How Much Does a Sonographer Make in Arkansas in 2026?

A typical Sonographer in Arkansas earns about $39.18 per hour ($81,500 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $6,792 a month or $1,567 a week, both calculated from the annual figure. Those figures apply statewide, covering full-time Sonographers across all experience levels and settings.

That figure sits 16% below the national figure of $96,590 a year ($46.44 an hour), placing Arkansas 45th out of 51 states and territories ranked for this occupation. Roughly 640 Sonographers work across Arkansas, a much smaller workforce than the 90,160 counted nationwide. That rank places Arkansas among the lower-paying states in the country for this occupation.

Entry-level positions in Arkansas typically offer around $30.90 an hour ($64,280 a year) for Sonographers just starting out. Pay generally climbs toward the state's typical figure of $81,500 within the first few years on the job. Workers a bit further along, with some experience behind them, often reach closer to $73,510 a year before moving into fully experienced pay.

Experienced Sonographers in Arkansas often earn upwards of $46.62 an hour ($96,970 a year), and the top 10% make over $49.13 an hour ($102,190 a year). That's a spread of $37,910 between entry-level and top pay. The difference usually comes down to years on the job, work setting, and which city a Sonographer works in, with places like Fort Smith paying noticeably more than others.

Arkansas Sonographer pay rose from $58,470 in 2015 to $81,500 in 2025, a gain of $23,030 over the decade. That's an increase of 39%, with most of the growth coming in recent years. Pay climbed from $67,270 in 2022 to $78,500 in 2024 before reaching its 2025 figure.

Nationally, Sonographer pay rose 40% over the same decade, a very similar pace to Arkansas's climb. Someone starting a sonography career in Arkansas today enters a field where pay has moved up steadily over the past ten years. That trend describes what has already happened, not a promise of continued increases at the same pace.

Sonographer pay runs highest in Fort Smith, where the metro area figure reaches $100,140 a year ($48.14 an hour), 23% above the state figure. Fayetteville, Springdale, and Rogers follow, each posting $84,820 a year for their shared metro area. Those northwest Arkansas cities pay noticeably more than the state figure of $81,500.

At the other end, Jonesboro posts the lowest figure among Arkansas cities at $81,880 a year ($39.36 an hour), close to the state figure. That's a spread of $18,260 between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas listed. Conway employs the most Sonographers of any Arkansas city at 190, with pay there at $82,200 a year. Differences between cities generally track local living costs rather than anything else.

Arkansas sits in the middle of its neighbors on Sonographer pay. Missouri pays the most nearby, at $100,130 a year, 23% above Arkansas's figure, while Texas follows at $92,580 (14% higher) and Oklahoma at $83,670 (3% higher). Louisiana ($80,710), Tennessee ($80,640), and Mississippi ($76,520) all pay slightly less, roughly 1% to 6% below Arkansas. Sonography licensure earned in Arkansas can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary.

Sonographer pay in Arkansas typically runs $81,500 a year ($39.18 an hour), up 39% over the past decade even though it still trails the national figure. Readers considering this career should check Arkansas's state licensing or registry requirements for sonographers before applying, and look at city-level figures for places like Fort Smith or Conway to see how pay varies by location within the state.