Medical Sonographer Salary Guide

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Sonographers use ultrasound technology to help detect disease in the body, guide surgeons, and monitor pregnancies. This in-demand role pays a median annual salary of $81,350, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

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Ultrasound Tech Salary Overview

Sonographers can earn a solid income, especially when compared to other healthcare careers that are possible with an associate degree. As with all jobs, though, income varies across a spectrum. The top 10% of sonographers earn $107,730, in contrast to the bottom 10%, who earn $61,430, according to the BLS’s 2021 data.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

National data

Median Salary: $81,350

Projected job growth: 14.3%

10th Percentile: $61,430

25th Percentile: $68,580

75th Percentile: $97,350

90th Percentile: $107,730

Projected job growth: 14.3%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $62,400 $40,700 $79,730
Alaska $90,120 $46,980 $124,420
Arizona $91,320 $69,100 $106,590
Arkansas $67,270 $57,380 $84,110
California $107,270 $77,400 $160,970
Colorado $90,020 $77,740 $109,310
Connecticut $94,570 $74,590 $129,760
Delaware $77,820 $63,380 $95,980
District of Columbia $90,140 $77,780 $109,750
Florida $75,080 $60,130 $92,000
Georgia $78,230 $58,380 $95,670
Hawaii $108,630 $88,510 $118,600
Idaho $82,950 $58,870 $101,000
Illinois $83,570 $66,280 $103,030
Indiana $77,300 $58,340 $95,170
Iowa $77,150 $62,700 $93,650
Kansas $80,690 $64,450 $99,270
Kentucky $72,910 $47,820 $88,710
Louisiana $63,860 $50,370 $83,220
Maine $82,010 $62,980 $98,320
Maryland $85,400 $71,650 $117,830
Massachusetts $95,220 $75,660 $121,330
Michigan $67,900 $57,950 $82,770
Minnesota $87,750 $77,410 $107,020
Mississippi $66,170 $50,610 $82,100
Missouri $78,830 $62,720 $99,250
Montana $83,150 $66,210 $103,400
Nebraska $80,270 $62,780 $94,240
Nevada $85,610 $72,800 $111,000
New Hampshire $81,720 $64,960 $107,080
New Jersey $85,650 $63,840 $106,100
New Mexico $82,480 $62,960 $101,670
New York $85,970 $65,890 $106,900
North Carolina $77,480 $59,110 $94,020
North Dakota $77,310 $62,650 $91,740
Ohio $78,760 $62,740 $96,290
Oklahoma $76,690 $58,600 $90,350
Oregon $100,800 $84,250 $119,190
Pennsylvania $76,440 $60,330 $94,590
Rhode Island $100,800 $78,740 $122,120
South Carolina $77,490 $62,870 $87,540
South Dakota $65,300 $49,540 $79,720
Tennessee $74,040 $51,120 $89,560
Texas $79,740 $57,840 $99,040
Utah $85,650 $65,480 $109,850
Vermont $86,170 $73,140 $103,110
Virginia $80,250 $63,010 $103,190
Washington $104,810 $82,060 $128,740
West Virginia $63,200 $56,400 $87,360
Wisconsin $95,680 $77,540 $107,830
Wyoming $81,660 $24,980 $103,680

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

As a general rule, sonographers in big cities earn the most and those in rural areas earn the least. In urban centers, hospitals and health systems serve large populations of patients and may be willing to pay more to employ enough sonographers.

All but one of the 10 top-paying metropolitan areas are in California, according to the BLS.

Metro Area Median Annual Salary
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA $149,240
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA $143,900
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $136,710
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $135,930
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA $133,620
Santa Rosa, CA $127,670
Stockton-Lodi, CA $112,320
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA $111,020
Danbury, CT $109,020
Urban Honolulu, HI $108,630

More Factors that Affect a Sonographer’s Salary

Geography is not the only factor that can play a role in a sonographer’s salary. In fact, some factors may be within your control, so you can work to bump up your earning potential.

Education

Education can influence sonographer salaries in several ways:

  • Sonographers with higher levels of education tend to earn more. Many sonographers opt for an associate degree, but a bachelor’s may qualify you for higher pay.
  • A master’s degree can help you move into managerial roles and potentially push your salary even higher.

Experience

The longer you work in the field, the more your earning potential increases.

“When sonographers first start in the field, they get paid less because they have less experience,” says Kate Scrivens, a sonographer in Central Oregon. “Unseasoned sonographers have a lot of on-the-job learning to do and pay reflects that.”

Certification and Credentials

After you complete a sonography program, you can go on to earn certifications, which demonstrate mastery in your field in general or in a specialty. You can earn certifications by passing a board exam administered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

“The more boards you pass, the more job prospects you have,” Scrivens says. “Getting as many credentials and variety of experience as you can help with earning potential.”

Workplace

Your salary can vary based on where you work. While 60% of sonographers work in hospitals, others work in physicians’ offices, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and outpatient care centers.

According to the BLS, here’s how salaries break down by workplace:

Outpatient care centers$113,680
Hospitals$84,340
Physicians’ offices$82,890
Medical and diagnostic labs$78,190

Specialty

Sonography positions that require highly specialized skills are likely to pay more, Scrivens says. Some specialties, such as OB/GYN, cardiac, and vascular sonography, are more in demand and generally pay more.

When you master multiple specialties, you are qualified for jobs that require a range of expertise, and this can boost your salary.

Job Outlook

Job growth for ultrasound technicians is projected at 14.3% through 2032, according to the BLS.

Baby boomers are driving much of the growth. They are not only getting older but also living longer—and requiring more care for illnesses and chronic conditions such as heart disease.

Ultrasound imaging is the “first line of diagnosis” for many conditions, Scrivens says. “The imaging is immediate, it costs less than other scans, and it’s not dangerous for patients,” she says, making it the go-to imaging technique for many cases, such as blood clots, breast health, and more.

Demand for Sonographers

Demand for sonographers isn’t equally distributed across the U.S. Pockets of high demand tend to be in states with large populations and large cities.

Metropolitan Areas Employment
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 6,840
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,890
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 2,000
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 1,940
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,930
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,730
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 1,660
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,510
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 1,380
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 1,330

Sonographer Salaries Versus Related Healthcare Roles

A sonographer’s salary is one reason why many people are interested in this profession. It is far from the only healthcare job that is rewarding both financially and personally, though.

Here are similar occupations with similar education requirements.

Career Median Annual Salary
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers $81,350
Radiation Therapists $89,530
Respiratory Therapists $70,540
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists $80,090
catherine gregory

Written and reported by:
Catherine Ryan Gregory
Contributing Writer

kate scrivens

With professional insight from:
Kate Scrivens
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Central Oregon Radiology