How Much Does a Sonographer Make in Wilmington, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Sonographers in Wilmington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Wilmington metro area
A typical Sonographer in Wilmington, North Carolina earns $39.17 per hour, or $81,480 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,790 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $66,890, and the top 10% of earners make over $103,270.
That pay is 5% below the North Carolina figure of $86,010 and 16% below the national figure of $96,590. Wilmington ranks 10th of 12 metro areas in North Carolina for Sonographer pay. About 170 Sonographers work in the Wilmington area.
Sonographer pay in Wilmington at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.17 an hour, or $81,480 a year.
- That is 5% below the North Carolina figure, ranking 10th of 12 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $66,890; the top 10% make over $103,270.
- Typical pay rose +32% from 2015 to 2025, against +34% for North Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Sonographer make in Wilmington?
Pay in Wilmington runs from entry-level positions at around $32.16 an hour to more than $49.65 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Carolina and national figures.
Sonographer pay by career stage in Wilmington
| Career stage | Wilmington | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $66,890$32.16 an hour | $67,070$32.25 an hour | $67,820$32.60 an hour |
| First years | $76,010$36.54 an hour | $77,620$37.32 an hour | $80,430$38.67 an hour |
| Typical Sonographer | $81,480$39.17 an hour | $86,010$41.35 an hour | $96,590$46.44 an hour |
| Experienced | $97,610$46.93 an hour | $100,130$48.14 an hour | $106,930$51.41 an hour |
| Top 10% | $103,270$49.65 an hour | $105,530$50.74 an hour | $129,370$62.20 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Wilmington area as BLS defines it
Sonographer pay growth in Wilmington
Typical (median) annual wage for Sonographers in the Wilmington area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Sonographer pay in Wilmington was $61,730 a year. By 2025 it had reached $81,480, a change of +32%, compared with +34% for North Carolina over the same years.
How Wilmington compares with other North Carolina cities
Greensboro pays Sonographers the most in North Carolina at $98,890 a year, $17,410 more than Wilmington. The lowest-paying area in the state is Greenville at $76,380.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Wilmington | Sonographers employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greensboro metro incl. High Point | $98,890 | $47.54 | +21% | 150 |
| 2 | Charlotte | $98,650 | $47.43 | +21% | 730 |
| 3 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $87,220 | $41.93 | +7% | 250 |
| 4 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $86,630 | $41.65 | +6% | 370 |
| 5 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $86,130 | $41.41 | +6% | 430 |
| 6 | Pinehurst metro incl. Southern Pines | $84,520 | $40.64 | +4% | 40 |
| 7 | Lenoir | $83,510 | $40.15 | +2% | 50 |
| 8 | Rocky Mount | $82,530 | $39.68 | +1% | 30 |
| 9 | Asheville | $81,920 | $39.39 | +1% | 120 |
| 10 | Wilmington | $81,480 | $39.17 | this city | 170 |
| 11 | Fayetteville | $78,860 | $37.92 | -3% | 70 |
| 12 | Greenville | $76,380 | $36.72 | -6% | 120 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Sonographer wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $86,010
Is Wilmington a good place to work as a Sonographer?
Sonographers in Wilmington earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $81,480 a year, 16% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Wilmington area, about 0.9 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 Wilmington, NC?
- A typical Sonographer in Wilmington earns $81,480 a year, or $39.17 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $66,890 and the top 10% earn over $103,270.
- How much does a Sonographer make an hour in Wilmington?
- Typical hourly pay for Sonographers in Wilmington is $39.17. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $32.16, and the top 10% earn over $49.65 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Sonographer in Wilmington?
- Entry-level Sonographer positions in Wilmington typically offer around $32.16 an hour, or $66,890 a year.
- Is Sonographer pay in Wilmington higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Wilmington pay is 5% below the North Carolina figure of $86,010 a year, ranking 10th of 12 metro areas in the state. Greensboro pays the most in North Carolina at $98,890.