and diagnostic laboratories: $89,450
  • Hospitals; state, local, or private: $83,20

We Found The Following Schools with Online EKG Technician Programs

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.” 

Is Becoming an EKG Technician Worth it?

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 - $89,340

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for an EKG technician is $89,340. 

EKG instructor - $51,210

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

Cardiac Telemetry Technician - $45,753

ZipRecruiter shows the average annual salary for a cardiac telemetry technician is $45,753, or $22/hour.

MRI Technician - $78,980

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for MRI technologists was $78,980. 

Surgical Technician - $62,830

According to the BLS, the national average for surgical technicians was $62,830. 

Radiology Technicians - $78,980

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for radiology technicians was $78,980. 

Ultrasound Techs - $89,340

According to the BLS, the national average for ultrasound techs was $89,340. 

We Found The Following Schools with Online EKG Technician Programs

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Kathleen Gaines
MSN, RN, BA, CBC
Kathleen Gaines
News and Education Editor

Kathleen Gaines (nee Colduvell) is a nationally published writer turned Pediatric ICU nurse from Philadelphia with over 13 years of ICU experience. She has an extensive ICU background having formerly worked in the CICU and NICU at several major hospitals in the Philadelphia region. After earning her MSN in Education from Loyola University of New Orleans, she currently also teaches for several prominent Universities making sure the next generation is ready for the bedside. As a certified breastfeeding counselor and trauma certified nurse, she is always ready for the next nursing challenge.

Education:
MSN Nursing Education - Loyola University New Orleans
BSN - Villanova University
BA- University  of Mary Washington

Expertise:
Pediatric Nursing, Neonatal Nursing, Nursing Education, Women’s Health, Intensive Care, Nurse Journalism, Cardiac Nursing 

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