Medical Sonographer Salary

The average Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary is calculated by the US Government Bureau of Labor Statistics from a variety of sources. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers work in a number of settings including hospitals, clinics and schools.  Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salaries vary depending on the location and the setting.  The assumption was made that the Diagnostic Medical Sonographers reflected here were working an average of 40 hours per week with a total of 2080 hours per year. 

Medical Sonographer Salary: Median Hourly & Annual Data

Hourly

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer median salary is $25.79 per hour. The lowest 10% earn $18.57 per hour and those in the upper 10% earn more than $35.38 per hour.

Annually

On an annual basis  the median Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary is $53,650. The lowest 10% earn a salary of $42,250 per year while the upper 10% earn more than $81,260 per year.  These salaries are calculated as a mean or average. 

Lowest and Highest Medical Sonographer Salary

The lowest paid Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earn less with mean or average wages below $20.31 per hour.  Presumably this is offset by costs of living and other factors.  The lower pay levels are associated with rural areas and schools.  The highest pay levels are  found in major population areas where the mean or average wage is over $41.00 per hour.  Demand and low supply seem to be a significant factor in fueling higher salaries.

Top 5 States

The top paying states to earn an Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary are Alaska $73,800, Connecticut $72,690, Washington $71,300, Oregon $70,930, and Hawaii $70,900.

 Top 5 Metropolitan Areas

The best city or metropolitan areas to earn a Sonographer salary are Mansfield, OH $95,330, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $92,040, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $82,870, and Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division $80,320, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, MA NECTA Division $78,870.

Other Industries that Employ Medical Sonographers

  A number of these professionals work for laboratories, employment agencies and for federal and state government.  The best paying industry is medical and diagnostic laboratories.   

Employment Data

According to the US Department of Labor nationally there are over 42,500 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers  who earn a salary through being employed. 

Where They Work

Of all the Diagnostic Medical Sonographers employed in the United States over 27,450 of them work in hospitals with an additional 12,270 working in physicians offices. 

Private Practice Vs Employment

 Given the nature of the work these professionals perform and the fact that much of their work has to be interpreted by a physician diagnostic medical sonographers are primarily employed rather than in private practice.

Benefits

Fringe benefits will vary depending on business size and other factors. To see what a typical benefits package is worth  A typical employment benefits package is worth over $20,000 per year.