How Much Does a Sonographer Make in Washington, DC in 2026?
Typical pay for Sonographers in Washington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across District of Columbia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Washington · Arlington · Alexandria metro area
A typical Sonographer in Washington, District of Columbia earns $50.62 per hour, or $105,290 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,774 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $87,820, and the top 10% of earners make over $131,500.
That pay is 6% below the District of Columbia figure of $112,020 and 9% above the national figure of $96,590. About 1,550 Sonographers work in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area.
Sonographer pay in Washington at a glance
- Typical pay is $50.62 an hour, or $105,290 a year.
- That is 6% below the District of Columbia figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $87,820; the top 10% make over $131,500.
- Typical pay rose +35% from 2015 to 2025, against +26% for District of Columbia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Sonographer make in Washington?
Pay in Washington runs from entry-level positions at around $42.22 an hour to more than $63.22 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the District of Columbia and national figures.
Sonographer pay by career stage in Washington
| Career stage | Washington | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $87,820$42.22 an hour | $93,590$44.99 an hour | $67,820$32.60 an hour |
| First years | $96,940$46.61 an hour | $104,520$50.25 an hour | $80,430$38.67 an hour |
| Typical Sonographer | $105,290$50.62 an hour | $112,020$53.86 an hour | $96,590$46.44 an hour |
| Experienced | $118,540$56.99 an hour | $126,660$60.89 an hour | $106,930$51.41 an hour |
| Top 10% | $131,500$63.22 an hour | $135,280$65.04 an hour | $129,370$62.20 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area as BLS defines it
Sonographer pay growth in Washington
Typical (median) annual wage for Sonographers in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Sonographer pay in Washington was $77,810 a year. By 2025 it had reached $105,290, a change of +35%, compared with +26% for District of Columbia over the same years.
Is Washington a good place to work as a Sonographer?
Sonographers in Washington earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $105,290 a year, 9% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area, about 0.5 are Sonographer positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.6. That makes Sonographers a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Sonographer make in Washington, DC?
- A typical Sonographer in Washington earns $105,290 a year, or $50.62 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $87,820 and the top 10% earn over $131,500.
- How much does a Sonographer make an hour in Washington?
- Typical hourly pay for Sonographers in Washington is $50.62. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $42.22, and the top 10% earn over $63.22 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Sonographer in Washington?
- Entry-level Sonographer positions in Washington typically offer around $42.22 an hour, or $87,820 a year.
- Is Sonographer pay in Washington higher than in the rest of District of Columbia?
- Washington pay is 6% below the District of Columbia figure of $112,020 a year, ranking 1st of 1 metro areas in the state.