29 Series · SOC 29-2032

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$96,590
Median / year
+8.1%
2024→2025
$129,370
Top 10% earn
+13%
Growth '24–'34
90,160
Estimated US jobs

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earn a median of $96,590 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $96,590, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $67,820 (10th percentile) to $129,370 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 90,160 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is California ($128,530).

29 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earn a median of $96,590, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 81% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #41 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 13% by 2034.

$96,590
Median annual wage
Top 19%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#41 of 71
in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
1.9×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $128,530. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers moved from $74,320 in May 2019 to $96,590 in May 2025 (+30.0%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographers sits +5.5 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SOC 29-2032) has a national median of $96,590 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $67,820 to $129,370, and the published mean is $97,240. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 90,160 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 52 state or territory areas and 385 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $89,340 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $96,590 in May 2025, a rise of $7,250 (+8.1%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +13% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as much faster than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 5,800 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Associate's degree as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $128,530, which is +33% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $173,150. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 90,160 jobs Median $96,590/yr

Median Salary

$96,590

per year

Median Hourly

$46.44/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$97,240

average

Employment

90,160

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Diagnostic Medical Sonographers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$96,590 Top 19% higher than 81% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 (this entry) 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$96,590 · 81st percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Diagnostic Medical Sonographers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 29-series occupations with growth data, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers sits on the faster-growing side at +13% growth and $96,590 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000$250000$300000 0%10%20%30%40%50% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Registered Nurses - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.9% · Median annual wage: $97550Licensed Practical a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.6% · Median annual wage: $64400Pharmacy Technicians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.4% · Median annual wage: $45750Physicians, All Other - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.5% · Median annual wage: $265930Clinical Laboratory … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.7% · Median annual wage: $62930Nurse Practitioners - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 40.1% · Median annual wage: $132300Pharmacists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.6% · Median annual wage: $140910Physical Therapists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 10.9% · Median annual wage: $102760Radiologic Technolog… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.3% · Median annual wage: $80110Dental Hygienists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7% · Median annual wage: $98100Medical Records Spec… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7.1% · Median annual wage: $51140Speech-Language Path… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 15% · Median annual wage: $97870Health Technologists… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.2% · Median annual wage: $50290Emergency Medical Te… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.1% · Median annual wage: $44470Occupational Therapi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 13.8% · Median annual wage: $100330Physician Assistants - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 20.4% · Median annual wage: $135880Psychiatric Technici… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 20% · Median annual wage: $45130Respiratory Therapists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 12.1% · Median annual wage: $82280Veterinary Technolog… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 9.1% · Median annual wage: $47380Dentists, General - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.1% · Median annual wage: $170950Surgical Technologists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $64650Family Medicine Phys… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.7% · Median annual wage: $244180Paramedics - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5% · Median annual wage: $60600Diagnostic Medical S… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 13% · Median annual wage: $96590
Among 24 29-series occupations with growth data, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers sits on the faster-growing side at +13% growth and $96,590 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Registered Nurses: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $97550
  • Licensed Practical a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.6%, Median annual wage $64400
  • Pharmacy Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $45750
  • Physicians, All Other: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $265930
  • Clinical Laboratory …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $62930
  • Nurse Practitioners: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 40.1%, Median annual wage $132300
  • Pharmacists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $140910
  • Physical Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.9%, Median annual wage $102760
  • Radiologic Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $80110
  • Dental Hygienists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $98100
  • Medical Records Spec…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.1%, Median annual wage $51140
  • Speech-Language Path…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15%, Median annual wage $97870
  • Health Technologists…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.2%, Median annual wage $50290
  • Emergency Medical Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $44470
  • Occupational Therapi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13.8%, Median annual wage $100330
  • Physician Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20.4%, Median annual wage $135880
  • Psychiatric Technici…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20%, Median annual wage $45130
  • Respiratory Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $82280
  • Veterinary Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.1%, Median annual wage $47380
  • Dentists, General: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $170950
  • Surgical Technologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $64650
  • Family Medicine Phys…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.7%, Median annual wage $244180
  • Paramedics: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5%, Median annual wage $60600
  • Diagnostic Medical S…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13%, Median annual wage $96590

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+13%

Much faster than average

Annual Openings

5,800

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+11,700

90,000 (2024) → 101,700 (2034)

Typical Education

Associate's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

0.7/100K

Injury Rate

1.5/100

Danger Index

6.4/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 3.9
Reading Comprehension 3.8
Speaking 3.8
Social Perceptiveness 3.8
Critical Thinking 3.5
Monitoring 3.5
Active Learning 3.4
Time Management 3.4
Writing 3.3
Science 3.3

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 4.5
English Language 4.1
Physics 3.7
Medicine and Dentistry 3.6
Administrative 3.3
Computers and Electronics 3.3
Psychology 3.2
Education and Training 3.2
Public Safety and Security 3.0
Mathematics 2.9

Key Tasks

  • Observe screen during scan to ensure that image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes, making adjustments to equipment as required.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Decide which images to include, looking for differences between healthy and pathological areas.
  • Prepare patient for exam by explaining procedure, transferring patient to ultrasound table, scrubbing skin and applying gel, and positioning patient properly.
  • 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.
  • Maintain records that include patient information, sonographs and interpretations, files of correspondence, publications and regulations, or quality assurance records, such as pathology, biopsy, or post-operative reports.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$67,820
25th$80,430
Median$96,590
75th$106,930
90th$129,370

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$32.60
25th$38.67
Median$46.44
75th$51.41
90th$62.20

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$60,000$70,000$80,000$90,000$100,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $68,970National median - 2016: $69,650National median - 2017: $71,410National median - 2018: $72,510National median - 2019: $74,320National median - 2020: $75,920National median - 2021: $77,740National median - 2022: $81,350National median - 2023: $84,470National median - 2024: $89,340National median - 2025: $96,590$96,590
National median annual wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $68,970
2016 $69,650
2017 $71,410
2018 $72,510
2019 $74,320
2020 $75,920
2021 $77,740
2022 $81,350
2023 $84,470
2024 $89,340
2025 $96,590

2015 median

$68,970

2025 median

$96,590

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$22,270 (+30%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4.5%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $68,970 First banked release 61,250
May 2016 $69,650 +1.0% 65,790
May 2017 $71,410 +2.5% 68,750
May 2018 $72,510 +1.5% 71,130
May 2019 $74,320 Classification break 72,790
May 2020 $75,920 +2.2% 73,920
May 2021 $77,740 +2.4% 78,640
May 2022 $81,350 +4.6% 81,080
May 2023 $84,470 +3.8% 82,780
May 2024 $89,340 +5.8% 86,460
May 2025 $96,590 +8.1% 90,160

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $68,970 in May 2015 to $96,590 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.5% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 72,790 in May 2019 to 90,160 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 52 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $128,530 +33% above national
2 Hawaii $124,430 +29% above national
3 Washington $121,340 +26% above national
4 Oregon $120,220 +24% above national
5 District of Columbia $112,020 +16% above national
6 Colorado $108,410 +12% above national
7 Massachusetts $107,480 +11% above national
8 Alaska $105,670 +9% above national
9 Vermont $104,100 +8% above national
10 New York $103,920 +8% above national
11 New Hampshire $103,760 +7% above national
12 Connecticut $103,230 +7% above national
13 New Jersey $103,150 +7% above national
14 Minnesota $102,850 +6% above national
15 Wisconsin $102,090 +6% above national
16 Montana $101,000 +5% above national
17 Illinois $100,660 +4% above national
18 Wyoming $100,650 +4% above national
19 Missouri $100,130 +4% above national
20 Utah $100,100 +4% above national
21 Arizona $100,040 +4% above national
22 Idaho $99,920 +3% above national
23 Maryland $99,210 +3% above national
24 Delaware $98,530 +2% above national
25 Kansas $96,310 same as national
26 Nevada $95,980 1% below national
27 Virginia $95,660 1% below national
28 Maine $95,230 1% below national
29 Rhode Island $92,820 4% below national
30 Texas $92,580 4% below national
31 Kentucky $91,230 6% below national
32 New Mexico $87,210 10% below national
33 Iowa $86,480 10% below national
34 North Carolina $86,010 11% below national
35 Indiana $85,040 12% below national
36 North Dakota $84,340 13% below national
37 Oklahoma $83,670 13% below national
38 South Carolina $83,290 14% below national
39 Georgia $83,250 14% below national
40 Florida $82,940 14% below national
41 Ohio $82,870 14% below national
42 Pennsylvania $82,710 14% below national
43 Nebraska $82,670 14% below national
44 Michigan $82,490 15% below national
45 Arkansas $81,500 16% below national
46 South Dakota $80,820 16% below national
47 Louisiana $80,710 16% below national
48 Tennessee $80,640 17% below national
49 West Virginia $76,820 20% below national
50 Mississippi $76,520 21% below national
51 Alabama $68,180 29% below national
52 Puerto Rico $38,090 61% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 279 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $173,150 +79% above national
2 Vallejo, CA $171,170 +77% above national
3 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $163,220 +69% above national
4 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $161,570 +67% above national
5 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $160,270 +66% above national
6 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $142,150 +47% above national
7 Modesto, CA $141,210 +46% above national
8 Redding, CA $133,340 +38% above national
9 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $132,490 +37% above national
10 Stockton-Lodi, CA $130,210 +35% above national
11 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $129,960 +35% above national
12 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $129,630 +34% above national
13 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $128,420 +33% above national
14 Salem, OR $127,680 +32% above national
15 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $125,750 +30% above national
16 Kahului-Wailuku, HI $125,670 +30% above national
17 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $125,090 +30% above national
18 Chico, CA $123,880 +28% above national
19 Urban Honolulu, HI $123,070 +27% above national
20 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $121,340 +26% above national
21 Bozeman, MT $121,260 +26% above national
22 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $119,430 +24% above national
23 Boulder, CO $114,620 +19% above national
24 Bend, OR $114,460 +19% above national
25 Vineland, NJ $113,140 +17% above national
26 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $112,980 +17% above national
27 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $111,300 +15% above national
28 Colorado Springs, CO $110,850 +15% above national
29 Bellingham, WA $110,240 +14% above national
30 Eugene-Springfield, OR $110,120 +14% above national
31 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $109,910 +14% above national
32 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $109,200 +13% above national
33 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $108,990 +13% above national
34 Anchorage, AK $108,750 +13% above national
35 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $108,410 +12% above national
36 Barnstable Town, MA $108,020 +12% above national
37 Reno, NV $107,980 +12% above national
38 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $107,760 +12% above national
39 Fresno, CA $107,750 +12% above national
40 Billings, MT $107,340 +11% above national
41 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $107,340 +11% above national
42 Yakima, WA $107,300 +11% above national
43 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $107,250 +11% above national
44 New Haven, CT $106,060 +10% above national
45 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $105,930 +10% above national
46 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $105,860 +10% above national
47 Kingston, NY $105,580 +9% above national
48 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $105,540 +9% above national
49 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $105,490 +9% above national
50 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $105,290 +9% above national
51 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $105,230 +9% above national
52 Ogden, UT $104,650 +8% above national
53 Odessa, TX $104,280 +8% above national
54 Worcester, MA $104,150 +8% above national
55 Kennewick-Richland, WA $103,990 +8% above national
56 Sheboygan, WI $103,680 +7% above national
57 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $103,570 +7% above national
58 Kenosha, WI $103,540 +7% above national
59 Manchester-Nashua, NH $103,510 +7% above national
60 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ $103,420 +7% above national
61 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $103,080 +7% above national
62 Medford, OR $103,060 +7% above national
63 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $102,810 +6% above national
64 Ithaca, NY $102,660 +6% above national
65 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $102,630 +6% above national
66 Green Bay, WI $102,530 +6% above national
67 Madison, WI $101,960 +6% above national
68 Appleton, WI $101,700 +5% above national
69 Portland-South Portland, ME $101,260 +5% above national
70 Pueblo, CO $100,970 +5% above national
71 Rochester, MN $100,770 +4% above national
72 Kansas City, MO-KS $100,450 +4% above national
73 Champaign-Urbana, IL $100,420 +4% above national
74 Boise City, ID $100,210 +4% above national
75 Fort Smith, AR-OK $100,140 +4% above national
76 Grand Junction, CO $99,980 +4% above national
77 Janesville-Beloit, WI $99,830 +3% above national
78 Twin Falls, ID $99,420 +3% above national
79 Springfield, MA $99,060 +3% above national
80 Visalia, CA $99,010 +3% above national
81 St. Louis, MO-IL $98,990 +2% above national
82 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $98,890 +2% above national
83 Greensboro-High Point, NC $98,890 +2% above national
84 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $98,810 +2% above national
85 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $98,650 +2% above national
86 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $98,620 +2% above national
87 Springfield, IL $98,470 +2% above national
88 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $98,440 +2% above national
89 Salisbury, MD $98,230 +2% above national
90 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $98,160 +2% above national
91 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $98,010 +1% above national
92 Syracuse, NY $97,910 +1% above national
93 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $97,760 +1% above national
94 Utica-Rome, NY $97,720 +1% above national
95 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $97,700 +1% above national
96 Lexington Park, MD $97,530 +1% above national
97 Binghamton, NY $97,390 +1% above national
98 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $97,310 +1% above national
99 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $97,300 +1% above national
100 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $97,040 same as national
101 Tucson, AZ $96,910 same as national
102 Glens Falls, NY $96,890 same as national
103 St. Joseph, MO-KS $96,240 same as national
104 Richmond, VA $95,660 1% below national
105 Midland, TX $95,490 1% below national
106 Bangor, ME $95,230 1% below national
107 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $95,220 1% below national
108 Lynchburg, VA $95,130 2% below national
109 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $95,100 2% below national
110 Rockford, IL $95,020 2% below national
111 Duluth, MN-WI $94,850 2% below national
112 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $94,640 2% below national
113 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $93,940 3% below national
114 Bloomington, IL $93,860 3% below national
115 Idaho Falls, ID $92,840 4% below national
116 Peoria, IL $92,090 5% below national
117 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $91,920 5% below national
118 Bowling Green, KY $90,310 7% below national
119 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $89,710 7% below national
120 Akron, OH $89,460 7% below national
121 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $88,940 8% below national
122 Charlottesville, VA $88,700 8% below national
123 Columbia, MO $88,540 8% below national
124 St. Cloud, MN $88,150 9% below national
125 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $88,080 9% below national
126 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $87,550 9% below national
127 Winston-Salem, NC $87,220 10% below national
128 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $87,200 10% below national
129 Fargo, ND-MN $87,170 10% below national
130 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $87,080 10% below national
131 Gainesville, GA $86,940 10% below national
132 Iowa City, IA $86,940 10% below national
133 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $86,940 10% below national
134 Reading, PA $86,740 10% below national
135 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $86,630 10% below national
136 Naples-Marco Island, FL $86,540 10% below national
137 Cedar Rapids, IA $86,480 10% below national
138 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $86,480 10% below national
139 Albuquerque, NM $86,320 11% below national
140 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $86,250 11% below national
141 Raleigh-Cary, NC $86,130 11% below national
142 Oklahoma City, OK $86,080 11% below national
143 Florence, SC $85,900 11% below national
144 Youngstown-Warren, OH $85,310 12% below national
145 Evansville, IN $85,220 12% below national
146 Ann Arbor, MI $85,120 12% below national
147 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $84,950 12% below national
148 Monroe, LA $84,920 12% below national
149 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $84,820 12% below national
150 Sherman-Denison, TX $84,740 12% below national
151 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $84,530 12% below national
152 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC $84,520 12% below national
153 Jacksonville, FL $84,470 13% below national
154 Columbia, SC $84,440 13% below national
155 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $84,390 13% below national
156 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $84,340 13% below national
157 Columbus, OH $84,200 13% below national
158 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $84,120 13% below national
159 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $84,020 13% below national
160 Lexington-Fayette, KY $83,930 13% below national
161 Lubbock, TX $83,900 13% below national
162 Savannah, GA $83,720 13% below national
163 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $83,550 14% below national
164 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $83,510 14% below national
165 Fort Wayne, IN $83,500 14% below national
166 Winchester, VA-WV $83,470 14% below national
167 Texarkana, TX-AR $83,340 14% below national
168 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $83,310 14% below national
169 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $83,280 14% below national
170 Roanoke, VA $83,140 14% below national
171 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $83,030 14% below national
172 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $82,940 14% below national
173 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $82,930 14% below national
174 Omaha, NE-IA $82,920 14% below national
175 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $82,890 14% below national
176 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $82,870 14% below national
177 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $82,840 14% below national
178 Tulsa, OK $82,820 14% below national
179 Punta Gorda, FL $82,810 14% below national
180 Bloomington, IN $82,750 14% below national
181 Longview, TX $82,730 14% below national
182 Bismarck, ND $82,610 14% below national
183 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $82,600 14% below national
184 Toledo, OH $82,560 15% below national
185 Cleveland, OH $82,540 15% below national
186 Rocky Mount, NC $82,530 15% below national
187 Killeen-Temple, TX $82,470 15% below national
188 Lima, OH $82,430 15% below national
189 Spartanburg, SC $82,400 15% below national
190 Alexandria, LA $82,320 15% below national
191 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $82,200 15% below national
192 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $82,140 15% below national
193 Port St. Lucie, FL $82,140 15% below national
194 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $82,120 15% below national
195 Ames, IA $82,110 15% below national
196 Tyler, TX $82,110 15% below national
197 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $82,070 15% below national
198 Rochester, NY $82,070 15% below national
199 Lafayette, LA $82,010 15% below national
200 Jackson, TN $82,000 15% below national
201 Joplin, MO-KS $81,990 15% below national
202 Asheville, NC $81,920 15% below national
203 Jonesboro, AR $81,880 15% below national
204 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $81,860 15% below national
205 York-Hanover, PA $81,700 15% below national
206 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $81,620 15% below national
207 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $81,550 16% below national
208 Lincoln, NE $81,500 16% below national
209 Springfield, MO $81,490 16% below national
210 Wilmington, NC $81,480 16% below national
211 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $81,450 16% below national
212 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL $81,430 16% below national
213 Niles, MI $81,330 16% below national
214 Wichita, KS $81,210 16% below national
215 El Paso, TX $81,020 16% below national
216 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $80,790 16% below national
217 College Station-Bryan, TX $80,790 16% below national
218 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $80,620 17% below national
219 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $80,600 17% below national
220 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $80,570 17% below national
221 Jackson, MS $80,550 17% below national
222 Lancaster, PA $80,530 17% below national
223 Paducah, KY-IL $80,480 17% below national
224 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $80,340 17% below national
225 Columbus, GA-AL $80,310 17% below national
226 Waco, TX $80,090 17% below national
227 Las Cruces, NM $80,010 17% below national
228 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $79,970 17% below national
229 Ocala, FL $79,740 17% below national
230 Canton-Massillon, OH $79,500 18% below national
231 Corpus Christi, TX $79,370 18% below national
232 Knoxville, TN $79,360 18% below national
233 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $79,330 18% below national
234 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $79,320 18% below national
235 Rome, GA $79,310 18% below national
236 Flint, MI $79,230 18% below national
237 Macon-Bibb County, GA $79,140 18% below national
238 Johnson City, TN $78,970 18% below national
239 Wheeling, WV-OH $78,880 18% below national
240 Fayetteville, NC $78,860 18% below national
241 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $78,830 18% below national
242 Terre Haute, IN $78,820 18% below national
243 Pittsburgh, PA $78,740 18% below national
244 Chattanooga, TN-GA $78,670 19% below national
245 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $78,620 19% below national
246 Albany, GA $78,330 19% below national
247 Tallahassee, FL $78,170 19% below national
248 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $78,160 19% below national
249 Baton Rouge, LA $78,130 19% below national
250 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $77,680 20% below national
251 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $77,540 20% below national
252 Hammond, LA $77,430 20% below national
253 Gainesville, FL $77,290 20% below national
254 Warner Robins, GA $77,230 20% below national
255 Hattiesburg, MS $76,880 20% below national
256 Homosassa Springs, FL $76,580 21% below national
257 Erie, PA $76,510 21% below national
258 Greenville, NC $76,380 21% below national
259 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $76,080 21% below national
260 Charleston, WV $75,900 21% below national
261 Athens-Clarke County, GA $75,720 22% below national
262 Dalton, GA $75,600 22% below national
263 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $75,440 22% below national
264 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $75,400 22% below national
265 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $71,770 26% below national
266 Amarillo, TX $70,030 27% below national
267 Mayaguez, PR $69,990 28% below national
268 Birmingham, AL $69,890 28% below national
269 Tuscaloosa, AL $69,040 29% below national
270 Montgomery, AL $68,180 29% below national
271 Huntsville, AL $68,100 29% below national
272 Mobile, AL $68,090 30% below national
273 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $68,030 30% below national
274 Auburn-Opelika, AL $67,870 30% below national
275 Beckley, WV $67,210 30% below national
276 Valdosta, GA $67,100 31% below national
277 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $66,270 31% below national
278 Dothan, AL $62,620 35% below national
279 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $38,120 61% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 29 (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 70 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($96,590 here) and reported employment (90,160 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Diagnostic Medical Sonographers make?
The median annual salary for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is $96,590 ($46.44/hour). The salary range spans from $67,820 at the 10th percentile to $129,370 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Diagnostic Medical Sonographers pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $96,590, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers pay is higher than 81% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Diagnostic Medical Sonographers the most?
California pays the highest median salary for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers at $128,530/year, which is +33% above the national median.
What education do Diagnostic Medical Sonographers need?
BLS assigns Diagnostic Medical Sonographers to Associate's degree for typical education needed for entry.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in this release. WageDex shows the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Diagnostic Medical Sonographers a good career?
Employment for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is projected to grow 13% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 5,800 openings are projected each year.
How does Diagnostic Medical Sonographers pay vary by state?
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $128,530/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $38,090/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $173,150/year. BLS reports a median for 279 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Diagnostic Medical Sonographers pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $106,930/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $128,530/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.