Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · 90K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$96,590
Median hourly
$46
Average annual
$97,240
Typical range
$67,820–$129,370
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is $96,590 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $46 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists..
Most earn between $67,820 and $129,370 a year. There are roughly 90K people employed as diagnostic medical sonographers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
- Hourly
- $46.44
- Daily
- $372
- Weekly
- $1,858
- Bi-weekly
- $3,715
- Monthly
- $8,049
- Annual
- $96,590
$96,590 a year is around the 50th percentile for Diagnostic Medical Sonographerss. The median is $96,590.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1California$128,530
- 2Hawaii$124,430
- 3Washington$121,340
- 4Oregon$120,220
- 5District of Columbia$112,020
- 6Colorado$108,410
- 7Massachusetts$107,480
- 8Alaska$105,670
- 9Vermont$104,100
- 10New York$103,920
- 11New Hampshire$103,760
- 12Connecticut$103,230
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$173,150
- 2Vallejo, CA$171,170
- 3Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$163,220
- 4Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$161,570
- 5San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$160,270
- 6Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$142,150
- 7Modesto, CA$141,210
- 8Redding, CA$133,340
- 9Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$132,490
- 10Stockton-Lodi, CA$130,210
- 11Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$129,960
- 12San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$129,630
Related job titles
Employers advertise Diagnostic Medical Sonographers roles under these titles.
- Cardiac Sonographer
- Cardiovascular Sonographer
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Echo Sonographer (Echocardiograph Sonographer)
- Echo Tech (Echocardiographic Technician)
- Echocardiogram Technician
- Echocardiographer
- Echocardiographic Technologist
- Echocardiography Technician
- Echocardiology Technologist
- Medical Sonographer
- Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer
- Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS)
- Sonogram Technician
- Sonographer
- Sonography Technician
Related occupations
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$74,310
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,110
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$50,290
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$95,480
- Radiation Therapists$105,310
- Surgical Technologists$64,650
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$48,430
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists$101,370
What a Diagnostic Medical Sonographers does
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Diagnostic Medical Sonographers make?
- The median annual wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is $96,590 ($46 per hour). Pay ranges from about $67,820 at the 10th percentile to $129,370 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Diagnostic Medical Sonographers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $97,240, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Diagnostic Medical Sonographerss the most?
- California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $128,530.
- Is Diagnostic Medical Sonographers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 90K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Diagnostic Medical Sonographers do?
- 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..