How Much Does a Sonographer Make in Bristol, VA 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 Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical Sonographer in Bristol, Virginia 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 21% below the Virginia figure of $95,660 and 22% below the national figure of $96,590. Bristol ranks 8th of 8 metro areas in Virginia for Sonographer pay. About 110 Sonographers work in the Kingsport · Bristol area.
Sonographer pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $36.27 an hour, or $75,440 a year.
- That is 21% below the Virginia figure, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $53,920; the top 10% make over $96,900.
- Typical pay rose +40% from 2015 to 2025, against +37% for Virginia as a whole.
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 Virginia and national figures.
Sonographer pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $53,920$25.92 an hour | $77,540$37.28 an hour | $67,820$32.60 an hour |
| First years | $64,310$30.92 an hour | $82,510$39.67 an hour | $80,430$38.67 an hour |
| Typical Sonographer | $75,440$36.27 an hour | $95,660$45.99 an hour | $96,590$46.44 an hour |
| Experienced | $83,120$39.96 an hour | $103,010$49.53 an hour | $106,930$51.41 an hour |
| Top 10% | $96,900$46.59 an hour | $122,930$59.10 an hour | $129,370$62.20 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
Sonographer pay growth in Bristol
Typical (median) annual wage for Sonographers in the Kingsport · Bristol area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Sonographer pay in Bristol was $54,050 a year. By 2025 it had reached $75,440, a change of +40%, compared with +37% for Virginia over the same years.
How Bristol compares with other Virginia cities
Arlington pays Sonographers the most in Virginia at $105,290 a year, $29,850 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bristol at $75,440.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | Sonographers employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $105,290 | $50.62 | +40% | 1,550 |
| 2 | Richmond | $95,660 | $45.99 | +27% | 440 |
| 3 | Lynchburg | $95,130 | $45.74 | +26% | 60 |
| 4 | Charlottesville | $88,700 | $42.65 | +18% | 100 |
| 5 | Virginia Beach | $86,630 | $41.65 | +15% | 370 |
| 6 | Winchester | $83,470 | $40.13 | +11% | 40 |
| 7 | Roanoke | $83,140 | $39.97 | +10% | 110 |
| 8 | Bristol | $75,440 | $36.27 | this city | 110 |
Every metro area in Virginia with Sonographer wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $95,660
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, VA?
- 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 Virginia?
- Bristol pay is 21% below the Virginia figure of $95,660 a year, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state. Arlington pays the most in Virginia at $105,290.