Sonographers often work with obstetricians and gynecologists.
Medical sonographers are responsible for using a variety of sound-wave-producing devices to aid in medical diagnosis and assessment. These workers are often found in hospitals and doctor's offices, though they can also work in health clinics and even nursing homes or other care facilities. These workers sometimes specialize in a field, such as gynecology or neurosonographhy, and they have widely varying salaries.
National Averages
There were about 51,630 medical sonographers in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Medical sonographers earned an average salary of $30.60 per hour, or $63,640 per year. The highest-earning sonographers, those in the top 10th percentile, made an average wage of $41.32 per hour, or $85,950 per year, while those in the lowest 10th percentile made $21.15 per hour, or $43,990 per year.
Most Common Industries
The industry sector employing the most medical sonographers in 2009 was the "general medical and surgical hospitals" sector, where these workers earned an average of $30.66 per hour, or $63,770 per year, according to the BLS. About 13,290 sonographers were employed in the second most common industry, "offices of physicians," earning an average of $30.68 per hour, or $63,820 per year.
Highest-Paying Industries
The "employment services" sector of the industry had the highest average salaries for medical sonographers in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with these workers making an average of $32.70 per hour, or $68,020 per year. The industry sector with the second-highest average salary, "management of companies and enterprises," had average wages of $32.64 per hour, or $67,890 per year.
Geographic Differences
The BLS reports that the five states with the highest average medical sonographer salaries in 2009 were: Massachusetts, Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Alaska. Sonographers in Massachusetts earned an average income of $37.72 per hour, or $78,460 per year, while those in Alaska made an average of $36.30 per hour, or $75,500 per year. Santa Cruz, Calif., was the city with the highest average wages of any city for medical sonographers, with workers earning an average of $46.89 per hour, or $97,530 per year.
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