How to Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Capture the ultrasound images physicians rely on to see inside the body, from cardiac studies to prenatal care. It typically requires an associate degree, with a median salary of $96,590 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$96,590/yr
Middle half
$80,430 to $106,930
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
5,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Ultrasound Imaging
- Patient Positioning
- Anatomy
- Monitoring
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- RDMS (ARDMS Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
74/100
Stress level
64/100
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- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer make?
The median pay for a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is $96,590 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $80,430 and $106,930 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?
The usual entry point is an associate degree. Common majors are Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Radiologic Sciences, and Health Sciences.
Is Diagnostic Medical Sonographer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 5,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer use most?
Common skills for this role are Ultrasound Imaging, Patient Positioning, Anatomy, Monitoring, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).