Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: Job Description
Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.
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What Do Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Perform?
Typical responsibilities of diagnostic medical sonographers span:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective diagnostic medical sonographers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Cardiac Sonographer
- Cardiovascular Sonographer
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Echo Sonographer (Echocardiograph Sonographer)
- Echo Tech (Echocardiographic Technician)
- Echocardiogram Technician
- Echocardiographer
- Echocardiographic Technologist
How Many Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Are There?
There are about 3,282,869 diagnostic medical sonographers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +3.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $91,848 |
| Hourly median | $44.16 |
| 10th percentile | $55,925 |
| 25th percentile | $73,886 |
| 75th percentile | $109,809 |
| 90th percentile | $127,770 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $122,030 |
| California | $120,840 |
| Oregon | $108,230 |
| Washington | $107,360 |
| District of Columbia | $106,130 |
| Colorado | $104,810 |
| Massachusetts | $104,130 |
| Alaska | $103,160 |
| Connecticut | $102,850 |
| New York | $101,930 |
| Vermont | $101,630 |
| Arizona | $101,100 |
| Minnesota | $101,100 |
| Wisconsin | $100,730 |
| New Hampshire | $100,110 |
| New Jersey | $99,940 |
| Rhode Island | $99,650 |
| Illinois | $97,810 |
| Idaho | $97,480 |
| Montana | $97,000 |
| Wyoming | $95,650 |
| Maryland | $95,120 |
| Nevada | $94,370 |
| Missouri | $91,440 |
| Utah | $91,140 |
| Virginia | $89,430 |
| Kansas | $88,170 |
| Delaware | $87,840 |
| Maine | $85,790 |
| Texas | $84,900 |
| Indiana | $84,410 |
| New Mexico | $84,150 |
| Iowa | $83,890 |
| North Dakota | $83,860 |
| North Carolina | $83,480 |
| Florida | $81,240 |
| Ohio | $80,950 |
| South Carolina | $80,490 |
| Oklahoma | $80,470 |
| Kentucky | $80,320 |
| Michigan | $80,300 |
| Georgia | $80,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,660 |
| Tennessee | $79,480 |
| Nebraska | $79,250 |
| Arkansas | $78,500 |
| Louisiana | $76,400 |
| South Dakota | $74,880 |
| Mississippi | $73,440 |
| West Virginia | $73,410 |
| Alabama | $66,340 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,540 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for diagnostic medical sonographers vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $116,447 | 15.4% | 0.93 |
| New England | $101,430 | 5.0% | 1.06 |
| Rocky Mountains | $99,551 | 3.5% | 0.90 |
| Middle Atlantic | $95,990 | 18.0% | 1.21 |
| Plains States | $89,766 | 6.6% | 0.98 |
| Great Lakes | $88,320 | 14.1% | 1.02 |
| Southwest | $87,561 | 10.5% | 0.85 |
| Southeast | $80,505 | 26.1% | 1.08 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $170,600 | 490 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $165,020 | 110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $161,090 | 1,170 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $157,640 | 590 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $151,980 | 40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $143,750 | 90 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $140,980 | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $129,440 | 570 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of diagnostic medical sonographers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 83,870 | $89,340 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,500 | $85,280 |
| Educational Services | 600 | $102,430 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 240 | $68,490 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 130 | $108,190 |
Below are examples of industries where diagnostic medical sonographers work:
Tools and Technology
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for diagnostic medical sonographers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
- Physical Proximity
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
Education and Training
Entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Radiation Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Respiratory Therapists (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Radiologists (Supplemental)
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
- Pediatric Surgeons (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring diagnostic medical sonographers typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2032.00 (Diagnostic Medical Sonographers).
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