An ultrasound technician salary calculator converts sonographer pay between hourly, weekly, biweekly, monthly and annual amounts, then compares it with official wage data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts ultrasound technicians as diagnostic medical sonographers. Their median wage was $46.44 an hour, or $96,590 a year, in May 2025.
Annual gross pay
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How to Use the Ultrasound Technician Salary Calculator
- Choose hourly rate or annual salary, the way your imaging department quotes base pay.
- Enter your base pay, your hours per week and your weeks per year. Add other annual pay or a second offer if you have them.
- Read your annual gross pay, the pay-period amounts and where your hourly pay sits in the BLS wage table.
What each result tells you:
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| Annual gross pay | Base pay for the year plus any other annual pay you entered, before tax. |
| Monthly, biweekly, weekly | Annual gross pay divided by 12, 26 and 52. |
| Hourly | Base pay per paid hour. This is the number compared with BLS. |
| BLS percentile band | The two published BLS percentiles your hourly pay falls between. |
| Approximate percentile | A straight-line estimate between those two percentiles. BLS does not publish it. |
| Gap to BLS median | Your hourly pay minus the BLS median hourly wage, in dollars and percent. |
| Full-time equivalent | Your hourly pay times 2,080 hours, the work year BLS uses for annual wages. |
| Second offer rows | The second offer as annual and hourly pay, its percentile and the yearly difference. |
The first preset is an example, not a typical wage. It shows a sonographer paid $45.00 an hour for 40 hours a week. That is $93,600.00 a year, about the 45th percentile.
What Is an Ultrasound Technician Salary?
An ultrasound technician salary is the gross pay a sonographer earns in a year, before tax and deductions. BLS files the job under one occupation code: 29-2032, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
BLS says diagnostic medical sonographers, also called ultrasound technicians, operate special equipment to create images of the inside of the body. Physicians and surgeons view those images to assess and diagnose medical conditions.
The code includes vascular technologists. It excludes cardiovascular technologists and technicians, who have their own code, 29-2031.
| Fact | Value (BLS) |
|---|---|
| Typical entry education | Associate degree. A postsecondary certificate is also accepted for some jobs. |
| Licence or certification | Some states require a licence. Employers may require or prefer professional certification. |
| Jobs in 2025 | 92,200 |
| Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | 14%, much faster than the 3% average for all occupations |
| Openings each year | About 6,000 |
| Work schedule | Most work full time. Shifts can include evenings, weekends or overnights. |
These facts come from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, read on 2026-10-02. BLS links the growth to an aging population and to wider use of sonography across medical specialties.
This tool is for sonographers and sonography students checking an offer, a raise or a schedule. It is not a pay quote from any employer.
How Does the Ultrasound Technician Salary Calculator Work?
The calculator converts your pay between time periods, then places your hourly pay in the BLS wage distribution for diagnostic medical sonographers.
Annual pay = hourly rate x hours per week x weeks per yearApproximate percentile = P1 + (your hourly - W1) / (W2 - W1) x (P2 - P1)- Convert. An hourly rate is multiplied by hours and weeks. A salary is divided by them to get pay per hour.
- Add other pay. Overtime, differentials and bonuses you typed are added to the annual total only.
- Find the band. Your base hourly pay is checked against the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile wages.
- Interpolate. W1 and W2 are the two BLS wages around your pay. P1 and P2 are their percentiles.
- Measure the gap. Your hourly pay minus the median, then divided by the median.
The table below is the full BLS wage table for diagnostic medical sonographers that the tool uses.
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SOC 29-2032) | Hourly wage | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32.60 | $67,820 |
| 25th percentile | $38.67 | $80,430 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $46.44 | $96,590 |
| 75th percentile | $51.41 | $106,930 |
| 90th percentile | $62.20 | $129,370 |
| Mean (average) | $46.75 | $97,240 |
| Employment | 90,160 jobs | |
Source: BLS OEWS, national estimates, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
BLS annual wages equal the hourly wage times 2,080 hours. That is 40 hours for 52 weeks. The comparison uses hourly pay so that part-time and long-shift schedules are judged fairly.
Ultrasound Technician Salary Example: Three 12-Hour Shifts
A hospital sonographer earns $44.00 an hour. She works three 12-hour shifts, so 36 paid hours a week for 52 weeks. Her call pay and shift differentials add $5,200 a year. An outpatient center offers $49.50 an hour on the same hours.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Base annual pay | 44.00 x 36 x 52 | $82,368.00 |
| Annual gross pay | 82,368.00 + 5,200.00 | $87,568.00 |
| Monthly | 87,568.00 / 12 | $7,297.33 |
| Biweekly | 87,568.00 / 26 | $3,368.00 |
| BLS band | 44.00 is between 38.67 and 46.44 | 25th to 50th percentile |
| Approximate percentile | 25 + (44.00 - 38.67) / (46.44 - 38.67) x 25 | About the 42nd |
| Gap to median | 44.00 - 46.44 | -$2.44 an hour (-5.3%) |
| Full-time equivalent | 44.00 x 2,080 | $91,520.00 |
| Second offer | 49.50 x 36 x 52 | $92,664.00, +$10,296.00 a year |
| Second offer percentile | Same method on 49.50 | About the 65th |
Her base pay of $82,368.00 sits $14,222 under the BLS median of $96,590. Most of that gap is hours, not rate. At 2,080 hours her rate pays $91,520.00. The outpatient offer moves her from about the 42nd to about the 65th percentile.
Factors That Change Ultrasound Technician Pay
Work Setting
Hospitals employ 58% of sonographers, and outpatient care centers employ 5%. Outpatient care centers have the highest median wage of the four largest employer types.
| Employer type | Share of jobs, 2025 | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 58% | $97,390 |
| Offices of physicians | 21% | $95,220 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 11% | $87,580 |
| Outpatient care centers | 5% | $127,940 |
| Self-employed workers | 1% | Not listed |
Largest employers of diagnostic medical sonographers and their median wages. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wages. Read on 2026-10-02.
State
California has the highest annual mean wage for sonographers at $126,610. That is $29,370 above the national mean.
| State | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|
| California | $126,610 |
| Hawaii | $118,090 |
| Oregon | $115,390 |
| Washington | $115,060 |
| District of Columbia | $114,040 |
The five states with the highest annual mean wage for diagnostic medical sonographers. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
Metro Area
All five of the highest-paying areas are in northern California. San Jose leads at $166,230.
| Metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,230 |
| Vallejo, CA | $158,930 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $152,780 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $151,900 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $151,740 |
The five areas with the highest annual mean wage for diagnostic medical sonographers. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
Paid Hours and Shift Pattern
Three 12-hour shifts make a 36-hour week. That pays 10% less a year than a 40-hour week at the same rate. Enter your real paid hours. The salary to hourly calculator does the same conversion without the BLS comparison.
Call Pay, Differentials and Overtime
BLS wages exclude overtime pay and shift differentials. Add them in the other annual pay field. The overtime pay calculator works out overtime from your hours.
Specialty and Credential
BLS publishes one wage table for all diagnostic medical sonographers. It has no separate figures by specialty or by credential. This page does not estimate a premium for either one.
Ultrasound Technician Pay Compared Across Industries
Outpatient care centers pay sonographers the highest mean wage, $128,590 a year. That is $31,350 above the national mean of $97,240.
| Industry | Annual mean wage | Versus national mean |
|---|---|---|
| Outpatient Care Centers | $128,590 | +$31,350 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $118,400 | +$21,160 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $105,820 | +$8,580 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $104,900 | +$7,660 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $97,340 | +$100 |
The five industries with the highest annual mean wage for diagnostic medical sonographers. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
General medical and surgical hospitals pay a mean of $97,340, almost equal to the national mean. Hospitals hold most of the jobs, so they set the average.
Sonographers vs MRI Technologists
The two imaging jobs pay nearly the same. The median sonographer earns $96,590 a year and the median MRI technologist earns $95,480.
| Occupation | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | Mean | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic medical sonographers (29-2032) | $67,820 | $80,430 | $96,590 | $106,930 | $129,370 | $97,240 | 90,160 |
| MRI technologists (29-2035) | $68,890 | $81,040 | $95,480 | $106,340 | $127,670 | $96,120 | 43,390 |
Annual wages. Source: BLS OEWS, national estimates, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
Mean vs Median
The mean annual wage is $97,240 and the median is $96,590. The two differ by only $650, so a few very high wages do not distort the average.
When to Use the Ultrasound Technician Salary Calculator
Comparing a Hospital and an Outpatient Offer
Enter one offer as base pay and the other as the second offer. The tool shows both percentiles and the yearly difference on the same hours.
Pricing a 36-Hour or per Diem Schedule
Set the hours and weeks you expect to be paid. The annual figure then reflects your schedule, and the percentile still uses your hourly rate.
Checking a First Offer After School
A new graduate offer of $36.00 an hour falls between the 10th percentile of $32.60 and the 25th percentile of $38.67. The tool shows that position in one step.
Budgeting After Tax
The result is gross pay. Read the gross vs net income guide and the tax brackets guide before you plan a budget or a loan payment from it.
Common Mistakes with Ultrasound Technician Pay Comparisons
1. Comparing a 36-Hour Year with the BLS Annual Wage
BLS annual wages assume 2,080 hours. A 36-hour schedule has 1,872 hours. Compare hourly rates, or use the full-time equivalent row.
2. Adding Call Pay to the Base Rate
Call pay and differentials are not part of the BLS wage. Putting them in base pay inflates your percentile.
3. Reading the National Figure as a Local Rate
The mean in California is $126,610 against $97,240 nationally. The percentile on this page uses national data only.
4. Expecting a Specialty or Credential Figure
BLS does not publish sonographer wages by specialty or credential. A tool that shows exact premiums for them is not using BLS data.
5. Treating a Travel Package as a Wage
A weekly travel package mixes wages with housing and meal payments. Enter only the taxable hourly rate as base pay.
6. Using an Old Median
BLS updates the survey every year. The median on this page is $96,590 for May 2025. Older pages quote lower figures from earlier years.
Accuracy and Limitations
The conversion is exact arithmetic. The percentile is an estimate, because BLS publishes only five points of the wage distribution.
What it calculates accurately
- Annual, monthly, biweekly, weekly and hourly gross pay from your own figures.
- The BLS percentile band your hourly pay falls in.
- The dollar and percent gap to the BLS national median.
- The yearly difference between two offers on the same schedule.
What it does not account for
- Federal, state and local tax, or any payroll deduction.
- Your state, metro area, employer, experience or specialty.
- Benefits such as health insurance, retirement match and paid leave.
- Wages after May 2025. BLS updates the survey once a year.
- Pay differences by specialty or credential. BLS does not publish them, and the old tool on this page used invented premiums.
BLS wages are straight-time gross pay. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. Keep those in the other annual pay field so the comparison stays like for like.
How We Calculate Ultrasound Technician Pay and Percentiles
Frequently Asked Questions About Ultrasound Technician Salaries
How much do ultrasound technicians make an hour?
Ultrasound technicians had a median hourly wage of $46.44 in May 2025, according to BLS. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32.60 an hour and the highest 10 percent earned more than $62.20.
What is the median ultrasound technician salary?
The median annual wage for diagnostic medical sonographers was $96,590 in May 2025. Half earned more than that and half earned less. The mean was $97,240.
Is an ultrasound technician the same as a diagnostic medical sonographer?
Yes, for pay data. BLS states that diagnostic medical sonographers are also called ultrasound technicians. Both names point to occupation code 29-2032.
What do the highest paid ultrasound technicians earn?
Sonographers at the 90th percentile earned $129,370 a year in May 2025. Those at the 75th percentile earned $106,930.
What is a starting salary for an ultrasound technician?
BLS does not publish a starting wage. The 10th percentile is $67,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,430. Those two figures mark the low end of the national range.
Which state pays ultrasound technicians the most?
California pays the highest annual mean wage, $126,610. Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia are the next four.
Which work setting pays sonographers the most?
Outpatient care centers pay the most. Their median annual wage for sonographers was $127,940 in May 2025, against $97,390 in hospitals.
Does BLS publish cardiac or vascular sonographer pay?
No. BLS publishes one wage table for code 29-2032, which includes vascular technologists. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians are a separate code, 29-2031.
Is ultrasound technician employment growing?
Yes. BLS projects 14 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, from 92,200 jobs to 105,100. It expects about 6,000 openings a year.
Is my pay information saved?
No. The calculation runs in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server. The Save button stores a result only on your own device.
Sources
- BLS OEWS Profiles, May 2025 national estimates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Select 29-2032 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Duties, education, employers and 2025 to 2035 outlook. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS technical notes for the May 2025 OEWS estimates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Defines the wage: straight-time gross pay, 2,080-hour year. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS May 2025 occupation profiles index (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Lists every occupation code in the May 2025 release. Read 2026-10-02.)
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Explore all career calculatorsThis ultrasound technician salary calculator gives an estimate for planning. It uses BLS survey data, not a pay offer, and it is not financial, tax or career advice. BLS figures are national estimates for May 2025, read on 2026-10-02. All amounts are gross pay before tax. Confirm pay with the employer before you decide. Spotted an error? Let us know.
Author
Shakeel Muzaffar is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of MultiCalculators.com, bringing over 15 years of experience in digital publishing, product strategy, and online tool development. He leads the platform's editorial vision, ensuring every calculator meets strict standards for accuracy, usability, and real-world value. Shakeel personally oversees content quality, formula verification workflows, and the platform's commitment to publishing tools that are genuinely useful for students, professionals, and everyday users worldwide.
