How Much Does a Sonographer Make in West Des Moines, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Sonographers in West Des Moines, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area
A typical Sonographer in West Des Moines, Iowa earns $41.87 per hour, or $87,080 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,257 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,110, and the top 10% of earners make over $101,600.
That pay is 1% above the Iowa figure of $86,480 and 10% below the national figure of $96,590. West Des Moines ranks 1st of 7 metro areas in Iowa for Sonographer pay. About 170 Sonographers work in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area. West Des Moines is part of the Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Des Moines share these figures.
Sonographer pay in West Des Moines at a glance
- Typical pay is $41.87 an hour, or $87,080 a year.
- That is 1% above the Iowa figure, ranking 1st of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,110; the top 10% make over $101,600.
- Typical pay rose +36% from 2015 to 2025, against +41% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Sonographer make in West Des Moines?
Pay in West Des Moines runs from entry-level positions at around $37.55 an hour to more than $48.84 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Sonographer pay by career stage in West Des Moines
| Career stage | West Des Moines | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $78,110$37.55 an hour | $72,480$34.85 an hour | $67,820$32.60 an hour |
| First years | $83,340$40.07 an hour | $80,490$38.70 an hour | $80,430$38.67 an hour |
| Typical Sonographer | $87,080$41.87 an hour | $86,480$41.58 an hour | $96,590$46.44 an hour |
| Experienced | $98,640$47.42 an hour | $97,570$46.91 an hour | $106,930$51.41 an hour |
| Top 10% | $101,600$48.84 an hour | $101,970$49.02 an hour | $129,370$62.20 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Des Moines · West Des Moines area as BLS defines it
Sonographer pay growth in West Des Moines
Typical (median) annual wage for Sonographers in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Sonographer pay in West Des Moines was $64,160 a year. By 2025 it had reached $87,080, a change of +36%, compared with +41% for Iowa over the same years.
How West Des Moines compares with other Iowa cities
West Des Moines pays Sonographers the most of any metro area in Iowa. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cedar Falls at $80,620.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs West Des Moines | Sonographers employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $87,080 | $41.87 | this city | 170 |
| 2 | Iowa City | $86,940 | $41.80 | 0% | 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 West Des Moines a good place to work as a Sonographer?
Sonographers in West Des Moines earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $87,080 a year, 10% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area, about 0.4 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 West Des Moines, IA?
- A typical Sonographer in West Des Moines earns $87,080 a year, or $41.87 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $78,110 and the top 10% earn over $101,600.
- How much does a Sonographer make an hour in West Des Moines?
- Typical hourly pay for Sonographers in West Des Moines is $41.87. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $37.55, and the top 10% earn over $48.84 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Sonographer in West Des Moines?
- Entry-level Sonographer positions in West Des Moines typically offer around $37.55 an hour, or $78,110 a year.
- Is Sonographer pay in West Des Moines higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- West Des Moines pay is 1% above the Iowa figure of $86,480 a year, ranking 1st of 7 metro areas in the state.