The rate of heart disease in the United States has been growing exponentially over the past few years as the population continues to rise and the prevalence of obesity and diabetes expands. Low levels of exercise and poor consumption habits have created a situation where far more people require cardiac care and the rates of death associated with cardiovascular illness are around 25%. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over half a million people experience a major heart attack each year. With the influx of heart disease patients, the cardiac care specialty has grown significantly and the demand for unlicensed providers such as the telemetry technician have skyrocketed. This has created several new employment opportunities for those who want to help with patient care without needing a college degree or extensive training. While it is possible to find work in the department without having previous experience or credentials, those who have both are more likely to get hired and are generally paid more. In an effort to increase the compensation package, applicants can complete a couple years of college coursework, formal training, and national certification. A proactive approach to career advancement is usually the best strategy and will allow people to take advantage of strong job and salary growth in the industry for the foreseeable future.

1. TELEMETRY
TECHNICIAN
Job and Salary Growth

2. What is Telemetry?
• Remote monitoring technology that allows wireless
transmission of information across great distances.
• Used in many industries including natural resources
exploration, automotive, and healthcare.
• Has become more widespread for the use of observing
the electrical activity of the heart from a remote location.
• Growing at a rapid pace given the large number of
patients who have been entering the healthcare system
seeking cardiac care services.
• Excellent career opportunity for those who want to help
with patient care without needing a license.

3. Factors Affecting Industry Growth
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have
found that heart disease accounts for nearly one in every
four deaths within the United States each year.
• Over 700,000 people suffer from a heart attack in the US
each year.
• Adoption of poor dietary and exercise behaviors has led
to a higher prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and high
blood pressure.
• Population growth in general.
• Large number of retiring Baby Boomers.
• Expansion of federal health insurance coverage.

4. Role of the Technician
• Monitor patients to spot abnormal or concerning cardiac
activity.
• Responsibilities usually shared with registered nurses.
• May work in other areas of cardiac care with the title of
EKG technician, cardiovascular technologist, or cardiac
care technician.
• Dedicated telemetry technicians being hired in record
numbers to spend most of their time working in the
telemetry unit.
• May be located in-house or at a virtual unit located in
another state or country.

5. How to Benefit From Growth
• While a college degree is generally not required in order
to become a telemetry technician, employers often favor
applicants who have formal education, training,
certification, and industry experience.
• Those who are completely new to patient care and who
are having trouble competing for job openings in the
cardiovascular specialty may want to consider completing
a certificate program through a local educational facility or
working as a nurse aide for a couple of years.
• Experienced individuals should solidify their position by
completing national certification that demonstrates that
they have met common competency standards.

6. Telemetry Technician Salary
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average
cardiovascular technologist was paid around $55,000 per
year in May 2014.
• The range for compensation is $28,000 to $85,000 per
year and can be affected by several different factors.
• Individuals with experience, certification, and managerial
responsibilities are likely to be paid more.
• Heavily populated areas with several employers are more
likely to compete to attract and retain qualified individuals.
• Those who are just starting out will probably need to put
in a few years of work before reaching average or above
average pay.

7. Preparing for Success
• Cardiac care is one of the fastest growing medical fields
and is expected to add thirty percent more jobs over the
course of ten years.
• Those who have the personality and drive to work in a
fast-paced medical setting are encouraged to consider
this career path.
• Individuals who acquire formal education, certification,
and training are usually more competitive applicants who
are able to secure higher pay.
• Technicians who demonstrate an affinity for leadership
and who have an interest in the business aspects of the
delivery of care can earn more as a manager.

8. Useful Resources
• Telemetry Technician Salary
• http://www.EKGtechniciansalary.org/