Sonographer Salary in 2026: Hourly Pay, Take-Home and Pay by State
Last updated 10/31/2026 by
SuperMoney Team
Edited by
Andrew Latham
Summary:
The median sonographer earns $96,590 a year ($46.44 an hour), according to May 2025 BLS data. After 2026 federal taxes, that’s about $6,398 a month for a single filer. Pay ranges from a median of $68,180 in Alabama to $128,530 in California.
Data as of: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, the most recent release. Take-home figures use 2026 federal tax rules. Updated October 2026.
Where a sonographer works can matter more than where they live. Sonographers at outpatient care centers earn a median of $127,940 a year. In hospitals, it’s $97,390. Same credential, about $30,000 apart.
Across the U.S., the median diagnostic medical sonographer (also called an ultrasound tech) earns $96,590 a year, or $46.44 an hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That’s nearly twice the $50,980 median for all workers, from a job that typically requires a two-year degree.
How much does a sonographer make?
| Pay period | Median | Average (mean) |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $46.44 | $46.75 |
| Weekly | $1,858 | $1,870 |
| Every two weeks | $3,715 | $3,740 |
| Monthly | $8,049 | $8,103 |
| Yearly | $96,590 | $97,240 |
The median is the middle: half of sonographers earn more and half earn less. The average is higher because top earners pull it up. Figures are for wage and salary workers and don’t include self-employed sonographers, tips, overtime premiums or benefits. About 90,160 sonographers were on payrolls in May 2025.
Want to see the same math for any pay rate? Our hourly to salary chart converts every rate from $7.25 to $100 an hour, and $46 an hour a year and $97,000 a year an hour break down the numbers closest to this job.
Sonographer pay range: entry level to top earners
| Percentile | Annual pay | Hourly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% | $67,820 | $32.61 |
| 25th percentile | $80,430 | $38.67 |
| Median (50th) | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| 75th percentile | $106,930 | $51.41 |
| Top 10% | $129,370 | $62.20 |
Why sonographer pay varies so much by workplace
The industry gap is the widest in this group of jobs. Sonographers at outpatient care centers earn a median of $127,940, while those at medical and diagnostic labs earn $87,580. Hospitals sit in the middle at $97,390.
Other levers: specialty credentials (such as cardiac, vascular or OB/GYN), evening and weekend shifts, and travel contracts. Employment is projected to grow 14% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, so employers have reason to compete for experienced sonographers.
Sonographer take-home pay in 2026
A $96,590 salary doesn’t land in your checking account as $96,590. Here’s what a single filer at the median keeps after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, using 2026 tax brackets and the $16,100 standard deduction.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $96,590 |
| Federal income tax | -$12,420 |
| Social Security and Medicare (FICA) | -$7,389 |
| Take-home pay, yearly | $76,781 |
| Take-home pay, monthly | $6,398 |
| Take-home pay, every two weeks | $2,953 |
That’s an all-in federal rate of about 20.5%, with each extra dollar taxed at 22% plus 7.65% FICA. State income tax comes out on top of this, from 0% in states like Texas, Florida and Washington to more than 5% of income in high-tax states. Pre-tax 401(k) and health insurance contributions lower your tax bill but also your paycheck.
Sonographer salary by state
Median pay by state, highest to lowest. State medians reflect local demand and cost of living, so a higher number doesn’t always mean more money left over.
| State | Median annual pay | Approx. hourly | vs. U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $128,530 | $61.79 | +33% |
| Hawaii | $124,430 | $59.82 | +29% |
| Washington | $121,340 | $58.34 | +26% |
| Oregon | $120,220 | $57.80 | +24% |
| Washington, D.C. | $112,020 | $53.86 | +16% |
| Colorado | $108,410 | $52.12 | +12% |
| Massachusetts | $107,480 | $51.67 | +11% |
| Alaska | $105,670 | $50.80 | +9% |
| Vermont | $104,100 | $50.05 | +8% |
| New York | $103,920 | $49.96 | +8% |
| New Hampshire | $103,760 | $49.88 | +7% |
| Connecticut | $103,230 | $49.63 | +7% |
| New Jersey | $103,150 | $49.59 | +7% |
| Minnesota | $102,850 | $49.45 | +6% |
| Wisconsin | $102,090 | $49.08 | +6% |
| Montana | $101,000 | $48.56 | +5% |
| Illinois | $100,660 | $48.39 | +4% |
| Wyoming | $100,650 | $48.39 | +4% |
| Missouri | $100,130 | $48.14 | +4% |
| Utah | $100,100 | $48.12 | +4% |
| Arizona | $100,040 | $48.10 | +4% |
| Idaho | $99,920 | $48.04 | +3% |
| Maryland | $99,210 | $47.70 | +3% |
| Delaware | $98,530 | $47.37 | +2% |
| Kansas | $96,310 | $46.30 | -0% |
| Nevada | $95,980 | $46.14 | -1% |
| Virginia | $95,660 | $45.99 | -1% |
| Maine | $95,230 | $45.78 | -1% |
| Rhode Island | $92,820 | $44.62 | -4% |
| Texas | $92,580 | $44.51 | -4% |
| Kentucky | $91,230 | $43.86 | -6% |
| New Mexico | $87,210 | $41.93 | -10% |
| Iowa | $86,480 | $41.58 | -10% |
| North Carolina | $86,010 | $41.35 | -11% |
| Indiana | $85,040 | $40.88 | -12% |
| North Dakota | $84,340 | $40.55 | -13% |
| Oklahoma | $83,670 | $40.23 | -13% |
| South Carolina | $83,290 | $40.04 | -14% |
| Georgia | $83,250 | $40.02 | -14% |
| Florida | $82,940 | $39.88 | -14% |
| Ohio | $82,870 | $39.84 | -14% |
| Pennsylvania | $82,710 | $39.76 | -14% |
| Nebraska | $82,670 | $39.75 | -14% |
| Michigan | $82,490 | $39.66 | -15% |
| Arkansas | $81,500 | $39.18 | -16% |
| South Dakota | $80,820 | $38.86 | -16% |
| Louisiana | $80,710 | $38.80 | -16% |
| Tennessee | $80,640 | $38.77 | -17% |
| West Virginia | $76,820 | $36.93 | -20% |
| Mississippi | $76,520 | $36.79 | -21% |
| Alabama | $68,180 | $32.78 | -29% |
Where sonographers earn the most
| Industry | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Outpatient care centers | $127,940 |
| Administrative and support services (incl. staffing) | $100,350 |
| Hospitals (state, local and private) | $97,390 |
| Offices of physicians | $95,220 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | $87,580 |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, median pay in the top industries employing sonographers, May 2025.
How to budget on a sonographer salary
Start with the take-home number, not the salary. At the median, that’s about $6,398 a month. A simple 50/30/20 split looks like this:
| Bucket | Share | Monthly amount |
|---|---|---|
| Needs (rent, utilities, groceries, insurance, minimum debt payments) | 50% | $3,199 |
| Wants (eating out, travel, subscriptions) | 30% | $1,920 |
| Savings and extra debt payoff | 20% | $1,280 |
If rent alone eats most of the $3,199 needs bucket, that’s the signal to trim wants or find a roommate, not to stop saving. The SuperMoney app makes this easier: link your checking, credit cards and loans, and it sorts your spending into categories so you can see which bucket is overflowing. It flags subscriptions you forgot about and tracks your net worth month to month. You can also ask Sense AI, the app’s built-in money coach, questions like “Can I afford a $2,000 apartment on my pay?” Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
Saving that 20% is what turns a good salary into wealth. To see where you stand, compare yourself with the median net worth by age and check how much you should have in your 401(k).
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a sonographer make an hour?
The median sonographer earns $46.44 an hour, based on May 2025 BLS data. The middle half earn between $38.67 and $51.41 an hour.
What is the starting salary for a sonographer?
The BLS doesn’t track starting pay directly. The bottom 10% of sonographers earn under $67,820 and the bottom 25% earn under $80,430, which is a reasonable range for new sonographers.
Which state pays sonographers the most?
California has the highest median at $128,530, followed by Hawaii ($124,430) and Washington ($121,340). Alabama has the lowest at $68,180. High-paying states often have a higher cost of living, so compare pay to rent before you move.
How much does a sonographer take home after taxes?
A single filer earning the $96,590 median takes home about $76,781 a year, or $6,398 a month, after federal income tax and FICA in 2026, before any state income tax or pre-tax deductions.
Is an ultrasound tech the same as a sonographer?
Yes. “Ultrasound tech” is the common name, and “diagnostic medical sonographer” is the BLS job title. The pay data on this page covers both.
Is the job outlook good for sonographers?
The BLS projects employment of sonographers to grow 14% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3% for all occupations.
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