Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$67,820
- 25th Percentile — Junior$80,430
- 50th Percentile — Median$96,590
- 75th Percentile — Senior$106,930
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$129,370
The top 10% of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earn $129,370 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $67,820, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $126,610 | +30.2% |
| Hawaii | $118,090 | +21.4% |
| Oregon | $115,390 | +18.7% |
| Washington | $115,060 | +18.3% |
| District of Columbia | $114,040 | +17.3% |
| Massachusetts | $113,410 | +16.6% |
| Colorado | $108,310 | +11.4% |
| New Hampshire | $107,460 | +10.5% |
| Vermont | $106,860 | +9.9% |
| Alaska | $106,180 | +9.2% |
| New York | $104,990 | +8.0% |
| Connecticut | $104,380 | +7.3% |
| New Jersey | $103,800 | +6.7% |
| Wisconsin | $103,150 | +6.1% |
| Minnesota | $102,540 | +5.5% |
| Wyoming | $101,160 | +4.0% |
| Montana | $99,350 | +2.2% |
| Arizona | $99,050 | +1.9% |
| Illinois | $98,730 | +1.5% |
| Rhode Island | $98,390 | +1.2% |
| Nevada | $98,350 | +1.1% |
| Delaware | $98,240 | +1.0% |
| Maryland | $97,230 | +0.0% |
| Utah | $96,590 | -0.7% |
| Idaho | $95,630 | -1.7% |
| Maine | $95,370 | -1.9% |
| Virginia | $95,220 | -2.1% |
| Missouri | $94,550 | -2.8% |
| Kansas | $92,970 | -4.4% |
| New Mexico | $89,390 | -8.1% |
| Kentucky | $88,940 | -8.5% |
| Texas | $88,940 | -8.5% |
| Iowa | $87,840 | -9.7% |
| North Carolina | $87,500 | -10.0% |
| North Dakota | $87,020 | -10.5% |
| Nebraska | $86,220 | -11.3% |
| Pennsylvania | $86,130 | -11.4% |
| Indiana | $86,070 | -11.5% |
| Florida | $85,990 | -11.6% |
| South Carolina | $85,540 | -12.0% |
| Ohio | $85,290 | -12.3% |
| Georgia | $84,910 | -12.7% |
| Oklahoma | $84,880 | -12.7% |
| Arkansas | $83,360 | -14.3% |
| Michigan | $83,010 | -14.6% |
| Tennessee | $81,730 | -16.0% |
| Louisiana | $80,500 | -17.2% |
| West Virginia | $80,040 | -17.7% |
| South Dakota | $77,220 | -20.6% |
| Mississippi | $74,770 | -23.1% |
| Alabama | $69,160 | -28.9% |
What Factors Affect Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: California pays an average of $126,610, while Alabama pays $69,160 — a gap of $57,450 per year.
The middle half of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earn between $80,430 and $106,930 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $67,820, while the top 10% earn more than $129,370.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers?
The average salary for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in the United States is $97,240 per year, with a median of $96,590.
What is the starting salary for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers?
Entry-level Diagnostic Medical Sonographers typically earn between $67,820 and $80,430 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Diagnostic Medical Sonographers the most?
California pays Diagnostic Medical Sonographers the most at $126,610 per year on average, followed by Hawaii ($118,090) and Oregon ($115,390).
How much do Diagnostic Medical Sonographers make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $97,240, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earn approximately $46.75 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Diagnostic Medical Sonographers a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 90,160 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $97,240 and a median of $96,590 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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