Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
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.
Top skills:Active ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionMonitoringCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay by experience level
Entry level$70,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$83,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$100,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$110,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$134,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+13%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
5,800
projected openings per year
Growing faster than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary by industry
Hospitals
52,980 workers
$101,000
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
52,050 workers
$100,500
Hospitals, Privately Owned
45,820 workers
$101,000
Ambulatory Health Care Services
33,830 workers
$100,500
Offices of Physicians
18,930 workers
$97,500
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
9,850 workers
$92,000
Hospitals, Local Government Owned
5,100 workers
$97,000
Outpatient Care Centers
4,480 workers
$133,000
Hospitals, State Government Owned
2,060 workers
$112,000
Administrative and Support Services
1,730 workers
$99,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pays 38% below the average across 91 roles in the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family (family average $162,000).
Similar-paying roles in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer make?
The average base salary for a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer in the United States is $100,500 per year, or about $48.32 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $83,000 and $110,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical roles?
The Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family averages $162,000 across 91 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
