How Much Does a Sonographer Make in Chicago, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for Sonographers in Chicago, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Illinois.
BLS OES May 2025 · Chicago · Naperville · Elgin metro area
A typical Sonographer in Chicago, Illinois earns $49.56 per hour, or $103,080 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,590 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $82,660, and the top 10% of earners make over $123,990.
That pay is 2% above the Illinois figure of $100,660 and 7% above the national figure of $96,590. Chicago ranks 1st of 7 metro areas in Illinois for Sonographer pay. About 2,280 Sonographers work in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area.
Sonographer pay in Chicago at a glance
- Typical pay is $49.56 an hour, or $103,080 a year.
- That is 2% above the Illinois figure, ranking 1st of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $82,660; the top 10% make over $123,990.
- Typical pay rose +31% from 2015 to 2025, against +33% for Illinois as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Sonographer make in Chicago?
Pay in Chicago runs from entry-level positions at around $39.74 an hour to more than $59.61 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
Sonographer pay by career stage in Chicago
| Career stage | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $82,660$39.74 an hour | $78,350$37.67 an hour | $67,820$32.60 an hour |
| First years | $93,590$44.99 an hour | $85,230$40.97 an hour | $80,430$38.67 an hour |
| Typical Sonographer | $103,080$49.56 an hour | $100,660$48.40 an hour | $96,590$46.44 an hour |
| Experienced | $112,840$54.25 an hour | $107,330$51.60 an hour | $106,930$51.41 an hour |
| Top 10% | $123,990$59.61 an hour | $122,680$58.98 an hour | $129,370$62.20 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area as BLS defines it
Sonographer pay growth in Chicago
Typical (median) annual wage for Sonographers in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Sonographer pay in Chicago was $78,520 a year. By 2025 it had reached $103,080, a change of +31%, compared with +33% for Illinois over the same years.
How Chicago compares with other Illinois cities
Chicago pays Sonographers the most of any metro area in Illinois. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rock Island at $82,870.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chicago | Sonographers employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $103,080 | $49.56 | this city | 2,280 |
| 2 | Champaign metro incl. Urbana | $100,420 | $48.28 | -3% | 100 |
| 3 | Springfield | $98,470 | $47.34 | -4% | 120 |
| 4 | Rockford | $95,020 | $45.69 | -8% | 110 |
| 5 | Bloomington | $93,860 | $45.12 | -9% | 50 |
| 6 | Peoria | $92,090 | $44.28 | -11% | 170 |
| 7 | Moline metro incl. Rock Island | $82,870 | $39.84 | -20% | 100 |
Every metro area in Illinois with Sonographer wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $100,660
Is Chicago a good place to work as a Sonographer?
Sonographers in Chicago earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $103,080 a year, 7% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area, about 0.5 are Sonographer positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.6. Sonographer jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Sonographer make in Chicago, IL?
- A typical Sonographer in Chicago earns $103,080 a year, or $49.56 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $82,660 and the top 10% earn over $123,990.
- How much does a Sonographer make an hour in Chicago?
- Typical hourly pay for Sonographers in Chicago is $49.56. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $39.74, and the top 10% earn over $59.61 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Sonographer in Chicago?
- Entry-level Sonographer positions in Chicago typically offer around $39.74 an hour, or $82,660 a year.
- Is Sonographer pay in Chicago higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Chicago pay is 2% above the Illinois figure of $100,660 a year, ranking 1st of 7 metro areas in the state.