How Much Does a Sonographer Make in Columbia, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for Sonographers in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across South Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical Sonographer in Columbia, South Carolina earns $40.60 per hour, or $84,440 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,037 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $69,530, and the top 10% of earners make over $97,220.
That pay is 1% above the South Carolina figure of $83,290 and 13% below the national figure of $96,590. Columbia ranks 5th of 8 metro areas in South Carolina for Sonographer pay. About 320 Sonographers work in the Columbia area.
Sonographer pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $40.60 an hour, or $84,440 a year.
- That is 1% above the South Carolina figure, ranking 5th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $69,530; the top 10% make over $97,220.
- Typical pay rose +46% from 2015 to 2025, against +40% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Sonographer make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $33.43 an hour to more than $46.74 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
Sonographer pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $69,530$33.43 an hour | $69,530$33.43 an hour | $67,820$32.60 an hour |
| First years | $74,210$35.68 an hour | $77,380$37.20 an hour | $80,430$38.67 an hour |
| Typical Sonographer | $84,440$40.60 an hour | $83,290$40.04 an hour | $96,590$46.44 an hour |
| Experienced | $89,390$42.98 an hour | $96,320$46.31 an hour | $106,930$51.41 an hour |
| Top 10% | $97,220$46.74 an hour | $102,540$49.30 an hour | $129,370$62.20 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
Sonographer pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for Sonographers in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Sonographer pay in Columbia was $57,850 a year. By 2025 it had reached $84,440, a change of +46%, compared with +40% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other South Carolina cities
Gastonia pays Sonographers the most in South Carolina at $98,650 a year, $14,210 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Richmond County at $80,340.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | Sonographers employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastonia metro incl. Concord | $98,650 | $47.43 | +17% | 730 |
| 2 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $88,080 | $42.35 | +4% | 210 |
| 3 | Florence | $85,900 | $41.30 | +2% | 80 |
| 4 | Greenville | $84,530 | $40.64 | 0% | 320 |
| 5 | Columbia | $84,440 | $40.60 | this city | 320 |
| 6 | Myrtle Beach metro incl. Conway · North Myrtle Beach | $83,030 | $39.92 | -2% | 100 |
| 7 | Spartanburg | $82,400 | $39.62 | -2% | 90 |
| 8 | Richmond County | $80,340 | $38.62 | -5% | 160 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with Sonographer wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $83,290
Is Columbia a good place to work as a Sonographer?
Sonographers in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $84,440 a year, 13% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 0.8 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 Columbia, SC?
- A typical Sonographer in Columbia earns $84,440 a year, or $40.60 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $69,530 and the top 10% earn over $97,220.
- How much does a Sonographer make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for Sonographers in Columbia is $40.60. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $33.43, and the top 10% earn over $46.74 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Sonographer in Columbia?
- Entry-level Sonographer positions in Columbia typically offer around $33.43 an hour, or $69,530 a year.
- Is Sonographer pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Columbia pay is 1% above the South Carolina figure of $83,290 a year, ranking 5th of 8 metro areas in the state. Gastonia pays the most in South Carolina at $98,650.