Why are you so defensive about somebody making sure your motives are correct for entering the field of perfusion.  I suspect oldcpbman has been around in the field of perfusion a long time as I have.  We have seen many people come and go.  Many thought they were starting a career that was going to pay loads of money with little work or responsibility.  If you think he was brow beating you or giving lessons on morality you appear to have some attitude problems.  Wait until a surgeon screams and yells at you for something that is neither you fault nor your responsibility.  I believe that one of the problems with the field of perfusion is that we as a profession have not stuck together to share information, improve patient care, promote 'good' perfusion, and to help weed out people who have no business behind a pump.  There are perfusionists, and there are 'pump techs'.  Which one are you?  I hope you are one who wants to stick together with other perfusionists in learning and sharing information for the good of the whole profession.       As far as the salary range goes, there are many things that influence that.  Geographical location, type of employment, ie: hospital employed, private contract group, surgeon employed, university vs community hospital, etc.  As bloodman shared earlier, a starting range of $60,000.00 to $80,000.00 total employment package is as good as an estimate as any.  Where you go from there is up to you.  Good luck to you.  Don't be afraid to take criticism and encouragement from us old timers.  We too want what is best for the perfusion profession.  Especially people who are in it for the right reasons.