How Much Does a Sonographer Make in Charlottesville, VA in 2026?
Typical pay for Sonographers in Charlottesville, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Charlottesville metro area
A typical Sonographer in Charlottesville, Virginia earns $42.65 per hour, or $88,700 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,392 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,820, and the top 10% of earners make over $138,450.
That pay is 7% below the Virginia figure of $95,660 and 8% below the national figure of $96,590. Charlottesville ranks 4th of 8 metro areas in Virginia for Sonographer pay. About 100 Sonographers work in the Charlottesville area.
Sonographer pay in Charlottesville at a glance
- Typical pay is $42.65 an hour, or $88,700 a year.
- That is 7% below the Virginia figure, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,820; the top 10% make over $138,450.
- Typical pay rose +46% from 2015 to 2025, against +37% for Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Sonographer make in Charlottesville?
Pay in Charlottesville runs from entry-level positions at around $33.09 an hour to more than $66.56 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Virginia and national figures.
Sonographer pay by career stage in Charlottesville
| Career stage | Charlottesville | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $68,820$33.09 an hour | $77,540$37.28 an hour | $67,820$32.60 an hour |
| First years | $84,330$40.54 an hour | $82,510$39.67 an hour | $80,430$38.67 an hour |
| Typical Sonographer | $88,700$42.65 an hour | $95,660$45.99 an hour | $96,590$46.44 an hour |
| Experienced | $110,040$52.90 an hour | $103,010$49.53 an hour | $106,930$51.41 an hour |
| Top 10% | $138,450$66.56 an hour | $122,930$59.10 an hour | $129,370$62.20 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charlottesville area as BLS defines it
Sonographer pay growth in Charlottesville
Typical (median) annual wage for Sonographers in the Charlottesville area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Sonographer pay in Charlottesville was $60,680 a year. By 2025 it had reached $88,700, a change of +46%, compared with +37% for Virginia over the same years.
How Charlottesville compares with other Virginia cities
Arlington pays Sonographers the most in Virginia at $105,290 a year, $16,590 more than Charlottesville. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bristol at $75,440.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charlottesville | Sonographers employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $105,290 | $50.62 | +19% | 1,550 |
| 2 | Richmond | $95,660 | $45.99 | +8% | 440 |
| 3 | Lynchburg | $95,130 | $45.74 | +7% | 60 |
| 4 | Charlottesville | $88,700 | $42.65 | this city | 100 |
| 5 | Virginia Beach | $86,630 | $41.65 | -2% | 370 |
| 6 | Winchester | $83,470 | $40.13 | -6% | 40 |
| 7 | Roanoke | $83,140 | $39.97 | -6% | 110 |
| 8 | Bristol | $75,440 | $36.27 | -15% | 110 |
Every metro area in Virginia with Sonographer wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $95,660
Is Charlottesville a good place to work as a Sonographer?
Sonographers in Charlottesville earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $88,700 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville, VA?
- A typical Sonographer in Charlottesville earns $88,700 a year, or $42.65 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $68,820 and the top 10% earn over $138,450.
- How much does a Sonographer make an hour in Charlottesville?
- Typical hourly pay for Sonographers in Charlottesville is $42.65. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $33.09, and the top 10% earn over $66.56 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Sonographer in Charlottesville?
- Entry-level Sonographer positions in Charlottesville typically offer around $33.09 an hour, or $68,820 a year.
- Is Sonographer pay in Charlottesville higher than in the rest of Virginia?
- Charlottesville pay is 7% below the Virginia figure of $95,660 a year, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state. Arlington pays the most in Virginia at $105,290.