Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary in the U.S.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in the U.S. earn a median of $96,590 a year ($46.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 90,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $129,370 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $97,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for diagnostic medical sonographers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,820 | $32.60 |
| 25th percentile | $80,430 | $38.67 |
| Median | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| 75th percentile | $106,930 | $51.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,370 | $62.20 |
| Average (mean) | $97,240 | $46.75 |
Half of diagnostic medical sonographers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,049.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,024.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,715 |
| Weekly | $1,857.50 |
| Hourly | $46.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $128,530 | 10,110 |
| Hawaii | $124,430 | 210 |
| Washington | $121,340 | 2,190 |
| Oregon | $120,220 | 1,210 |
| District of Columbia | $112,020 | 160 |
| Colorado | $108,410 | 1,430 |
| Massachusetts | $107,480 | 2,190 |
| Alaska | $105,670 | 140 |
| Vermont | $104,100 | 140 |
| New York | $103,920 | 6,880 |
| New Hampshire | $103,760 | 400 |
| Connecticut | $103,230 | 990 |
| New Jersey | $103,150 | 3,370 |
| Minnesota | $102,850 | 1,710 |
| Wisconsin | $102,090 | 1,530 |
| Montana | $101,000 | 230 |
| Illinois | $100,660 | 3,270 |
| Wyoming | $100,650 | 90 |
| Missouri | $100,130 | 1,930 |
| Utah | $100,100 | 740 |
| Arizona | $100,040 | 2,070 |
| Idaho | $99,920 | 510 |
| Maryland | $99,210 | 1,760 |
| Delaware | $98,530 | 220 |
| Kansas | $96,310 | 670 |
| Nevada | $95,980 | 640 |
| Virginia | $95,660 | 2,160 |
| Maine | $95,230 | 380 |
| Rhode Island | $92,820 | 380 |
| Texas | $92,580 | 6,960 |
| Kentucky | $91,230 | 940 |
| New Mexico | $87,210 | 410 |
| Iowa | $86,480 | 740 |
| North Carolina | $86,010 | 2,970 |
| Indiana | $85,040 | 1,380 |
| North Dakota | $84,340 | 240 |
| Oklahoma | $83,670 | 1,060 |
| South Carolina | $83,290 | 1,340 |
| Georgia | $83,250 | 2,700 |
| Florida | $82,940 | 6,670 |
| Ohio | $82,870 | 3,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,710 | 2,980 |
| Nebraska | $82,670 | 780 |
| Michigan | $82,490 | 3,100 |
| Arkansas | $81,500 | 640 |
| South Dakota | $80,820 | 370 |
| Louisiana | $80,710 | 1,150 |
| Tennessee | $80,640 | 1,880 |
| West Virginia | $76,820 | 780 |
| Mississippi | $76,520 | 700 |
| Alabama | $68,180 | 1,510 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,090 | 330 |
Best-paying metro areas for diagnostic medical sonographers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $173,150 | 500 |
| Vallejo, CA | $171,170 | 140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $163,220 | 610 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $161,570 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $160,270 | 1,300 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $142,150 | 40 |
| Modesto, CA | $141,210 | 200 |
| Redding, CA | $133,340 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $132,490 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $130,210 | 140 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $129,960 | 1,190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $129,630 | 720 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $128,420 | 690 |
| Salem, OR | $127,680 | 110 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $125,750 | 140 |
Metro areas with the most diagnostic medical sonographers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 7,020 | $107,250 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,550 | $119,430 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,280 | $103,080 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,160 | $98,810 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,910 | $86,250 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,670 | $95,100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,660 | $94,640 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,600 | $102,810 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,590 | $109,200 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,550 | $105,290 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,490 | $83,280 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,380 | $88,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,300 | $160,270 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,190 | $129,960 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,090 | $82,120 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | $38.52 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Paramedic | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,310 | $35.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a diagnostic medical sonographer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in the U.S. is $96,590 a year, or $46.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $129,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid diagnostic medical sonographers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of diagnostic medical sonographers in the U.S. earn at least $129,370 a year. The top 25% earn $106,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for diagnostic medical sonographers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,820 a year, and a quarter of diagnostic medical sonographers earn $80,430 or less.
How many diagnostic medical sonographers work in the U.S.?
About 90,160 diagnostic medical sonographers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.