Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SOC 29-2032) earn a median $96,590 a year ($46.44 an hour) in the United States, with 90,160 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What diagnostic medical sonographers do
Diagnostic medical sonographers produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians, and the SOC includes vascular technologists in this code. Cardiac sonographers are excluded and counted with cardiovascular technologists. The sonographer prepares the patient by explaining the procedure, transferring the patient to the ultrasound table, scrubbing the skin, applying gel and positioning the patient properly. During the scan, the sonographer operates the equipment to record images of the motion, shape and composition of blood, organs, tissues or masses such as fluid accumulations, watches the screen to be sure the image is satisfactory, selects equipment settings and adjusts the patient's position for the best sites and angles. Sonographers decide which images to include by looking for differences between healthy and pathological areas, and decide whether the exam should be extended based on findings. Close to half of respondents report an associate degree. They care for patients throughout for safety and comfort, and give the physician the sonogram and an oral or written summary of technical findings, which the physician uses to make the diagnosis.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report an associate degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (47 percent).
Also called: Cardiac Sonographer, Cardiovascular Sonographer, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Echo Sonographer (Echocardiograph Sonographer), Echo Tech (Echocardiographic Technician).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $32.60 | $38.67 | $46.44 | $51.41 | $62.20 | $46.75 | 90,160 |
| Annual | $67,820 | $80,430 | $96,590 | $106,930 | $129,370 | $97,240 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where diagnostic medical sonographers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $30.24 | $47.84 | $61.79 | $77.20 | $85.47 | $60.87 | 10,110 | 0.56 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $62,890 | $99,510 | $128,530 | $160,580 | $177,780 | $126,610 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $40.34 | $53.98 | $59.82 | $62.33 | $65.22 | $56.77 | 210 | 0.33 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $83,900 | $112,280 | $124,430 | $129,650 | $135,660 | $118,090 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $29.73 | $48.29 | $58.34 | $64.81 | $75.41 | $55.32 | 2,190 | 0.62 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $61,840 | $100,430 | $121,340 | $134,810 | $156,860 | $115,060 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $44.21 | $49.47 | $57.80 | $62.91 | $64.98 | $55.48 | 1,210 | 0.62 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $91,960 | $102,900 | $120,220 | $130,860 | $135,150 | $115,390 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $44.99 | $50.25 | $53.86 | $60.89 | $65.04 | $54.83 | 160 | 0.24 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $93,590 | $104,520 | $112,020 | $126,660 | $135,280 | $114,040 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $30.24 | $47.84 | $61.79 | $77.20 | $85.47 | $60.87 | 10,110 | 0.56 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $62,890 | $99,510 | $128,530 | $160,580 | $177,780 | $126,610 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $30.94 | $37.79 | $44.51 | $48.41 | $51.00 | $42.76 | 6,960 | 0.49 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $64,360 | $78,610 | $92,580 | $100,700 | $106,090 | $88,940 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $38.28 | $44.78 | $49.96 | $57.62 | $61.12 | $50.47 | 6,880 | 0.71 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $79,630 | $93,140 | $103,920 | $119,850 | $127,120 | $104,990 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $31.84 | $37.59 | $39.88 | $46.91 | $49.79 | $41.34 | 6,670 | 0.67 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $66,230 | $78,190 | $82,940 | $97,580 | $103,570 | $85,990 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $38.50 | $44.55 | $49.59 | $56.17 | $64.69 | $49.90 | 3,370 | 0.79 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $80,090 | $92,670 | $103,150 | $116,830 | $134,550 | $103,800 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $48.14 | $70.68 | $83.25 | $91.56 | $102.41 | $79.92 | 500 | 0.44 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $100,130 | $147,000 | $173,150 | $190,440 | $213,010 | $166,230 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $32.39 | $67.59 | $82.30 | $98.79 | $98.79 | $76.41 | 140 | 0.94 | 1.63 |
| Annual | $67,360 | $140,580 | $171,170 | $205,490 | $205,490 | $158,930 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $49.10 | $62.16 | $78.47 | $87.15 | $90.53 | $73.03 | 610 | 0.57 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $102,130 | $129,300 | $163,220 | $181,270 | $188,300 | $151,900 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $49.65 | $61.78 | $77.68 | $86.76 | $99.14 | $73.45 | 90 | 0.42 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $103,280 | $128,510 | $161,570 | $180,460 | $206,220 | $152,780 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $45.48 | $59.32 | $77.05 | $87.11 | $98.14 | $72.95 | 1,300 | 0.55 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $94,600 | $123,380 | $160,270 | $181,190 | $204,140 | $151,740 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $39.95 | $48.16 | $51.56 | $59.92 | $62.94 | $52.50 | 7,020 | 0.74 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $83,090 | $100,170 | $107,250 | $124,630 | $130,900 | $109,210 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $27.49 | $41.34 | $57.42 | $68.67 | $80.94 | $55.12 | 3,550 | 0.57 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $57,180 | $85,980 | $119,430 | $142,820 | $168,360 | $114,640 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $39.74 | $44.99 | $49.56 | $54.25 | $59.61 | $49.36 | 2,280 | 0.50 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $82,660 | $93,590 | $103,080 | $112,840 | $123,990 | $102,670 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $38.63 | $41.72 | $47.51 | $49.40 | $55.85 | $46.16 | 2,160 | 0.53 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $80,350 | $86,780 | $98,810 | $102,750 | $116,160 | $96,010 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $33.34 | $38.52 | $41.47 | $48.72 | $51.36 | $43.07 | 1,910 | 0.68 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $69,340 | $80,110 | $86,250 | $101,350 | $106,820 | $89,590 | ||||
Top industries employing diagnostic medical sonographers
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals employ 57.7% of diagnostic medical sonographers nationally (52,050 jobs) at a median $97,280 a year ($46.77 an hour), followed by Offices of Physicians (21.0%) and Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (10.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 52,050 | 57.7% | $97,280 | $46.77 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 18,930 | 21.0% | $95,220 | $45.78 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories NAICS 621500 | 9,850 | 10.9% | $87,580 | $42.11 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 4,480 | 5.0% | $127,940 | $61.51 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 1,650 | 1.8% | $100,920 | $48.52 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (90,160). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $77,740 for diagnostic medical sonographers in May 2021 and $96,590 in May 2025, with employment of 78,640 and 90,160.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $77,740 | $37.38 | 78,640 |
| May 2022 | $81,350 | $39.11 | 81,080 |
| May 2023 | $84,470 | $40.61 | 82,780 |
| May 2024 | $89,340 | $42.95 | 86,460 |
| May 2025 | $96,590 | $46.44 | 90,160 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $61.79 | $128,530 | $62,890 | $177,780 | 10,110 | 0.56 | 0.96 |
| 2 | Hawaii profile | $59.82 | $124,430 | $83,900 | $135,660 | 210 | 0.33 | 0.57 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $58.34 | $121,340 | $61,840 | $156,860 | 2,190 | 0.62 | 1.06 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $57.80 | $120,220 | $91,960 | $135,150 | 1,210 | 0.62 | 1.06 |
| 5 | District of Columbia profile | $53.86 | $112,020 | $93,590 | $135,280 | 160 | 0.24 | 0.40 |
| 6 | Colorado profile | $52.12 | $108,410 | $85,500 | $130,720 | 1,430 | 0.50 | 0.86 |
| 7 | Massachusetts profile | $51.67 | $107,480 | $89,190 | $133,480 | 2,190 | 0.60 | 1.04 |
| 8 | Alaska profile | $50.81 | $105,670 | $78,170 | $126,540 | 140 | 0.45 | 0.77 |
| 9 | Vermont profile | $50.05 | $104,100 | $80,190 | $134,080 | 140 | 0.47 | 0.81 |
| 10 | New York profile | $49.96 | $103,920 | $79,630 | $127,120 | 6,880 | 0.71 | 1.22 |
| 11 | New Hampshire profile | $49.89 | $103,760 | $82,110 | $134,220 | 400 | 0.58 | 1.01 |
| 12 | Connecticut profile | $49.63 | $103,230 | $77,790 | $129,480 | 990 | 0.59 | 1.01 |
| 13 | New Jersey profile | $49.59 | $103,150 | $80,090 | $134,550 | 3,370 | 0.79 | 1.35 |
| 14 | Minnesota profile | $49.45 | $102,850 | $84,020 | $120,220 | 1,710 | 0.58 | 1.00 |
| 15 | Wisconsin profile | $49.08 | $102,090 | $82,430 | $124,450 | 1,530 | 0.52 | 0.90 |
| 16 | Montana profile | $48.56 | $101,000 | $80,750 | $121,260 | 230 | 0.46 | 0.79 |
| 17 | Illinois profile | $48.40 | $100,660 | $78,350 | $122,680 | 3,270 | 0.54 | 0.93 |
| 18 | Wyoming profile | $48.39 | $100,650 | $80,390 | $136,830 | 90 | 0.31 | 0.53 |
| 19 | Missouri profile | $48.14 | $100,130 | $76,820 | $106,090 | 1,930 | 0.66 | 1.13 |
| 20 | Utah profile | $48.13 | $100,100 | $70,030 | $124,760 | 740 | 0.43 | 0.73 |
| 21 | Arizona profile | $48.10 | $100,040 | $74,010 | $127,510 | 2,070 | 0.64 | 1.10 |
| 22 | Idaho profile | $48.04 | $99,920 | $79,290 | $117,100 | 510 | 0.59 | 1.02 |
| 23 | Maryland profile | $47.70 | $99,210 | $80,940 | $118,520 | 1,760 | 0.64 | 1.10 |
| 24 | Delaware profile | $47.37 | $98,530 | $83,240 | $115,800 | 220 | 0.45 | 0.78 |
| 25 | Kansas profile | $46.30 | $96,310 | $72,420 | $112,520 | 670 | 0.47 | 0.80 |
| 26 | Nevada profile | $46.15 | $95,980 | $74,960 | $133,250 | 640 | 0.41 | 0.71 |
| 27 | Virginia profile | $45.99 | $95,660 | $77,540 | $122,930 | 2,160 | 0.53 | 0.91 |
| 28 | Maine profile | $45.78 | $95,230 | $78,330 | $125,130 | 380 | 0.60 | 1.03 |
| 29 | Rhode Island profile | $44.63 | $92,820 | $83,690 | $129,690 | 380 | 0.76 | 1.31 |
| 30 | Texas profile | $44.51 | $92,580 | $64,360 | $106,090 | 6,960 | 0.49 | 0.85 |
| 31 | Kentucky profile | $43.86 | $91,230 | $62,440 | $115,390 | 940 | 0.47 | 0.81 |
| 32 | New Mexico profile | $41.93 | $87,210 | $65,250 | $108,030 | 410 | 0.47 | 0.80 |
| 33 | Iowa profile | $41.58 | $86,480 | $72,480 | $101,970 | 740 | 0.47 | 0.81 |
| 34 | North Carolina profile | $41.35 | $86,010 | $67,070 | $105,530 | 2,970 | 0.60 | 1.04 |
| 35 | Indiana profile | $40.89 | $85,040 | $62,850 | $103,320 | 1,380 | 0.43 | 0.74 |
| 36 | North Dakota profile | $40.55 | $84,340 | $66,890 | $102,570 | 240 | 0.57 | 0.98 |
| 37 | Oklahoma profile | $40.23 | $83,670 | $64,610 | $102,570 | 1,060 | 0.62 | 1.07 |
| 38 | South Carolina profile | $40.04 | $83,290 | $69,530 | $102,540 | 1,340 | 0.58 | 1.00 |
| 39 | Georgia profile | $40.02 | $83,250 | $62,120 | $104,930 | 2,700 | 0.55 | 0.95 |
| 40 | Florida profile | $39.88 | $82,940 | $66,230 | $103,570 | 6,670 | 0.67 | 1.16 |
| 41 | Ohio profile | $39.84 | $82,870 | $65,480 | $101,190 | 3,160 | 0.57 | 0.98 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania profile | $39.77 | $82,710 | $68,370 | $103,570 | 2,980 | 0.49 | 0.85 |
| 43 | Nebraska profile | $39.74 | $82,670 | $64,590 | $105,320 | 780 | 0.77 | 1.32 |
| 44 | Michigan profile | $39.66 | $82,490 | $66,960 | $96,360 | 3,100 | 0.70 | 1.21 |
| 45 | Arkansas profile | $39.18 | $81,500 | $64,280 | $102,190 | 640 | 0.49 | 0.85 |
| 46 | South Dakota profile | $38.85 | $80,820 | $51,100 | $98,090 | 370 | 0.81 | 1.39 |
| 47 | Louisiana profile | $38.80 | $80,710 | $62,900 | $98,500 | 1,150 | 0.60 | 1.03 |
| 48 | Tennessee profile | $38.77 | $80,640 | $62,220 | $101,830 | 1,880 | 0.57 | 0.99 |
| 49 | West Virginia profile | $36.93 | $76,820 | $64,750 | $99,060 | 780 | 1.11 | 1.92 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $36.79 | $76,520 | $59,660 | $92,340 | 700 | 0.60 | 1.04 |
| 51 | Alabama profile | $32.78 | $68,180 | $51,700 | $83,220 | 1,510 | 0.72 | 1.23 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-2030), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-2032 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-2032, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-2032.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.