Also called: Medical Ultrasound Physicist, Ultrasound Systems Scientist
Develops new ways to use sound waves above human hearing to image and even treat the body.
You might design a probe that images a heart in 3D, or test focused ultrasound that destroys tumors or opens the blood-brain barrier without surgery. Work splits between lab tests and hospital collaborations.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD or master's in physics, biomedical, or electrical engineering.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering.
Growing faster than average. BLS does not project this specialty separately; rating estimated from related occupations.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI improves image reconstruction; building probes and testing focused-ultrasound treatments with hospitals stay human.
Classes: AP Physics C, AP Biology, AP Calculus.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2012.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.