Ultrasound technologists — formally called diagnostic medical sonographers — are among the higher-paid allied health professions not requiring a medical degree.
According to the 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, diagnostic medical sonographers (SOC 29-2032) earned a median annual wage of $84,470.
Pay varies meaningfully by specialty area, employer setting, and geographic location.
Hospitals employ the largest share of sonographers, though outpatient imaging centers and physician offices are also significant employers.
It is worth noting that cardiovascular technologists and technicians, a separate BLS occupation, earn a different median — approximately $64,000 — and should not be conflated with diagnostic medical sonographers when comparing salary data.
For context, the cardiac sonographer salary and the radiology tech salary are closely related benchmarks for imaging professionals.
The BLS projects 14% employment growth for diagnostic medical sonographers between 2023 and 2033, a rate classified as much faster than average.
Ultrasound Tech Salary Overview (2026)
According to the 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for diagnostic medical sonographers (SOC 29-2032), the national median annual wage was $84,470.
The mean (average) annual wage was modestly higher, reflecting a tail of well-compensated specialists and senior practitioners.
On an hourly basis, the median translates to approximately $40.61 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year.
Representative wage percentiles from BLS OEWS data:
- 10th percentile: approximately $59,000/year
- 25th percentile: approximately $70,000/year
- 50th percentile (median): $84,470/year
- 75th percentile: approximately $100,000/year
- 90th percentile: approximately $116,000/year
These figures cover all diagnostic medical sonographers regardless of specialty. Pay at the individual level may vary significantly based on specialty area, credential, employer setting, and location.
To see exactly how wages like $40 an hour translate to annual, monthly, and after-tax take-home, our guide on $40 an hour is how much a year breaks down every pay period. For other rates in the range above, browse our hourly wage conversion guide index.
Ultrasound Tech Pay by Experience Level
As with most clinical roles, years of experience and demonstrated specialty competence are closely tied to earnings. The following ranges reflect typical national estimates; actual pay may vary by employer and market.
| Experience Level | Typical Annual Salary | Approximate Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (0–2 years) | $58,000 – $70,000 | $28 – $34/hr |
| Mid-Level (3–6 years) | $72,000 – $90,000 | $35 – $43/hr |
| Senior / Lead Sonographer (7+ years) | $88,000 – $110,000+ | $42 – $53+/hr |
Sonographers who hold multiple specialty credentials or take on supervisory, educational, or traveling roles typically earn toward the upper end of these ranges.
Ultrasound Tech Salary by Specialty Area
Diagnostic medical sonography encompasses several distinct specialty areas.
Credential attainment in a given specialty, typically through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), is associated with higher pay.
Specialty differences in median compensation are not broken out separately in BLS OEWS data, but industry reporting and employer postings suggest the following general hierarchy:
Cardiac Sonographers (Echocardiographers)
Cardiac sonographers specialize in imaging the heart and surrounding vasculature.
This specialty requires mastery of echocardiography (echo) techniques and is among the higher-compensated sonography specialties.
ARDMS credential: Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS).
Median pay for experienced cardiac sonographers frequently exceeds the overall BLS median for the broader SOC category.
Vascular Technologists
Vascular sonographers perform imaging of blood vessels — arteries and veins — to evaluate conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, peripheral artery disease, and carotid artery stenosis.
The Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credential through ARDMS is the standard.
Vascular work is frequently performed in hospital vascular labs or specialized outpatient clinics and is considered a higher-demand specialty.
OB/GYN Sonographers
Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers perform the widest variety of exams in terms of volume, given the ubiquity of prenatal care.
Pregnancy-related imaging drives a large share of outpatient ultrasound volume.
ARDMS credential: Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) with OB/GYN specialty.
Entry-level positions in this specialty are relatively accessible, though advanced fetal anatomy scanning requires substantial experience.
Abdominal Sonographers
Abdominal sonographers image organs including the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, spleen, and pancreas. This is often the foundational specialty for new sonographers and the basis of general sonography programs. RDMS (Abdomen) is the primary credential.
Pay is generally consistent with the overall BLS median for the occupation.
Ultrasound Tech Salary by State and Employer Setting
Geographic location and employer type both significantly influence ultrasound tech pay.
High-cost states and metropolitan areas with competitive healthcare labor markets tend to pay more.
According to BLS OEWS state data, states such as California, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington typically rank among the highest-paying for diagnostic medical sonographers.
The cost of living in California and the cost of living in Washington State are important context for understanding what higher nominal wages translate to in real purchasing power.
Employer setting also affects compensation:
- Hospitals: The largest employer of sonographers. Hospital positions often provide the broadest case mix, shift differential pay, and access to employer-sponsored benefits. Pay is typically at or above the national median.
- Outpatient imaging centers: Dedicated imaging centers such as RadNet or hospital outpatient departments often offer competitive wages, predictable daytime hours, and a high scan volume. Pay is generally comparable to hospital positions.
- Physician offices: OB/GYN and internal medicine practices employ sonographers for in-office imaging. Hours may be more regular, but compensation is often modestly below hospital and imaging center rates.
- Travel sonography: Travel healthcare assignments can command significantly higher rates — frequently $45–$65 per hour or more on contract — though these positions typically lack employer-sponsored benefits and require accepting short-term assignments in varying locations.
The Value of ARDMS Certification
ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) certification is widely regarded as the professional standard for sonographers.
Most hospital and imaging center employers require or strongly prefer ARDMS credentials.
The primary credential — Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) — requires passing a Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) exam plus a specialty exam.
Additional specialty registries (RVT, RDCS) can expand scope of practice and support higher pay. Sonographers holding multiple credentials generally have stronger negotiating leverage for compensation and are often preferred for senior or lead roles.
Ultrasound Tech Career Outlook
According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is projected to grow 14% from 2023 to 2033, which is classified as much faster than average for all occupations.
This growth is driven by the aging U.S. population, the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions that require diagnostic imaging, and the continued preference for ultrasound as a radiation-free modality compared to CT or X-ray.
Sonography programs are available at the associate's degree and bachelor's degree level, and completion of an accredited program is typically required for ARDMS eligibility.
The combination of above-average projected growth, median pay well above the all-occupations median, and no requirement for a medical degree makes diagnostic medical sonography consistently cited as a strong allied health career path.
Compared with other imaging professions, the X-ray tech salary and the medical lab tech salary provide useful wage benchmarks for allied health professionals.
Once earning a stable income, sonographers benefit from reviewing their salary negotiation options and establishing appropriate savings benchmarks relative to their income level.
Deductions for health insurance premium deductibility may also be relevant for sonographers in contract or self-employed positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median salary for an ultrasound tech?
According to the 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, diagnostic medical sonographers earned a median annual wage of $84,470. This translates to approximately $40.61 per hour. Pay may vary by specialty, employer setting, geographic location, and credential level.
Do ultrasound techs need a four-year degree?
Most employers require completion of an accredited sonography program, which is available at both the associate's (two-year) and bachelor's (four-year) level.
ARDMS certification — the professional standard — requires passing credential exams after completing an accredited program.
A medical degree is not required to work as a diagnostic medical sonographer.
Which ultrasound specialty pays the most?
Cardiac sonographers (echocardiographers) and vascular technologists are generally associated with higher compensation than general abdominal or OB/GYN sonographers, reflecting the additional complexity and specialized credential requirements.
The cardiac sonographer salary consistently exceeds the overall sonographer median.
However, the BLS does not publish separate median wages by sonography specialty within SOC 29-2032, so exact figures by specialty are not available from federal data.
How does cardiovascular technologist pay compare to sonographer pay?
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians (SOC 29-2031) are a separate BLS occupation from diagnostic medical sonographers (SOC 29-2032).
According to available BLS data, cardiovascular technologists earned a median of approximately $64,000 per year — meaningfully below the $84,470 median for diagnostic medical sonographers.
The two roles involve different training, credentialing, and scope of practice.
For broader comparison across imaging careers, see how the radiology tech salary and sonographer salary compare across BLS categories.
What is the job outlook for ultrasound techs?
The BLS projects 14% employment growth for diagnostic medical sonographers between 2023 and 2033, classified as much faster than average.
Growth is driven by an aging population requiring more diagnostic imaging, expanded use of ultrasound in point-of-care settings, and the modality's radiation-free profile compared to CT or fluoroscopy.
With strong income potential over a full career, sonographers benefit from understanding their average net worth by age benchmarks and planning 401(k) contribution rates accordingly.
Sources & References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SOC 29-2032), 2024 survey data — https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292032.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists, job outlook and wage data — https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — National estimates, 2024 — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
Last updated: April 27, 2026