1Pay
$96,590
High national median pay
2025 national median. Top quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.
Healthcare · Career brief
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Is it a good career to pursue?
The 30-second read
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer at a glance
Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.
2Demand
13.9%
Strong projected growth
Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top 10% for growth among careers on ChooseField.
3Openings
6,000
Moderate opening volume
Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.
4Route in
Associate degree
Usually a two-year-level credential or equivalent route
Associate's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.
5The work
Hands-on
Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments
Observe screen during scan to ensure that image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes, making adjustments to equipment as required.
6The catch
Know this first
What could make this a poor fit
Standing, positioning patients, and moving scanning equipment are part of the work. Ask about assistance with patient transfers.
ChooseField take
The strongest national signals are pay and growth; each ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with an associate-degree path. Main tradeoff: Standing, positioning patients, and moving scanning equipment are part of the work. Ask about assistance with patient transfers.
National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.
Compare Diagnostic Medical Sonographer with another field
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Want the evidence behind the snapshot?
Market and path
Pay, outlook, and the route in
National median pay (2025)
$96,590
A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.
2025–2035 outlook
13.9%employment growth6,000openings per year
Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.
Typical entry route
An associate degree or postsecondary certificate in sonography is typical, with clinical training. Check admission prerequisites, clinical placements, certification eligibility, and state licensing requirements before enrolling.
BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.
BLS qualification guidance · Reviewed September 6, 2026.
2025 employment
92,200
Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.
Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Diagnostic medical sonographers (29-2032).
Actual responsibilities
What you would be trusted to own
Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.
- Observe screen during scan to ensure that image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes, making adjustments to equipment as required.
- Observe and care for patients throughout examinations to ensure their safety and comfort.
- Select appropriate equipment settings and adjust patient positions to obtain the best sites and angles.
- Operate ultrasound equipment to produce and record images of the motion, shape, and composition of blood, organs, tissues, or bodily masses, such as fluid accumulations.
Decision-changing realities
What could make this a poor fit
- Standing, positioning patients, and moving scanning equipment are part of the work. Ask about assistance with patient transfers.
- Most work full time. Hospital coverage may include evenings, weekends, or overnight shifts.
Work profile
What the work emphasizes
O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.
- Assisting and Caring for Others4.3
- Getting Information4.2
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.2
- Documenting/Recording Information4.1
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.1
Interest profile
Career interests
O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.
Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.
- Realistic5.9
- Conventional5.1
- Investigative4.8
- Social4.1
- Enterprising1.5
- Artistic1.3
Preparation
What the training must make you competent at
Subject matter
Physics
Medicine and Dentistry
Computers and Electronics
Psychology
Before choosing the major or training
Run a cheaper test first
- Try an approved first-aid, CPR, patient-care, or health-science workshop. Use supervised training or simulation only.
- Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.
Field-specific evidence
What changes the picture
Current vacancy rate
12.4%
Sonography vacancy rate in ASRT's 2025 staffing survey.
ASRT · 2025 ↗Training pipeline
5,501
Estimated sonography program enrollment in 2025.
ASRT · 2025 ↗The fuller career guide
How the evidence fits together
The tradeoff that matters most
Sonography combines associate-degree entry with strong growth and a documented vacancy rate. The training pipeline is relatively small, which makes workforce supply relevant to the outlook.
Working conditions and hours
Standing, positioning patients, and moving scanning equipment are part of the work. Ask about assistance with patient transfers.
Most work full time. Hospital coverage may include evenings, weekends, or overnight shifts.
BLS: entry routes, workplace, and schedules · Reviewed September 16, 2026. BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections.
Common questions
Questions people ask about this career
Is sonography a good career?
Consider this field if its core work interests you: produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Try an introductory project, class, or permitted observation before committing to training. Compare the actual cost and required experience with entry-level work available where you plan to live.
Ultrasound tech salary
The national median annual wage in May 2025 was $96,590. This is a benchmark rather than an expected starting salary; actual compensation varies by experience, location, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours.
Sonography vs radiologic technology
Consider Diagnostic Medical Sonographer if you want to produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Consider Radiologic Technologist if you would rather take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Compare a sample task and the qualification requirements for each before choosing between them.
Is sonography hard?
It combines anatomy, equipment use, patient positioning, and checking whether images are technically adequate. Ask programs about supervised scanning and clinical assessments, and practitioners about posture, scanning pressure, appointment pacing, and difficult examinations. A vacancy rate does not tell you how the work will feel.
Adjacent options
Compare before committing
The useful question is not whether one field wins overall, but what changes when you choose a nearby path. Explore the full career guides for Nuclear Medicine Technologists, Radiologic Technologist, Registered Nurse, Dental Hygienist.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Median pay
- $101,370
- Growth
- 4.4%
Associate's degree
Compare side by side →Radiologic Technologist
- Median pay
- $80,110
- Growth
- 5%
Associate's degree
Compare side by side →Registered Nurse
- Median pay
- $97,550
- Growth
- 5.6%
Multiple nursing pathways + licensure
Compare side by side →Dental Hygienist
- Median pay
- $98,100
- Growth
- 8%
Associate's degree
Compare side by side →Sources
- BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections and worker characteristics: pay, employment, openings, education, experience, and training for occupation 29-2032.
- O*NET 29-2032.00 occupation summary: tasks, knowledge, work context, and technologies.
- ASRT: 2025.
- ASRT: 2025.