General Sonographer II
Company : Catholic Health Initiatives
Location : Santa Cruz, CA, 95065
Job Type : Full Time
Salary : 68.52-81.82 HOUR
Date Posted : 10 January 2026
Job Summary and Responsibilities
Position Summary:
The Sonographer II performs ultrasonography procedures. Preferably performs all routine and emergency radiographic and fluoroscopic procedures. Provides radiology servcies to all ages.
Job Requirements
Minimum:
- One year or more as a sonographer is required.
- One year or more as a radiologic technologist, if applicable, is required.
- Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) or Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) required.
- Successful completion of RDMS Registry examination or RDCS in the following areas are acceptable:Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer Adult Echo (RDCSAE), Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer Fetal Echo (RDCSFE), Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer Pediatric Echo (RDCSPE), Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Abdomen (RDMSAB), Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Breast (RDMSBR), Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Neurosonology (RDMSNE), Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer OB/GYN (RDMSOB), Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Pediatric Sono (RDMSPS)
- Current BLS certification (CT CPRBLS) is required.
Preferred:
- Associate degree in Science is preferred.
- Completion of California State Certification (CRT) examination, if Radiologic Tech AND completion of the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) national examination, if radiologic technologist is preferred.
Dominican Hospital (a member of Dignity Health) is a 222-bed facility that offers a wide range of services to residents of California’s Central Coast. With 24/7 emergency care, comprehensive care in cardiac, orthopedics, oncology, women’s and children’s services, we continue to lead the region in medical innovation and excellence in healthcare.
Comprehensive Care
Dominican offers emergency services and is a Certified Stroke Center and Chest Pain Center. Dominican’s services include the only comprehensive Cancer Center in Santa Cruz County, a Total Joint Replacement program, and advanced neurological and endoscopic services. Dominican regularly receives ‘A’ grades for hospital safety from Leapfrog Group, and has received national recognition for superior patient safety, cardiac care, and stroke treatment from Healthgrades, a leading provider of comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals.
As Santa Cruz County’s heart attack (STEMI) receiving center, Dominican Hospital provides cutting edge cardiac care. The hospital’s heart attack treatment times consistently beat the national average, and the hospital offers two cardiac catheterization labs available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Groundbreaking cardiac procedures at Dominican include the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure, which allows for heart valve replacement without opening a patient’s chest.
Dominican Hospital has forged significant partnerships with area hospitals to bring exceptional care to Santa Cruz County. The hospital offers a level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) through a partnership with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Neurosurgery at Dominican is also offered through a partnership with Stanford Health Care.
One Community. One Mission. One California
Related Jobs
Top trending job titles hiring now
Popular Searches for General Sonographer II
Frequently asked questions
In Santa Cruz, employers prioritize candidates with RDMS or RDCS credentials, especially in cardiac or abdominal sonography. California state certification (CRT) and ARRT national exams enhance competitiveness, reflecting local healthcare standards and regulatory preferences for diagnostic sonographers.
Catholic Health Initiatives combines faith-driven care with advanced imaging technology, offering sonographers a supportive environment focused on patient safety and innovation. The role often involves collaboration with top-tier specialists, especially given their partnerships with Stanford Health Care, setting it apart from typical regional employers.
Specializing in cardiac, pediatric, or neurosonology sonography can significantly elevate career prospects. Mastery in these areas aligns with registry certifications like RDCS and RDMS neurosonology, which are in demand for advanced diagnostic roles and open doors to leadership or specialized clinical positions.
General Sonographer II salaries in Santa Cruz generally range from $75,000 to $95,000 annually, influenced by certifications, experience, and the hospital's standing. Catholic Health Initiatives tends to offer competitive compensation reflecting the region’s cost of living and healthcare market dynamics.
Yes, Catholic Health Initiatives supports ongoing education and skill advancement, often facilitating registry exam preparation and specialty training. Their ties with academic centers like Stanford provide sonographers exposure to cutting-edge techniques and research collaborations uncommon in many community hospitals.
A General Sonographer II at Dominican Hospital typically performs routine and emergency ultrasonography across all age groups. Tasks include imaging for cardiac, abdominal, and obstetric cases, requiring precision and adaptability within a high-acuity environment ensuring comprehensive patient diagnostics.
Santa Cruz shows moderate demand for sonographers, with Catholic Health Initiatives seeking experienced RDMS or RDCS holders. Competition intensifies due to the region's appeal and hospital reputation, making advanced certification and versatile sonography skills crucial to stand out.
Sonographers are integral to rapid diagnostic workflows in emergency settings, performing urgent ultrasounds for trauma and cardiac cases. Their imaging expertise directly supports the hospital’s certified stroke and chest pain centers, ensuring timely, life-saving interventions.
Candidates often hold associate degrees in science with focused sonography training, complemented by passing the RDMS or RDCS registry exams. Additional radiologic technology experience and certifications like BLS CPR enhance readiness for the multifaceted demands of this role.
Santa Cruz’s coastal lifestyle and community emphasis on wellness contribute to a balanced work environment. Healthcare providers like Catholic Health Initiatives often promote flexible scheduling and employee wellness programs, which benefit sonographers managing demanding clinical duties.