Becoming an EKG Technician in Texas
EKG stands for electrocardiogram. This is a common medical procedure that can help doctors detect serious changes in normal heart health. EKG technicians are the medical personnel who use electrocardiogram equipment. In the modern world, no hospital operates without these trained healthcare workers on its staff.
Texas is home to some of America’s premier healthcare facilities. The state also boasts one of the nation’s largest populations. With these facts in mind, it’s no surprise that EKG techs work daily in Texas cities of all sizes.
Want to become one of these in-demand professionals? This informative overview will help you sort out the state’s rules, training options and likely salaries for electrocardiogram operators.
Oversight for Texas EKG Technicians
You need an officially issued license to perform many medical procedures in states throughout America. However, not all healthcare workers must have a license. In Texas and most other jurisdictions, state rules allow for a category of workers called unlicensed assistive personnel. People in this category do not have the power to make patient-related decisions on their own. Instead, they perform their jobs under the authority of a licensed healthcare provider. The providers who issue this authority are usually registered nurses (RNs).
Texas has no specific regulations for the oversight of EKG technicians. However, as a rule, these technicians work as unlicensed assistive personnel under the supervision of an RN. This supervision helps ensure patient safety and the accuracy of electrocardiogram procedures.
Training Expectations for Texas EKG Techs
Since there are no state-level rules for EKG techs in Texas, each individual healthcare facility sets its own standard for training and other job qualifications. In most cases, standards are pretty high. Before you can hope to get a job, many facilities require you to do one of three things:
- Graduate from a continuing education program in allied health
- Work in some capacity in the medical arena for at least a couple of years
- Get certified as an EKG tech on a national level
Some people get the training they need while working as nurses’ aides or medical assistants.
Options for Suitable Training
In metropolitan areas across Texas, you’ll find schools that offer training programs for EKG technicians. In the state’s larger cities, examples of these schools include:
- University of Houston – Downtown – UHD offers an online EKG technician program. This program covers all aspects of EKG-related work responsibilities. It also gives you experience with another heart-testing procedure called an echocardiogram. Your coursework will help get you ready for nationwide certification.
- Lamson Institute – Lamson is based in San Antonio. It offers a combined program that prepares you to work as an EKG technician, phlebotomist (blood-draw technician) or lab assistant. In addition, the program gets you certified to perform CPR.
You will also find training options in smaller Texas cities. One example is Central Texas College in Killeen. This institution offers a 60-hour program that combines fast-track classroom education with supervised, real-world electrocardiogram training. Graduates receive a certificate from the school. They also get the chance to take the National Healthcareer Association’s EKG technician certification exam.
How Much Can Your Earn as a Texas EKG Technician?
In Texas, the average annual salary is $44,550, with the lowest 10% earning $32,060 or less and the highest 10% earning $95,120 or more. Nationally, the average salary is $66,170, with the lowest 10% earning $36,620 or less and the highest 10% earning $105,140 or more. Regional data within Texas show variations in wages across different metropolitan areas.
National vs. Local Salaries
| Location | Average Salary | 10% Earn Less Than | 10% Earn More Than |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $66,170 | $36,620 | $105,140 |
| Texas | $44,550 | $32,060 | $95,120 |
Salaries and Percentiles by Region
| Region | 10% Earn Less Than | 25% Earn Less Than | Median Salary | 75% Earn More Than | 10% Earn More Than |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $36,620 | $44,160 | $66,170 | $85,930 | $105,140 |
| Texas | $32,060 | $37,490 | $44,550 | $75,920 | $95,120 |
| Abilene, TX | $30,930 | $30,930 | $34,630 | $53,420 | $74,110 |
| Amarillo, TX | $37,420 | $39,780 | $54,860 | $72,730 | $82,760 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | $37,440 | $38,560 | $45,110 | $73,950 | $100,990 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $28,360 | $36,670 | $60,650 | $69,100 | $78,230 |
| Big Thicket Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $30,510 | $36,680 | $59,370 | $66,770 | $79,840 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $31,950 | $36,200 | $43,300 | $66,280 | $82,600 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $37,490 | $39,590 | $46,750 | $78,450 | $100,660 |
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,200 | $31,200 | $47,430 | $75,800 | $85,790 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $36,280 | $38,520 | $45,440 | $78,510 | $97,070 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $28,880 | $35,350 | $39,410 | $74,560 | $76,440 |
| Longview, TX | $28,390 | $34,270 | $34,320 | $66,090 | $95,420 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $27,740 | $30,020 | $31,080 | $38,130 | $83,700 |
| North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $27,800 | $31,200 | $36,310 | $47,410 | $76,680 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $33,190 | $36,370 | $44,100 | $77,490 | $95,120 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $30,940 | $30,940 | $39,100 | $57,670 | $81,890 |
| Waco, TX | $34,190 | $35,940 | $42,600 | $65,560 | $82,500 |
EKG TechnicianTrends in Texas
In Texas, there were 5,410 employees in 2020, projected to grow to 6,320 by 2030, representing a 17% increase, with 500 annual job openings. Nationally, there were 58,900 employees in 2022, projected to grow to 61,100 by 2032, a 4% increase, with 3,900 annual job openings.
Table of the Data
| Location | Year | Employment | Projected Employment | Growth | Annual Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2020 | 5,410 | 6,320 | 17% | 500 |
| United States | 2022 | 58,900 | 61,100 | 4% | 3,900 |
Source of data:
- Texas source: Projections Central 2020-2030 long-term projections.
- United States source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022-2032 employment projections.