How pay is spread out
Sonography pays well for a two-year credential. One in ten sonographers earns less than $67,820, and one in ten earns more than $129,370.
Ultrasound tech salary by state
State medians run from $68,180 in Alabama to $128,530 in California. Most states do not issue a sonography license, so credentials tend to travel more easily than in many healthcare jobs. Once prices are taken into account, Oregon comes out on top at about $116,300.
| Compared with the top state | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $128,530 | 10,110 | $116,090 | |
| Hawaii | $124,430 | 210 | $113,170 | |
| Washington | $121,340 | 2,190 | $113,390 | |
| Oregon | $120,220 | 1,210 | $116,310 | |
| District of Columbia | $112,020 | 160 | $101,930 | |
| Colorado | $108,410 | 1,430 | $105,200 | |
| Massachusetts | $107,480 | 2,190 | $101,630 | |
| Alaska | $105,670 | 140 | $103,230 | |
| Vermont | $104,100 | 140 | $106,270 | |
| New York | $103,920 | 6,880 | $96,290 | |
| New Hampshire | $103,760 | 400 | $99,610 | |
| Connecticut | $103,230 | 990 | $99,630 | |
| New Jersey | $103,150 | 3,370 | $94,800 | |
| Minnesota | $102,850 | 1,710 | $104,290 | |
| Wisconsin | $102,090 | 1,530 | $108,500 | |
| Montana | $101,000 | 230 | $106,710 | |
| Illinois | $100,660 | 3,270 | $100,700 | |
| Wyoming | $100,650 | 90 | $108,590 | |
| Missouri | $100,130 | 1,930 | $110,250 | |
| Utah | $100,100 | 740 | $101,250 | |
| Arizona | $100,040 | 2,070 | $99,370 | |
| Idaho | $99,920 | 510 | $104,630 | |
| Maryland | $99,210 | 1,760 | $94,520 | |
| Delaware | $98,530 | 220 | $98,720 | |
| Kansas | $96,310 | 670 | $106,930 | |
| Nevada | $95,980 | 640 | $96,000 | |
| Virginia | $95,660 | 2,160 | $94,620 | |
| Maine | $95,230 | 380 | $98,120 | |
| Rhode Island | $92,820 | 380 | $90,750 | |
| Texas | $92,580 | 6,960 | $95,390 | |
| Kentucky | $91,230 | 940 | $101,190 | |
| New Mexico | $87,210 | 410 | $94,580 | |
| Iowa | $86,480 | 740 | $98,540 | |
| North Carolina | $86,010 | 2,970 | $91,180 | |
| Indiana | $85,040 | 1,380 | $91,120 | |
| North Dakota | $84,340 | 240 | $94,810 | |
| Oklahoma | $83,670 | 1,060 | $95,250 | |
| South Carolina | $83,290 | 1,340 | $88,840 | |
| Georgia | $83,250 | 2,700 | $86,450 | |
| Florida | $82,940 | 6,670 | $80,200 | |
| Ohio | $82,870 | 3,160 | $89,320 | |
| Pennsylvania | $82,710 | 2,980 | $84,770 | |
| Nebraska | $82,670 | 780 | $91,750 | |
| Michigan | $82,490 | 3,100 | $85,730 | |
| Arkansas | $81,500 | 640 | $93,750 | |
| South Dakota | $80,820 | 370 | $91,230 | |
| Louisiana | $80,710 | 1,150 | $91,500 | |
| Tennessee | $80,640 | 1,880 | $87,780 | |
| West Virginia | $76,820 | 780 | $85,840 | |
| Mississippi | $76,520 | 700 | $88,000 | |
| Alabama | $68,180 | 1,510 | $76,760 |
Best-paying cities
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA tops the list at $173,150. Compare the cost-adjusted column before assuming the highest figure is the best deal.
| Metro area | Median | Employed | Cost-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $173,150 | 500 | $156,810 |
| Vallejo, CA | $171,170 | 140 | $157,790 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $163,220 | 610 | $153,010 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $161,570 | 90 | $149,900 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $160,270 | 1,300 | $138,630 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $142,150 | 40 | $129,350 |
| Modesto, CA | $141,210 | 200 | $135,640 |
| Redding, CA | $133,340 | 40 | $132,430 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $132,490 | 100 | $121,780 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $130,210 | 140 | $123,900 |
Where the most jobs are
| Metro area | Median | Employed | Cost-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $107,250 | 7,020 | $95,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $119,430 | 3,550 | $105,160 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,080 | 2,280 | $99,500 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $98,810 | 2,160 | $95,850 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $86,250 | 1,910 | $75,560 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $95,100 | 1,670 | $96,420 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $94,640 | 1,660 | $92,280 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $102,810 | 1,600 | $99,510 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $109,200 | 1,590 | $100,860 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $105,290 | 1,550 | $96,700 |
Pay by type of employer
Hospitals are the main employer, with 58% of jobs at a median of $97,280. Physicians' offices pay $95,220, and diagnostic labs $87,580.
| Industry | Median | Employed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $97,280 | 52,050 | 58% |
| Offices of Physicians | $95,220 | 18,930 | 21% |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $87,580 | 9,850 | 11% |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $127,940 | 4,480 | 5% |
| Employment Services | $100,920 | 1,650 | 2% |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $104,770 | 910 | 1% |
What ultrasound techs do
- Observe screen during scan to ensure that image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes, making adjustments to equipment as required.
- Decide which images to include, looking for differences between healthy and pathological areas.
- Operate ultrasound equipment to produce and record images of the motion, shape, and composition of blood, organs, tissues, or bodily masses, such as fluid accumulations.
- Observe and care for patients throughout examinations to ensure their safety and comfort.
- Provide sonogram and oral or written summary of technical findings to physician for use in medical diagnosis.
Hourly to annual
Sonographers in hospitals are often paid by the hour and may take call shifts, which this conversion leaves out. It assumes 2,080 hours a year, as the BLS does.
How you get there
The usual route is an associate degree, although bachelor's degrees and certificates also exist, the latter often for people who already work in healthcare. Some states require a license, and employers may require or prefer professional certification.
Typical entry-level education: associate's degree. Projected job growth, 2025–35: 13.9%, about 6,000 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections).
Compare with similar jobs
Questions people ask
How much does a sonographer make an hour?
The national median was $46.44 an hour in May 2025.
Is a sonographer the same as an ultrasound tech?
Yes, in everyday use. "Diagnostic medical sonographer" is the formal title and the one the BLS uses for these figures.
Which state pays ultrasound techs the most?
California had the highest median at $128,530, ahead of Hawaii at $124,430.
General information, not career or financial advice. Pay depends on hours, location and employer. Confirm licensing rules with your state's board.