How Much Does a Sonographer Make in Iowa City, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Sonographers in Iowa City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa City metro area
A typical Sonographer in Iowa City, Iowa earns $41.80 per hour, or $86,940 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,245 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $72,480, and the top 10% of earners make over $108,590.
That pay is 1% above the Iowa figure of $86,480 and 10% below the national figure of $96,590. Iowa City ranks 2nd of 7 metro areas in Iowa for Sonographer pay. About 90 Sonographers work in the Iowa City area.
Sonographer pay in Iowa City at a glance
- Typical pay is $41.80 an hour, or $86,940 a year.
- That is 1% above the Iowa figure, ranking 2nd of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $72,480; the top 10% make over $108,590.
- Typical pay rose +43% from 2015 to 2025, against +41% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Sonographer make in Iowa City?
Pay in Iowa City runs from entry-level positions at around $34.85 an hour to more than $52.21 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Sonographer pay by career stage in Iowa City
| Career stage | Iowa City | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $72,480$34.85 an hour | $72,480$34.85 an hour | $67,820$32.60 an hour |
| First years | $72,480$34.85 an hour | $80,490$38.70 an hour | $80,430$38.67 an hour |
| Typical Sonographer | $86,940$41.80 an hour | $86,480$41.58 an hour | $96,590$46.44 an hour |
| Experienced | $99,160$47.67 an hour | $97,570$46.91 an hour | $106,930$51.41 an hour |
| Top 10% | $108,590$52.21 an hour | $101,970$49.02 an hour | $129,370$62.20 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Iowa City area as BLS defines it
Sonographer pay growth in Iowa City
Typical (median) annual wage for Sonographers in the Iowa City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Sonographer pay in Iowa City was $60,760 a year. By 2025 it had reached $86,940, a change of +43%, compared with +41% for Iowa over the same years.
How Iowa City compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays Sonographers the most in Iowa at $87,080 a year, $140 more than Iowa City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cedar Falls at $80,620.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Iowa City | Sonographers employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $87,080 | $41.87 | 0% | 170 |
| 2 | Iowa City | $86,940 | $41.80 | this city | 90 |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids | $86,480 | $41.58 | -1% | 70 |
| 4 | Davenport | $82,870 | $39.84 | -5% | 100 |
| 5 | Ames | $82,110 | $39.48 | -6% | 30 |
| 6 | Sioux City | $81,450 | $39.16 | -6% | 40 |
| 7 | Waterloo metro incl. Cedar Falls | $80,620 | $38.76 | -7% | 40 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Sonographer wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $86,480
Is Iowa City a good place to work as a Sonographer?
Sonographers in Iowa City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $86,940 a year, 10% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Iowa City area, about 1.0 are Sonographer positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.6. That makes the local economy more reliant on Sonographers than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Sonographer make in Iowa City, IA?
- A typical Sonographer in Iowa City earns $86,940 a year, or $41.80 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $72,480 and the top 10% earn over $108,590.
- How much does a Sonographer make an hour in Iowa City?
- Typical hourly pay for Sonographers in Iowa City is $41.80. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $34.85, and the top 10% earn over $52.21 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Sonographer in Iowa City?
- Entry-level Sonographer positions in Iowa City typically offer around $34.85 an hour, or $72,480 a year.
- Is Sonographer pay in Iowa City higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Iowa City pay is 1% above the Iowa figure of $86,480 a year, ranking 2nd of 7 metro areas in the state. Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $87,080.