Ultrasound Tech Salary in 2023: Complete Guide

How much does an ultrasound technician make?

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median salary for diagnostic medical sonographers and ultrasound technologists is $81,375 per year as of May 2022.
• Salaries can vary significantly by state. For example, the median annual salary in California is $114,480 compared to $60,240 in Alabama, according to 2022 BLS data.
• The highest paying states for ultrasound techs are typically California, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Alaska.
• The top paying metropolitan areas are San Francisco, San Jose, Vallejo-Fairfield, Santa Rosa, and Salinas in California, as well as Urban Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Higher salaries are generally correlated with states and cities that have a high cost of living. Rural and less populated states tend to offer lower compensation.
• Specialization in fields like echocardiography or vascular ultrasound can also increase an ultrasound tech’s earning potential.

So in summary, ultrasound tech salaries can range from around $60,000 on the lower end up to over $115,000 in high paying states and cities. The national median is approximately $80,000.

Understanding Ultrasound Tech Salary

Ultrasound technicians, also known as diagnostic medical sonographers, use specialized equipment to produce images of internal organs, tissues, and blood flow. They work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practices. The average ultrasound technologist salary varies depending on factors such as education level, experience, geographic location, and industry.

What is an ultrasound technician?

An ultrasound technician is a healthcare professional who specializes in using ultrasound technology to produce images of internal structures in the body. They work closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat medical conditions.

What are the different types of ultrasound technicians?

There are several different types of ultrasound technicians, including general sonographers, cardiovascular technologists, and pediatric sonographers. Each type of technician specializes in a specific area of ultrasound imaging.

What factors affect ultrasound tech salary?

Several factors can affect an ultrasound technician’s salary, including but not limited to –

• Education and certification level
• Years of experience
• Geographic location
• Cost of living
• Type of employer and industry, and
• Specialization and additional skills.

Average Ultrasound Tech Salary by State

Ultrasound technician salaries can vary significantly depending on the state in which they work. Some states have a higher cost of living, which can affect salaries. Here are the top-paying states for ultrasound techs and the average ultrasound tech salary by state:

Top-paying states for ultrasound techs

1. California
2. Hawaii
3. Washington
4. Oregon
5. Rhode Island

Average ultrasound technician’s salary by state

• California – $1,14,480
• Hawaii – $1,05,850
• Washington – $1,03,700
• Oregon – $1,01,850
• Rhode Island – $96,400

Cost of living considerations

It’s important to consider the cost of living when evaluating ultrasound technician salaries. While some states offer higher salaries, the cost of living may also be higher, which can affect overall quality of life.

List of States with Hourly and Annual median salary for Ultrasound Technicians

State Name	Hourly median salary	Annual median salary
California	55.04	$1,14,480
Hawaii	50.89	$1,05,850
Washington	49.85	$1,03,700
Oregon	48.96	$1,01,850
Rhode Island	46.34	$96,400
Massachusetts	45.82	$95,310
Connecticut	45.64	$94,930
District of Columbia	45.58	$94,800
Colorado	44.52	$92,610
Wisconsin	44.45	$92,450
Arizona	43.26	$89,980
Maryland	43.23	$89,910
Vermont	43.19	$89,840
Minnesota	43.08	$89,610
New York	42.95	$89,340
Nevada	42.95	$89,330
Alaska	42.2	$87,770
Utah	42.17	$87,720
New Jersey	41.83	$87,010
Illinois	41.61	$86,540
Montana	41.26	$85,810
New Hampshire	39.9	$82,990
Kansas	39.87	$82,920
Idaho	39.86	$82,910
Virginia	39.18	$81,490
Missouri	39.05	$81,210
Delaware	38.77	$80,640
Maine	38.52	$80,110
New Mexico	38.36	$79,780
Texas	37.71	$78,440
Nebraska	37.69	$78,400
Ohio	37.14	$77,250
Iowa	36.56	$76,050
Georgia	36.51	$75,940
North Carolina	36.35	$75,610
Indiana	36.31	$75,510
Pennsylvania	36.3	$75,500
South Carolina	36.09	$75,070
North Dakota	35.77	$74,410
Florida	35.63	$74,110
Oklahoma	35.01	$72,810
Wyoming	34.54	$71,840
Tennessee	34.27	$71,280
Michigan	33.92	$70,560
Arkansas	33.83	$70,370
Kentucky	33.45	$69,580
West Virginia	32.73	$68,080
Mississippi	31.94	$66,430
South Dakota	31.3	$65,110
Louisiana	31.18	$64,860
Alabama	28.96	$60,240
Puerto Rico	12.87	$26,760

List of Few Cities with Median Hourly and Annual salary for Ultrasound Technicians

City Name	Hourly median salary	Annual median salary
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA	69.65	144870
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	67.75	140910
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	66.87	139090
Santa Rosa, CA	61.4	127710
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	59.7	124180
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA	55.11	114640
Danbury, CT	53.77	111830
Merced, CA	53.68	111660
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	53.27	110810
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA	52.47	109140
Los Angeles, CA	51.87	107890
Urban Honolulu, HI	50.96	106000
Salinas, CA	50.65	105350
Redding, CA	50.51	105050
Salem, OR	49.76	103500
Fresno, CA	48.72	101340
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH	46.99	97730
Boulder, CO	46.74	97230
Madison, WI	45.63	94910
Salt Lake City, UT	44.66	92890
Bakersfield, CA	44.31	92170
Waterbury, CT	44.24	92020
Visalia-Porterville, CA	43.79	91090
Worcester, MA-CT	43.55	90590
Manchester, NH	43.13	89710
Wausau, WI	43.12	89690
Yakima, WA	42.77	88960
Dayton, OH	42.12	87620
Trenton, NJ	41.97	87290
Anchorage, AK	41.95	87260
Tucson, AZ	40.92	85120
Glens Falls, NY	40.75	84770
Topeka, KS	40.66	84570
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	40.52	84270
Bloomington, IL	40.4	84030
Rockford, IL	40.28	83780
Syracuse, NY	39.81	82810
Austin-Round Rock, TX	39.36	81860
Winchester, VA-WV	39.22	81580
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	39.16	81460
Albuquerque, NM	38.92	80950
Midland, TX	38.81	80730
Utica-Rome, NY	38.58	80240
Columbus, OH	38.51	80110
Burlington, NC	38.37	79810
Cedar Rapids, IA	38.23	79510
Rochester, NY	38.19	79430
Wichita, KS	38.05	79140
Tallahassee, FL	37.48	77960
Winston-Salem, NC	37.3	77590
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	36.81	76560
Jefferson City, MO	36.74	76410
Tulsa, OK	36.46	75840
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	36.24	75370
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	36.15	75190
Jacksonville, FL	36.15	75180
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	36.04	74970
Asheville, NC	35.93	74730
Toledo, OH	35.76	74370
Waco, TX	35.49	73820
Florence, SC	35.27	73360
Tyler, TX	35.12	73060
Iowa City, IA	34.74	72250
Wilmington, NC	34.49	71750
Knoxville, TN	34.41	71580
Jackson, TN	34.38	71510
York-Hanover, PA	34.25	71240
Warner Robins, GA	33.54	69760
Jackson, MS	33.12	68900
Baton Rouge, LA	33.09	68830
El Paso, TX	33	68630
Gainesville, FL	32.86	68350
Flint, MI	32.5	67600
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA	32.37	67340
Lafayette, LA	32.19	66950
Wheeling, WV-OH	31.6	65730
Tuscaloosa, AL	31.37	65260
Dothan, AL	26.77	55690

Average Ultrasound Tech Salary by Industry

Ultrasound technicians can work in a variety of industries, including healthcare, scientific research, and education. Here are the top-paying industries for ultrasound techs and the average ultrasound tech salary by industry:

Top-paying industries for ultrasound techs

Below table provides average hourly and annual salary for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers by Industry.

Industry	Hourly median wage	Annual median wage
Outpatient Care Centers	$ 54.65	$ 113,680
Management of Companies and Enterprises	$ 54.31	$ 112,960
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals	$ 44.29	$ 92,130
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$ 43.46	$ 90,400
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation)	$ 42.25	$ 87,880

Job responsibilities and work environment

The job responsibilities and work environment can also affect an ultrasound technician’s salary. For example, those who work in outpatient care centers may have more flexible schedules and fewer on-call hours than those who work in hospitals.

Job Outlook and Career Opportunities for Ultrasound Techs

The job outlook for ultrasound technicians is positive, with a projected job growth rate of 14% from 2018 to 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here are some emerging specialties and technologies in ultrasound, as well as advancement opportunities and career paths:

Job growth projections for ultrasound techs

The job growth rate for ultrasound techs is driven by several factors, including an aging population, increased demand for diagnostic imaging, and advances in ultrasound technology.

Emerging specialties and technologies in ultrasound

Some emerging specialties in ultrasound include musculoskeletal sonography, breast sonography, and neurosonography. Additionally, advances in 3D and 4D ultrasound technology are expanding the capabilities of ultrasound imaging.

Advancement opportunities and career paths

Ultrasound technicians can advance their careers by specializing in a specific area of ultrasound, pursuing leadership and management roles, teaching and research positions, or pursuing advanced degrees in related fields.

Factors That Affect Ultrasound Tech Salary

Several factors can affect an ultrasound technician’s salary, including education and certification level, years of experience, geographic location and cost of living, type of employer and industry, and specialization and additional skills.

Education and certification level

Ultrasound technicians typically need an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in diagnostic medical sonography from an accredited program. Certification from organizations such as the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or the Cardiovascular Credentialing International can also increase earning potential.

Years of experience

As with many professions, ultrasound technicians with more years of experience generally earn higher salaries than those who are just starting out.

Geographic location and cost of living

Salaries for ultrasound technicians can vary significantly depending on the state and city in which they work. Additionally, the cost of living can affect overall quality of life.

Type of employer and industry

Ultrasound technicians who work in outpatient care centers or specialty hospitals generally earn higher salaries than those who work in physician offices or medical and diagnostic laboratories.

Specialization and additional skills

Ultrasound technicians who specialize in a specific area of ultrasound, such as breast sonography or neurosonography, may earn higher salaries. Additionally, those with additional skills such as 3D and 4D ultrasound imaging may have increased earning potential.

Conclusion: Is a Career as an Ultrasound Tech Right for You?

Becoming an ultrasound technician can be a rewarding career path with a positive job outlook and opportunities for advancement. However, it’s important to consider factors such as education and certification level, years of experience, geographic location and cost of living, type of employer and industry, and specialization and additional skills when evaluating earning potential. Prospective ultrasound technicians should research education and training programs, as well as job opportunities in their desired location and industry.

Recap of key points

• Ultrasound technicians use specialized equipment to produce images of internal organs, tissues, and blood flow.
• The average ultrasound technologist salary varies depending on factors such as education level, experience, geographic location, and industry.
• The top-paying states for ultrasound techs are California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Colorado, and Connecticut.
• The top-paying industries for ultrasound techs are outpatient care centers, specialty hospitals, scientific research and development services, colleges, universities, and professional schools, and medical and diagnostic laboratories.
• The job outlook for ultrasound technicians is positive, with a projected job growth rate of 14% from 2018 to 2028.
• Factors that affect ultrasound tech salary include education and certification level, years of experience, geographic location and cost of living, type of employer and industry, and specialization and additional skills.

Resources for further exploration and education

• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
• Cardiovascular Credentialing International
• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Accredited Allied Health Education Programs