How much does a diagnostic medical sonographer make?
The median diagnostic medical sonographer in the United States earns $96,590 per year, about $46.44 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all diagnostic medical sonographers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-2032.
Diagnostic medical sonographer salary range
Pay for diagnostic medical sonographers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $67,820 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $129,370. The average (mean) wage of $97,240 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $67,820 | $32.60 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $80,430 | $38.67 | |
| Median (50th) | $96,590 | $46.44 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $106,930 | $51.41 | |
| 90th percentile | $129,370 | $62.20 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for diagnostic medical sonographers (SOC 29-2032), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Diagnostic medical sonographer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Diagnostic medical sonographers earn the most in California at $128,530 a year, and the least in Alabama at $68,180. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
State median wages for diagnostic medical sonographers (SOC 29-2032), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for diagnostic medical sonographers
The BLS projects employment of diagnostic medical sonographers to grow 13.9% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 92,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 105,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 6,000 openings a year for diagnostic medical sonographers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a diagnostic medical sonographer
The typical entry-level education for diagnostic medical sonographers is an associate's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a diagnostic medical sonographer earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $128,530) and the lowest (Alabama, $68,180) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 90,160 people work as diagnostic medical sonographers in the United States. At $96,590 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Diagnostic medical sonographer salary FAQ
How much does a diagnostic medical sonographer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a diagnostic medical sonographer is $46.44. The middle half of diagnostic medical sonographers earn between $38.67 and $51.41 per hour.
What is the highest diagnostic medical sonographer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of diagnostic medical sonographers earn more than $129,370 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a diagnostic medical sonographer make a year?
The median annual salary for a diagnostic medical sonographer is $96,590. The average (mean) wage of $97,240 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a diagnostic medical sonographer a well paid job?
At $96,590 a year, a diagnostic medical sonographer earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 90,160 people work as diagnostic medical sonographers in the United States.
Which state pays diagnostic medical sonographers the most?
California has the highest median salary for diagnostic medical sonographers at $128,530 a year. Hawaii ($124,430) and Washington ($121,340) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a diagnostic medical sonographer a good career?
Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is projected to grow 13.9% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 6,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a diagnostic medical sonographer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for diagnostic medical sonographers as an associate's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
Related salaries
See more in Healthcare salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.