California · BLS SOC 29-2032

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary in California

Q: How does California diagnostic medical sonographer pay compare to the national average?

California's median of $109,810 is $25,340 above the U.S. national median of $84,470. After adjusting for California's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 113.8), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $96,494.

Q: Where does California pay diagnostic medical sonographers the most?

Top-paying metros in California include San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley at $132,400, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $134,800, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom at $122,100. These metros consistently pay 10–25% above the state median due to higher concentration of large hospital systems and specialty employers.

Median $109,810 · Top 10% earn $153,990+ · Roughly 9,936 workers in California. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

California median: $109,810; $52.79/hr
Top 10%: $153,990; 90th percentile
Bottom 10%: $80,900; Entry-level range
Real pay: $96,494; CoL-adjusted (RPP 113.8)

California pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for diagnostic medical sonographers — $109,810 versus the national median of $84,470. Even after adjusting for California's high cost of living, the real pay still leads the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 9,936 diagnostic medical sonographers.

What drives diagnostic medical sonographer pay in California

California Bay Area sonographers at Stanford, UCSF, and Kaiser earn $130K+ medians — meaningfully above any other state. State has chronic ARDMS-credentialed sonographer shortage.

Top-paying metros in California

California-area metropolitan areas with the highest diagnostic medical sonographer medians.

California metros

10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.

Rank	Metro	Median	Employed
1	San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA	$132,400	1,400
2	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$134,800	700
3	Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$122,100	800
4	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$109,800	3,400

California ranks #1 of 50 states

Where California sits in the national distribution for diagnostic medical sonographer pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank	State	Median	vs. California
#1	California (this page)	$109,810	—
#2	Washington	$104,740	−$5,070
#3	Oregon	$103,050	−$6,760
#4	New York	$102,210	−$7,600

See all 50 states →

Find Diagnostic Medical Sonographer programs near you

We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.

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Education path for California

The typical path is a associate degree in dms, or 1-yr certificate post-rt, taking about 24 months. Tuition ranges from $8,000 (community college) to $45,000 (private accelerated). On the California median of $109,810, payback periods are typically 0.6 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.

For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with California selected.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary in California — FAQ

What is the average diagnostic medical sonographer salary in California?

The median diagnostic medical sonographer salary in California is $109,810 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $80,900; the top 10% earn $153,990 or more. About 9,936 people work in this role across the state.

How does California diagnostic medical sonographer pay compare to the national average?

California's median of $109,810 is $25,340 above the U.S. national median of $84,470. After adjusting for California's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 113.8), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $96,494.

Where does California pay diagnostic medical sonographers the most?

Top-paying metros in California include San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley at $132,400, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $134,800, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom at $122,100. These metros consistently pay 10–25% above the state median due to higher concentration of large hospital systems and specialty employers.

Is diagnostic medical sonographer a good career in California?

On the data: California employs roughly 9,936 diagnostic medical sonographers, with a median wage of $109,810 and the top decile clearing $153,990. The role is projected to grow +11% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.

What's the hourly rate for diagnostic medical sonographers in California?

At the California median of $109,810 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $52.79/hr. The top 10% earn around $74.03/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $38.89/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

California-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 29-2032: Diagnostic Medical Sonographers), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where California's RPP is 113.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.