Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.
Also called: Cardiac Sonographer · Diagnostic Medical Sonographer · Medical Sonographer · Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) · Sonographer · Staff Sonographer
Median pay (national)
$89,340
$64,760–$123,170 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
86,460
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+13%
~5,800 openings/yr
Typical entry
Associate's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for diagnostic medical sonographers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $123,170 versus $64,760 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $89,340 leaves roughly 38% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +13% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 5,800 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, Hawaii pays the most for this role (median $122,030, +37% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $26,540 — a 360% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Science
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Observe screen during scan to ensure that image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes, making adjustments to equipment as required.
- 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.
- Select appropriate equipment settings and adjust patient positions to obtain the best sites and angles.
- 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.
- Decide which images to include, looking for differences between healthy and pathological areas.
- Prepare patient for exam by explaining procedure, transferring patient to ultrasound table, scrubbing skin and applying gel, and positioning patient properly.
- Determine whether scope of exam should be extended, based on findings.
- Obtain and record accurate patient history, including prior test results or information from physical examinations.
- Maintain records that include patient information, sonographs and interpretations, files of correspondence, publications and regulations, or quality assurance records, such as pathology, biopsy, or post-operative reports.
Tools & technology
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- MEDITECH software
- Database software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Patient medical record software
- Email software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Physics
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Psychology
- Education and Training