Diagnostic medical sonographers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $67,820 | $32.60 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| Mean (average) | $97,240 | $46.75 |
| 90th percentile | $129,370 | $62.20 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Diagnostic medical sonographers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $68,180 | $51,700 | $83,220 | 1,510 | 1.23 |
| Alaska | $105,670 | $78,170 | $126,540 | 140 | 0.77 |
| Arizona | $100,040 | $74,010 | $127,510 | 2,070 | 1.1 |
| Arkansas | $81,500 | $64,280 | $102,190 | 640 | 0.85 |
| California | $128,530 | $62,890 | $177,780 | 10,110 | 0.96 |
| Colorado | $108,410 | $85,500 | $130,720 | 1,430 | 0.86 |
| Connecticut | $103,230 | $77,790 | $129,480 | 990 | 1.01 |
| Delaware | $98,530 | $83,240 | $115,800 | 220 | 0.78 |
| District of Columbia | $112,020 | $93,590 | $135,280 | 160 | 0.4 |
| Florida | $82,940 | $66,230 | $103,570 | 6,670 | 1.16 |
| Georgia | $83,250 | $62,120 | $104,930 | 2,700 | 0.95 |
| Hawaii | $124,430 | $83,900 | $135,660 | 210 | 0.57 |
| Idaho | $99,920 | $79,290 | $117,100 | 510 | 1.02 |
| Illinois | $100,660 | $78,350 | $122,680 | 3,270 | 0.93 |
| Indiana | $85,040 | $62,850 | $103,320 | 1,380 | 0.74 |
| Iowa | $86,480 | $72,480 | $101,970 | 740 | 0.81 |
| Kansas | $96,310 | $72,420 | $112,520 | 670 | 0.8 |
| Kentucky | $91,230 | $62,440 | $115,390 | 940 | 0.81 |
| Louisiana | $80,710 | $62,900 | $98,500 | 1,150 | 1.03 |
| Maine | $95,230 | $78,330 | $125,130 | 380 | 1.03 |
| Maryland | $99,210 | $80,940 | $118,520 | 1,760 | 1.1 |
| Massachusetts | $107,480 | $89,190 | $133,480 | 2,190 | 1.04 |
| Michigan | $82,490 | $66,960 | $96,360 | 3,100 | 1.21 |
| Minnesota | $102,850 | $84,020 | $120,220 | 1,710 | 1 |
| Mississippi | $76,520 | $59,660 | $92,340 | 700 | 1.04 |
| Missouri | $100,130 | $76,820 | $106,090 | 1,930 | 1.13 |
| Montana | $101,000 | $80,750 | $121,260 | 230 | 0.79 |
| Nebraska | $82,670 | $64,590 | $105,320 | 780 | 1.32 |
| Nevada | $95,980 | $74,960 | $133,250 | 640 | 0.71 |
| New Hampshire | $103,760 | $82,110 | $134,220 | 400 | 1.01 |
| New Jersey | $103,150 | $80,090 | $134,550 | 3,370 | 1.35 |
| New Mexico | $87,210 | $65,250 | $108,030 | 410 | 0.8 |
| New York | $103,920 | $79,630 | $127,120 | 6,880 | 1.22 |
| North Carolina | $86,010 | $67,070 | $105,530 | 2,970 | 1.04 |
| North Dakota | $84,340 | $66,890 | $102,570 | 240 | 0.98 |
| Ohio | $82,870 | $65,480 | $101,190 | 3,160 | 0.98 |
| Oklahoma | $83,670 | $64,610 | $102,570 | 1,060 | 1.07 |
| Oregon | $120,220 | $91,960 | $135,150 | 1,210 | 1.06 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,710 | $68,370 | $103,570 | 2,980 | 0.85 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,090 | $30,000 | $97,400 | 330 | 0.6 |
| Rhode Island | $92,820 | $83,690 | $129,690 | 380 | 1.31 |
| South Carolina | $83,290 | $69,530 | $102,540 | 1,340 | 1 |
| South Dakota | $80,820 | $51,100 | $98,090 | 370 | 1.39 |
| Tennessee | $80,640 | $62,220 | $101,830 | 1,880 | 0.99 |
| Texas | $92,580 | $64,360 | $106,090 | 6,960 | 0.85 |
| Utah | $100,100 | $70,030 | $124,760 | 740 | 0.73 |
| Vermont | $104,100 | $80,190 | $134,080 | 140 | 0.81 |
| Virginia | $95,660 | $77,540 | $122,930 | 2,160 | 0.91 |
| Washington | $121,340 | $61,840 | $156,860 | 2,190 | 1.06 |
| West Virginia | $76,820 | $64,750 | $99,060 | 780 | 1.92 |
| Wisconsin | $102,090 | $82,430 | $124,450 | 1,530 | 0.9 |
| Wyoming | $100,650 | $80,390 | $136,830 | 90 | 0.53 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for diagnostic medical sonographers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for diagnostic medical sonographers
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Observe screen during scan to ensure that image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes, making adjustments to equipment as required.
- Decide which images to include, looking for differences between healthy and pathological areas.
- Operate ultrasound equipment to produce and record images of the motion, shape, and composition of blood, organs, tissues, or bodily masses, such as fluid accumulations.
- Observe and care for patients throughout examinations to ensure their safety and comfort.
- Provide sonogram and oral or written summary of technical findings to physician for use in medical diagnosis.
- Select appropriate equipment settings and adjust patient positions to obtain the best sites and angles.
- Determine whether scope of exam should be extended, based on findings.
- Obtain and record accurate patient history, including prior test results or information from physical examinations.
Technology skills
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Database software
- Email software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Patient medical record software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Operation and Control, Coordination, Operations Monitoring, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Cardiovascular Sonographer, Echo Tech (Echocardiographic Technician), Echosonographer Technologist (Echo Technologist), Medical Sonographer, RDMS (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer), Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer, RVT (Registered Vascular Technologist), Staff Sonographer, Ultrasound Technician (Ultrasound Tech), Ultrasound Technologist (Ultrasound Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make?
The national median annual wage for diagnostic medical sonographers was $96,590 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $67,820 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $129,370. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do diagnostic medical sonographers need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is diagnostic medical sonographers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of diagnostic medical sonographers to change +13.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay diagnostic medical sonographers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($128,530), Hawaii ($124,430), Washington ($121,340). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.