Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary
The average salary for a diagnostic medical sonographer is $64,380 a year, or $30.95 per hour.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top 10% of diagnostic sonographers make $88,490, while the bottom 10% make $44,900.
Estimates for the average diagnostic medical sonographer salary vary a bit, all between $60,000 and $75,000.
Graph by Greg Dash. Click here to see a larger version.
- Which jobs pay the most?
- Where is the average salary highest?
- What are the benefits?
- What's the average salary of diagnostic medical sonographers in my area?
- More information on cardiovascular technologist careers
Which jobs pay the most?
Diagnostic medical sonographers working for universities, colleges and professional schools have the highest mean salary, at $74,540 per year. The highest-paying industries for sonographers, on average, are:
| Industry | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Yearly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Colleges, universities and professional schools | $35.84 | $74,540 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $34.84 | $72,470 |
| Specialty Hospitals* | $34.60 | $71,970 |
| Company/Enterprise Management | $34.44 | $71,630 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $33.72 | $70,130 |
*Excluding mental health and substance abuse treatment hospitals.
Where is the average salary highest?
Murphy Street in Sunnyvale, California. Photo by Coolcaesar.
The 5 states with the highest average salary are:
- California - $39.30 per hour - $81,750 per year
- Oregon - $38.55 - $80,190
- Massachusetts - $38.29 - $79,650
- Colorado - $38.24 $79,540
- Connecticut - $38.01 - $79,060
The top paying cities and metropolitan areas are, as follows:
- San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara, California - $50.06 - $104,130
- Vallejo/Fairfield, California - $49.05 - $102,020
- SF/San Mateo/Redwood City, California - $48.39 - $100,650
- Salinas, California - $46.66 - $97,060
- Oakland/Fremont/Hayward, California - $46.57 - $96,860
- Santa Rosa/Petaluma, California - $45.04 - $93,670
- Worcester, MA - $43.22 - $89,900
- Norwich/New London, Connecticut/Rhode Island - $42.56 - $88,520
- Sacramento/Arden/Roseville, California - $41.86 - $87,080
- Boulder, Colorado - $40.76 - $84,770
Five of the top ten best-paying metro areas are in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, where cost of living is very high.
The top paying nonmetropolitan areas are:
- Northern Mountains region of California - $41.24 - $85,780
- North Coast of California - $39.17 - $81,740
- Western Colorado - $37.80 - $78,620
- Railbelt/SW Alaska - $37.01 - $76,980
- South Central Wisconsin - $36.77 - $76,480
What benefits do diagnostic medical sonographers get through work?
Most sonographers have some health and dental benefits through their job. Some may also receive vision benefits. About 1/4 of diagnostic medical sonographers receive no benefits at all.
What's the salary of diagnostic medical sonographers in my area?
Use the Payscale widget below to find out the average salary of diagnostic medical sonographers, in your area, in three simple steps.
- Under job title, write Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.
- Write the name of your city in the second box, and select your state from the drop-down menu.
- Click 'go.'
If you want to calculate your salary for another profession or city, click the [clear] link in the upper right hand corner (next to [options]). This will take you back to the first screen.
More Information
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Career Overview - learn more about how to become a diagnostic medical sonographer, what the job market looks like, and what skills and abilities you need for the job.
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References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011, 29-2032 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, accessed at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292032.htm on 6 October 2012.
Payscale, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Overview, accessed at http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Diagnostic_Medical_Sonographer/Hourly_Rate on 6 October 2012.
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