How Much Does a Sonographer Make in Bristol, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for Sonographers in Bristol, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical Sonographer in Bristol, Tennessee earns $36.27 per hour, or $75,440 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,287 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $53,920, and the top 10% of earners make over $96,900.
That pay is 6% below the Tennessee figure of $80,640 and 22% below the national figure of $96,590. Bristol ranks 7th of 7 metro areas in Tennessee for Sonographer pay. About 110 Sonographers work in the Kingsport · Bristol area. Bristol is part of the Kingsport · Bristol metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Kingsport share these figures.
Sonographer pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $36.27 an hour, or $75,440 a year.
- That is 6% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 7th of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $53,920; the top 10% make over $96,900.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Sonographer make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $25.92 an hour to more than $46.59 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
Sonographer pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $53,920$25.92 an hour | $62,220$29.91 an hour | $67,820$32.60 an hour |
| First years | $64,310$30.92 an hour | $72,320$34.77 an hour | $80,430$38.67 an hour |
| Typical Sonographer | $75,440$36.27 an hour | $80,640$38.77 an hour | $96,590$46.44 an hour |
| Experienced | $83,120$39.96 an hour | $94,390$45.38 an hour | $106,930$51.41 an hour |
| Top 10% | $96,900$46.59 an hour | $101,830$48.96 an hour | $129,370$62.20 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
How Bristol compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays Sonographers the most in Tennessee at $89,710 a year, $14,270 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Kingsport at $75,440.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | Sonographers employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $89,710 | $43.13 | +19% | 500 |
| 2 | Memphis | $82,930 | $39.87 | +10% | 390 |
| 3 | Jackson | $82,000 | $39.42 | +9% | 90 |
| 4 | Knoxville | $79,360 | $38.15 | +5% | 280 |
| 5 | Johnson City | $78,970 | $37.97 | +5% | 90 |
| 6 | Chattanooga | $78,670 | $37.82 | +4% | 190 |
| 7 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $75,440 | $36.27 | this city | 110 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with Sonographer wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $80,640
Is Bristol a good place to work as a Sonographer?
Sonographers in Bristol earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $75,440 a year, 22% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol 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 Bristol, TN?
- A typical Sonographer in Bristol earns $75,440 a year, or $36.27 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $53,920 and the top 10% earn over $96,900.
- How much does a Sonographer make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for Sonographers in Bristol is $36.27. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $25.92, and the top 10% earn over $46.59 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Sonographer in Bristol?
- Entry-level Sonographer positions in Bristol typically offer around $25.92 an hour, or $53,920 a year.
- Is Sonographer pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Bristol pay is 6% below the Tennessee figure of $80,640 a year, ranking 7th of 7 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $89,710.