How Much Does a Sonographer Make in Illinois in 2026?

A typical Sonographer in Illinois earns about $48.40 per hour ($100,660 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $8,388 a month and $1,936 a week, both calculated from the annual figure. Pay varies by city, employer, and experience, but this figure represents the typical wage across the state's 3,270 Sonographers.

Illinois pay runs about 4% above the national typical pay of $96,590 a year for Sonographers, according to the same May 2025 data. That places Illinois 17th among 51 states ranked for this occupation. The state employs 3,270 Sonographers, a modest slice of the 90,160 counted nationwide.

Entry-level positions in Illinois typically offer around $37.67 an hour, or about $78,350 a year, for Sonographers just starting out. Pay in the next tier up runs closer to $85,230 a year, or $40.97 an hour. Most Sonographers move toward the state's typical pay of $100,660 within a few years of gaining experience.

Experienced Sonographers in Illinois often earn upwards of $107,330 a year ($51.60 an hour), with the top 10% making over $122,680 a year, or $58.98 an hour. That leaves a spread of $44,330 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years on the job, and city all play into where an individual Sonographer lands within that range.

Illinois pay for Sonographers climbed from $75,490 in 2015 to $100,660 in 2025, a gain of $25,170 over that span. That amounts to a 33% rise over the decade, according to the same wage data covering both years. Pay moved up nearly every year across that stretch.

Nationally, typical Sonographer pay rose 40% over the same ten years, a faster pace than Illinois posted. Pay for this role has moved up steadily in Illinois regardless, and someone starting now enters a field where wages have trended higher year over year.

Chicago pays Sonographers the most in Illinois, with a typical wage of $103,080 a year ($49.56 an hour), about 2% above the state figure. Champaign and Urbana follow closely at $100,420 a year, just under the statewide typical pay. These figures cover each city's full metro area.

Rock Island and Moline pay the least among the state's tracked cities, with Sonographers there earning $82,870 a year, a spread of $20,210 between the top and bottom of the range. Chicago also has the largest Sonographer workforce in the state, with 2,280 employed there out of 3,270 statewide. Higher pay in cities like Chicago generally tracks a higher cost of living, so the gap doesn't necessarily translate into more spending power.

Among neighboring states, Wisconsin pays Sonographers slightly more than Illinois, at $102,090 a year, about 1% higher. Indiana and Iowa pay noticeably less, at $85,040 and $86,480 a year, running 16% and 14% below Illinois. Missouri and Kentucky fall in between, at $100,130 and $91,230 a year. A Sonographer's license or registry credential can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which can widen the job search across state lines.

Sonographers in Illinois typically earn $100,660 a year, a figure that has climbed 33% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience, from entry-level positions near $78,350 to top earners above $122,680. Readers considering this career should check Illinois's licensing or registry requirements for specifics on credentialing, and review city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to work.