A major in Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist covers Cardiovascular Technology/technologist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform Invasive, Noninvasive, And Peripheral Examinations Of The Cardiovascular System At The Request Of Physicians To Aid In Diagnoses And Therapeutic Treatments. Includes Instruction In Reviewing And Recording Patient Histories And Clinical Data, Patient Care, Investigative And Examination Procedures, Diagnostic Procedures, Data Analysis And Documentation, Physician Consultation, Equipment Operation And Monitoring, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Read on to learn the key facts every cardiovascular technology/technologist major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering cardiovascular technology/technologist programs.
Nationwide, cardiovascular technology/technologist draws strong interest, with 1,540 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist Schools ranking analyzes these 86 schools to determine the best overall colleges for cardiovascular technology/technologist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of cardiovascular technology/technologist programs later in this article.
Studies in Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations cardiovascular technology/technologist graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a cardiovascular technology/technologist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a cardiovascular technology/technologist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several cardiovascular technology/technologist degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 297 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,045 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 88 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 102 |
People currently working in careers related to cardiovascular technology/technologist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 38.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.7% |
| Some college courses | 4.5% |
| First professional degree | 2.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in cardiovascular technology/technologist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in cardiovascular technology/technologist can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to cardiovascular technology/technologist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to cardiovascular technology/technologist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 1,630,916 | -0.3% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of cardiovascular technology/technologist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,845 |
| 4 years | $61,295 |
| 5 years | $69,015 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for cardiovascular technology/technologist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers cardiovascular technology/technologist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $36,739 |
With 86 different cardiovascular technology/technologist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased cardiovascular technology/technologist school rankings to help you.
Students interested in cardiovascular technology/technologist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.