How Much Does a Sonographer Make in North Carolina in 2026?

A typical Sonographer in North Carolina earns about $41.35 per hour ($86,010 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $7,168 a month or $1,654 a week, calculated from the annual figure. Pay varies by city, employer, and years of experience across the state.

That figure sits 11% below the national figure of $96,590, placing North Carolina 34th among the 51 states and territories tracked for this occupation. About 2,970 Sonographers work in North Carolina, a modest workforce compared with many larger states. The gap with the national figure often reflects a lower cost of living in much of the state.

Entry-level positions in North Carolina typically offer around $32.25 an hour, or about $67,070 a year. That figure reflects Sonographers who are newer to the field or working in lower-paying settings. Pay tends to move toward the state typical figure of $86,010 within a few years of steady experience.

Experienced Sonographers in North Carolina often earn upwards of $48.14 an hour ($100,130 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $105,530 a year, or $50.74 an hour. That leaves a spread of $38,460 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years of experience, and city typically separate the two groups, with hospital and specialty roles often paying more than smaller clinics.

North Carolina Sonographer pay rose from $64,370 in 2015 to $86,010 in 2025. That is a gain of $21,640 over the decade, or 34%. The increase was steady across most years, with the largest single-year jumps coming between 2020 and 2023 as pay climbed from $70,400 to $81,500.

That 34% rise trails the national decade increase of 40%, meaning pay in North Carolina grew somewhat more slowly than the country as a whole over the same stretch. For someone starting now, this reflects a pattern of pay moving upward over time, though it makes no promises about future rises. Sonographers weighing options across state lines can compare this pay history against current figures elsewhere.

Sonographer pay runs highest around Greensboro, where the typical figure is $98,890 a year (these are metro-area figures), about 15% above the state figure of $86,010. High Point, part of the same metro area, matches that figure exactly. Charlotte follows closely at $98,650 a year, or $47.43 an hour.

Greenville pays the least among the state's tracked cities, with a typical figure of $76,380 a year, or $36.72 an hour. That leaves a spread of $22,510 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities in North Carolina. Charlotte has the largest Sonographer workforce in the state, with about 730 employed there. Higher pay in cities like Greensboro and Charlotte typically comes with a higher cost of living.

North Carolina's Sonographer pay falls between its neighbors. Virginia pays more, with a typical figure of $95,660 a year, about 11% above North Carolina's figure. South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee all pay less, with Tennessee's $80,640 running about 6% below North Carolina. Sonography licensure or registry credentials earned in one state can often be endorsed into a neighboring state, easing a move across the border.

Sonographers in North Carolina typically earn $86,010 a year, up 34% over the past decade from $64,370 in 2015. Pay varies by city and experience, with entry-level positions starting lower and top earners well above the state figure. Readers weighing a move or a new license should check North Carolina's licensing or registry requirements and review city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to work.