Healthcare
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.
Median salary (BLS)
$96,590
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$68k – $129k
Job outlook
+13% (much faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $93,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Entry / Junior
$67,820
~2 yrs to advance
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Established
$96,590
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Senior
$112,980
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
- •Provide sonogram and oral or written summary of technical findings to physician for use in medical diagnosis.
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Healthcare
Explore all- Johns Hopkins University7% admit · $93,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- Duke University6% admit · $105,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.