OSCA 263531

Sonographer

Overview

  • Employed persons

    5,500

  • Employment status

    50.1% Full time

    49.8% Part time

  • Median age

    39 years

  • Employment by sex

    77.7% Female

    22.1% Male

    Highly female dominated

  • Indigenous employment share

    0.4%

  • Main employing industry

    Health Care and Social Assistance

Indicator Sonographer Total employment
Employed persons 5,500 12,049,400
Median age 39 years 40 years
Full-time share 50.1% 64.2%
Part-time share 49.8% 35.8%
Female employment share 77.7% 48.5%
Male employment share 22.1% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Highly female dominated Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 0.4% 2.2%
Main employing industry Health Care and Social Assistance Health Care and Social Assistance
Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

Occupation overview

Sonographers examine patients and operate ultrasound equipment to acquire, interpret and selectively record anatomical images, physical data and real-time physiological information.

What the occupation involves

  • Makes adjustments to patient position, and operates and adjusts ultrasound equipment using appropriate settings to obtain optimal diagnostic images
  • Analyses images and reports on findings for Medical Practitioners to interpret and provide diagnosis
  • Explains procedures to patients, answers questions, and ensures safety and comfort throughout the examination
  • Maintains and calibrates ultrasound equipment to ensure accuracy and quality of images
  • Adheres to safety protocols and infection control measures during ultrasound procedures

Common occupation titles

No alternative occupation titles are listed for this occupation.

Specialisations

  • Cardiac Sonographer
  • Vascular Sonographer

Note: Specialisations are examples of roles in within this occupation and are not separate OSCA occupations.

Skill level (education and experience level)

Skill level 1
equivalent to a university level qualification (Bachelor degree or higher).

Note: While skill levels are described using formal education levels, some people use a combination of informal learning, on-the-job training and personal experience to achieve an equivalent level.

Licensing or registration requirements

Registration or licensing may be required.

OSCA structure

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Sonographer Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Health Care and Social Assistance 98.7% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Administrative and Support Services 0.3% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Education and Training 0.2% Construction 8.9%
    Financial and Insurance Services 0.1% Education and Training 8.8%
    Public Administration and Safety 0.1% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Wholesale Trade 0.1% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing <0.1% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Accommodation and Food Services 0.0% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Arts and Recreation Services 0.0% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Construction 0.0% Financial and Insurance Services 3.7%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    States and territories

    Employment distribution by states and territories, 2021

    • New South Wales

      33.7%

    • Victoria

      21.7%

    • Queensland

      21.6%

    • South Australia

      8.1%

    • Tasmania

      1.7%

    • Northern Territory

      0.7%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      1.8%

    Sonographer Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 1,800 33.7% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 1,200 21.7% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 1,200 21.6% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 440 8.1% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 560 10.3% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 100 1.7% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 40 0.7% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 100 1.8% 248,600 2.1%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    Age and sex

    Employment distibution by age group and sex, 2021

    Sonographer

    Total employment

    Age group Sonographer Total employment
    15–24 years 2.7% 14.3%
    25–34 years 30.3% 22.7%
    35–44 years 30.9% 22.3%
    45–54 years 21.2% 20.4%
    55–64 years 12.5% 15.3%
    65–74 years 2.3% 4.3%
    75 years and over <0.1% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Sonographer Total employment
    Female 77.7% 48.5%
    Male 22.1% 51.5%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    On this page

      OSCA occupation profiles data

      This file contains data available from the OSCA Occupation Profile page.

      Use of this data must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      OSCA Occupation data - 2021 Census.xlsx

      xlsx 1236447

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      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)

      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) is the skill-based classification used to categorise occupations across the Australian labour market. OSCA is used to define occupations across all official occupational statistics. OSCA replaces the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

      Each job is classified to one, and only one, group of jobs at each level of the classification with no overlaps. This prevents the accidental double-counting of roles within the Australian labour market. For more information about OSCA, visit the What is OSCA information page, or the ABS website.

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