In the United States, diagnostic medical sonographers—the occupation commonly called ultrasound techs—had a median wage of $96,590 per year, or $46.44 per hour, in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned $67,820 or less, while the highest-paid 10 percent earned $129,370 or more. Actual offers vary substantially by location, workplace, schedule, specialty, credentials, and experience.
Current national ultrasound tech pay
The figures below are the latest national wage distribution available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as verified on September 1, 2026. They cover SOC 29-2032, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, and report gross wages before taxes and deductions.
| Point in the wage distribution | Hourly wage | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32.60 | $67,820 |
| 25th percentile | $38.67 | $80,430 |
| Median | $46.44 | $96,590 |
| 75th percentile | $51.41 | $106,930 |
| 90th percentile | $62.20 | $129,370 |
The median is the middle, not a guaranteed starting salary and not the same as the average: half of workers earned more and half earned less. A percentile does not identify years of experience. For example, the 10th percentile should not automatically be labeled “entry level,” because geography, part-time work, employer type, and other factors also shape the distribution.
Work setting changes the national picture
BLS reported these May 2025 median annual wages among major industries employing diagnostic medical sonographers:
| Industry | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Outpatient care centers | $127,940 |
| Hospitals—state, local, and private | $97,390 |
| Offices of physicians | $95,220 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | $87,580 |
These are industry medians, not offers from every facility. A higher published median can reflect employer mix, geography, staffing patterns, or job requirements. It does not prove that switching settings will produce that salary.
Why two ultrasound tech jobs can pay differently
- Location: state and metropolitan-area labor markets and cost structures differ. Use OEWS state and area data rather than applying the national number everywhere.
- Exact occupation: “ultrasound tech” is an informal title. A posting may describe general sonography, vascular sonography, echocardiography, or a role classified under a related occupation. Match its duties and occupational code before comparing wages.
- Experience and demonstrated skills: employers may value independent scanning experience, difficult examinations, equipment knowledge, or leadership duties, but BLS does not publish a universal raise for each year of experience.
- Credentials and licensing: requirements differ by employer and state. Certification can be required or preferred, yet no credential guarantees a specific wage increase.
- Schedule: evenings, nights, weekends, call, overtime, per-diem work, and travel assignments may use different rates or premiums. Compare guaranteed base pay separately from variable compensation.
- Benefits and employment status: health insurance, retirement contributions, paid leave, tuition support, and job stability can make two offers with the same hourly rate materially different.
How to estimate a realistic local salary
- Confirm the job match. Compare the posting’s duties with BLS and O*NET’s definition of diagnostic medical sonographers instead of relying on the title alone.
- Open current OEWS state and area data. Use the relevant state, metropolitan area, or nonmetropolitan area and note the data year.
- Compare the work setting. A hospital role should not be benchmarked only against the outpatient-care-center median.
- Read the compensation details. Separate base wage, shift differential, overtime, call pay, bonus, travel stipend, and benefits.
- Normalize the offer. For a regular 40-hour schedule, hourly wage multiplied by 2,080 gives a rough annual equivalent. Use expected paid hours instead if the schedule is different.
- Account for data limits. Survey wages describe groups of workers and may lag the current hiring market; they do not predict one employer’s decision.
Salary is not take-home pay
The BLS annual figure is not the amount deposited into a worker’s bank account. Federal, state, and local taxes; insurance premiums; retirement contributions; unpaid time; and other deductions vary by person and job. Likewise, an advertised travel or per-diem rate may not provide the same hours or benefits as a permanent full-time role.
BLS says diagnostic medical sonographers typically need at least an associate degree or postsecondary certificate, and some workers need certification or a license. Before paying for training, verify program accreditation, clinical-placement arrangements, local employer requirements, graduation outcomes, and the exact credential pathway. For more career and compensation explainers, browse Money, Work & Business or search the CurioBeacon article library.
