Salary Outlook
According to the BLS, diagnostic medical sonographers earned a median salary of $65,210 in 2011, and a mean hourly wage of $31.63. The best-paid 10 percent earned $90,640 annually, while the lowest-paid earned less than $44,950. Areas of the industry that pay well include outpatient care centers. Big cities also tend to compensate well—specifically, the metro areas clustered in northern California.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $51,560.00 |
| 2004 | $53,640.00 |
| 2006 | $57,920.00 |
| 2008 | $62,490.00 |
| 2010 | $64,770.00 |
Average Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Pay vs. All Healthcare Jobs
Due to the technical nature of the job, diagnostic medical sonographers earn more than many other healthcare jobs. Median salaries are similar to dental hygienists and registered nurses, and well above other jobs that play a supporting role in the medical world, such as medical assistants, clinical lab technicians, and radiologic technologists.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Dental Hygienist | $69,280.00 |
| Registered Nurse | $65,690.00 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $65,210.00 |
| Radiologic Technologist | $55,120.00 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technician | $36,950.00 |
| Medical Assistant | $29,100.00 |
See Complete List of Best Healthcare Jobs
Best Paying Cities for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
The highest paid in the diagnostic medical sonographer profession work in the metropolitan areas of San Jose, CA, Vallejo, CA, and San Francisco, CA. The Salinas, CA area also pays well, as does the city of Oakland, CA.
San Jose, CA
Average Salary: $104,130 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a diagnostic medical sonographer working in San Jose, CA is $104,130, which is $38,920 more than the average pay in the profession.
Vallejo, CA
Average Salary: $102,020 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a diagnostic medical sonographer working in Vallejo, CA is $102,020, which is $36,810 more than the average pay in the profession.
San Francisco, CA
Average Salary: $100,650 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a diagnostic medical sonographer working in San Francisco, CA is $100,650, which is $35,440 more than the average pay in the profession.
Salinas, CA
Average Salary: $97,060 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a diagnostic medical sonographer working in Salinas, CA is $97,060, which is $31,850 more than the average pay in the profession.
Oakland, CA
Average Salary: $96,860 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a diagnostic medical sonographer working in Oakland, CA is $96,860, which is $31,650 more than the average pay in the profession.
