How Much Does a Sonographer Make in Charleston, WV in 2026?
Typical pay for Sonographers in Charleston, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across West Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Charleston metro area
A typical Sonographer in Charleston, West Virginia earns $36.49 per hour, or $75,900 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,325 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,820, and the top 10% of earners make over $97,300.
That pay is 1% below the West Virginia figure of $76,820 and 21% below the national figure of $96,590. Charleston ranks 4th of 5 metro areas in West Virginia for Sonographer pay. About 160 Sonographers work in the Charleston area.
Sonographer pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $36.49 an hour, or $75,900 a year.
- That is 1% below the West Virginia figure, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,820; the top 10% make over $97,300.
- Typical pay rose +38% from 2015 to 2025, against +36% for West Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Sonographer make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $31.17 an hour to more than $46.78 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the West Virginia and national figures.
Sonographer pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $64,820$31.17 an hour | $64,750$31.13 an hour | $67,820$32.60 an hour |
| First years | $65,610$31.55 an hour | $67,500$32.45 an hour | $80,430$38.67 an hour |
| Typical Sonographer | $75,900$36.49 an hour | $76,820$36.93 an hour | $96,590$46.44 an hour |
| Experienced | $81,430$39.15 an hour | $84,100$40.43 an hour | $106,930$51.41 an hour |
| Top 10% | $97,300$46.78 an hour | $99,060$47.63 an hour | $129,370$62.20 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston area as BLS defines it
Sonographer pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for Sonographers in the Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Sonographer pay in Charleston was $55,200 a year. By 2025 it had reached $75,900, a change of +38%, compared with +36% for West Virginia over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other West Virginia cities
Martinsburg pays Sonographers the most in West Virginia at $86,480 a year, $10,580 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Beckley at $67,210.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | Sonographers employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinsburg | $86,480 | $41.58 | +14% | 70 |
| 2 | Wheeling | $78,880 | $37.92 | +4% | 60 |
| 3 | Huntington | $78,830 | $37.90 | +4% | 160 |
| 4 | Charleston | $75,900 | $36.49 | this city | 160 |
| 5 | Beckley | $67,210 | $32.31 | -11% | 50 |
Every metro area in West Virginia with Sonographer wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · West Virginia typical pay $76,820
Is Charleston a good place to work as a Sonographer?
Sonographers in Charleston earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $75,900 a year, 21% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston area, about 1.5 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 Charleston, WV?
- A typical Sonographer in Charleston earns $75,900 a year, or $36.49 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $64,820 and the top 10% earn over $97,300.
- How much does a Sonographer make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for Sonographers in Charleston is $36.49. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $31.17, and the top 10% earn over $46.78 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Sonographer in Charleston?
- Entry-level Sonographer positions in Charleston typically offer around $31.17 an hour, or $64,820 a year.
- Is Sonographer pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of West Virginia?
- Charleston pay is 1% below the West Virginia figure of $76,820 a year, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state. Martinsburg pays the most in West Virginia at $86,480.