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Job outlook for sonographers in the United States
Sonographer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected sonographer job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 14,700 new jobs for sonographers are projected over the next decade.
Sonographer salaries have increased 9% for sonographers in the last 5 years.
There are over 64,751 sonographers currently employed in the United States.
There are 14,117 active sonographer job openings in the US.
The average sonographer salary is $85,898.
Are sonographer jobs in demand?
Sonographer job and salary trends over time
Sonographer jobs over time
Sonographer job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64,751 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 60,865 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 59,934 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 58,568 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 56,608 | 0.02% |
Average sonographer salary over time
Sonographer salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $85,898 | $41.30 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $84,088 | $40.43 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $82,040 | $39.44 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $80,795 | $38.84 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $78,804 | $37.89 | +1.0% |
Sonographer jobs by state
Most common states for sonographers
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 34 | 5% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 179 | 3% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 36 | 3% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 20 | 3% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 118 | 2% |
| 6 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 107 | 2% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 101 | 2% |
| 8 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 75 | 2% |
| 9 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 70 | 2% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 67 | 2% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 63 | 2% |
| 12 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 46 | 2% |
| 13 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 37 | 2% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 35 | 2% |
| 15 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 29 | 2% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 20 | 2% |
| 17 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 20 | 2% |
| 18 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 15 | 2% |
| 19 | Vermont | 623,657 | 13 | 2% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 12 | 2% |
Most common cities for sonographers
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor | 4 | 13% | $86,028 |
| 2 | Chapel Hill | 7 | 12% | $76,205 |
| 3 | Palo Alto | 7 | 10% | $135,930 |
| 4 | Council Bluffs | 6 | 10% | $67,012 |
| 5 | Durham | 15 | 6% | $76,570 |
| 6 | Boulder | 4 | 4% | $78,148 |
| 7 | Oakland | 12 | 3% | $136,233 |
| 8 | Des Moines | 7 | 3% | $67,136 |
| 9 | San Francisco | 14 | 2% | $136,481 |
| 10 | Orlando | 6 | 2% | $80,888 |
| 11 | Saint Louis | 5 | 2% | $69,618 |
| 12 | Boston | 10 | 1% | $101,095 |
| 13 | Baltimore | 5 | 1% | $86,761 |
| 14 | Atlanta | 4 | 1% | $82,713 |
| 15 | Houston | 6 | 0% | $74,000 |
| 16 | Phoenix | 6 | 0% | $84,902 |
| 17 | Chicago | 5 | 0% | $83,981 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | 5 | 0% | $121,439 |
| 19 | San Jose | 5 | 0% | $135,426 |
Sonographer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of sonographer experts
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
What general advice would you give to a Sonographer?
Ms. Ann Walker: Although it might not be ideal, it is imperative to work as close to full-time as possible for the first 1-2 years following graduation. Becoming skilled at sonography within the first 2 years, especially independently, is extremely difficult and often unlikely for new sonographers who take on part-time or PRN positions. It’s all about repetition and getting exposure to every patient with every level of difficulty and pathology on a consistent basis. I would never recommend a sonographer with less than 2 full-time years of experience to attempt any type of travel ultrasound. In addition, not allowing yourself to become over-confident right out of the gate is something I feel very strongly about. We may think that our clinical experience was broad enough to give us an ample foundation to feel extremely confident, but sonography is a field that is often very humbling, and it is our patients that suffer the consequences of our negligence when we rely on false confidence. I would recommend new sonographers to work in a facility that has seasoned techs who are available, even if just by phone of FaceTime, at all times for advice and input, and take every opportunity to absorb their input as you grow your scanning and critical thinking skills.
What Sonographer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ms. Ann Walker: Become registered in as many specialties as possible, and do this within the first two years of your post-graduation date. If you delay this process for years, it is much harder to mentally get back into the groove of studying. Not only does preparing to become registered drastically increase your sonographic mental-database, but this also proves to an employer that you are committed to increasing your critical thinking skills and sonography knowledge, and that you understand the importance of being credentialed. Unregistered and under-prepared sonographers do not add value to a healthcare facility and are also a liability. In my opinion, even if you’ve been a sonographer for 30 years, there is no excuse for being unregistered. I also always suggest to my students that if their fist offer from a facility is unrealistically low, to never accept that first offer. Negotiation is a skill in itself, and I’ve seen many facilities begin with an offer that is unreasonably low to a new graduate.
What will help Sonographers increase their earning potential?
Ms. Ann Walker: Interventional sonography skills, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and duplex/Doppler studies for vascular procedures.
What general advice would you give to a Sonographer?
Ted Whitten: According to the U.S. Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics, "employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is projected to grow 17 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians, including vascular technologists, is projected to grow 5 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations." https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm#tab-6
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted sonography like it has many other professions. At the beginning of the pandemic, some sonographers were furloughed due to temporary closures of outpatient imaging centers or offices, as well as cancellation of most non-urgent sonography exams in the hospital setting as hospitals planned for expected inpatient surges. While many sonography departments have returned to near normal workflows and volumes, the impact of the renewed surges of COVID-19 patients across the country remains to be seen. Some sonographers have also reported inadequate access to personal protective equipment (PPE) in some parts of the country.