Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Associate's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Diagnostic medical sonographers use specialized skills to support medical care and patient evaluation. This career combines technical ability with strong interpersonal and detail-oriented strengths. Nationally, there are about 90,000 diagnostic medical sonographers, and the projected employment growth is 13.0%, with roughly 6,000 annual openings. The national median annual salary of $89,340 points to solid earning potential. Opportunity varies by region, with some states and metro areas offering notably higher median salaries. Candidates who bring adaptability, strong science foundations, critical and analytical thinking, and fine motor skills are especially well aligned with this field. Interpersonal and customer service skills also play an important role. For those interested in related paths, similar occupations include cardiovascular technologists and technicians, radiologic technologists and technicians, surgical assistants, health technologists and technicians (all other), and veterinary technologists and technicians. Overall, diagnostic medical sonography offers a blend of patient interaction, technical work, and steady labor-market demand.
Diagnostic medical sonographers earn a national median annual salary of $89,340, indicating a solid income level for this field. Pay varies meaningfully by location. Among states, median salaries range from $103,920 in New York to $128,530 in California, with Massachusetts, Colorado, and Washington also above $100,000. Metro areas can offer even higher earnings. For example, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro shows a median salary of $173,150, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $160,270. Several other large metros, including New York-Newark-Jersey City, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, post median salaries above $100,000. These figures suggest that geographic choice can significantly influence income potential. Professionals who are geographically flexible may be able to target markets with higher median pay, while still benefiting from the national salary baseline for this occupation.
Diagnostic medical sonographers show a strong employment footprint and growth profile. National employment stands at about 90,000, providing a sizable base of existing positions. Projected employment growth is 13.0%, indicating that the number of jobs is expected to increase. In addition, there are approximately 6,000 annual openings, which reflects both new job creation and turnover in existing roles. This combination of solid current employment, double-digit projected growth, and a consistent stream of openings points to a career with ongoing labor-market activity. Several states and metro areas with high CareerGPS opportunity scores also share the same 13.0% growth projection, suggesting that growth is not limited to a single region. For students, job seekers, and career changers, these metrics indicate that diagnostic medical sonography offers a range of opportunities across the country over the coming years.
Location makes a significant difference for diagnostic medical sonographers, both in salary and opportunity scores. At the state level, California leads in median salary at $128,530 and has the largest employment level listed, with 10,110 positions and an opportunity score of 67.38. Washington shows a median salary of $121,340 and an opportunity score of 56.29, while Massachusetts, New York, and Colorado all have median salaries above $100,000 and opportunity scores ranging from 56.97 to 65.87. Looking at metro areas, the differences are even more pronounced. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has a median salary of $173,150 and the highest opportunity score listed at 77.42, despite employment of 500. New York-Newark-Jersey City combines a high opportunity score of 77.27 with 7,020 employed. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton also show high median pay and opportunity scores, offering multiple strong urban markets to consider.
The typical education requirement for diagnostic medical sonographers is an associate's degree. This level of education provides a pathway into a healthcare career without the need for a longer undergraduate program. Beyond formal education, success in this field relies on a broad mix of technical and personal skills. Important strengths include science knowledge, critical and analytical thinking, and mechanical skills, which support understanding and operating specialized equipment. Fine motor skills and physical strength and stamina are also valuable, reflecting the hands-on nature of the work. Being detail oriented, adaptable, and strong in writing and reading can help with accurate documentation and learning new procedures or protocols. Interpersonal and customer service skills are central to interacting with patients and colleagues. Together, an associate's degree plus these core skills form the primary preparation profile for entry and growth in diagnostic medical sonography.
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