PayByState

Washington · BLS SOC 29-2032

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary in Washington

Median $104,740 · Top 10% earn $143,500+ · Roughly 1,852 workers in Washington. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Washington median
$104,740
$50.36/hr
Top 10%
$143,500
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$77,160
Entry-level range
Real pay
$95,392
CoL-adjusted (RPP 109.8)

Washington pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for diagnostic medical sonographers — $104,740 versus the national median of $84,470. Real purchasing power is $10,922 above the U.S. average — a clean win. The state employs roughly 1,852 diagnostic medical sonographers.

What drives diagnostic medical sonographer pay in Washington

Washington sonographer pay is high — Seattle academic medical centers and union density push wages above national median.

Top-paying metros in Washington

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

Washington metros

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

Rank Metro Median
1 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $110,400

Washington ranks #2 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Washington
#1 California $109,810 +$5,070
#2 Washington (this page) $104,740
#3 Oregon $103,050 −$1,690
#4 New York $102,210 −$2,530
#5 District of Columbia $102,210 −$2,530

Find Diagnostic Medical Sonographer programs near you

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Education path for Washington

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 Washington median of $104,740, 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 Washington selected.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary in Washington — FAQ

What is the average diagnostic medical sonographer salary in Washington?
The median diagnostic medical sonographer salary in Washington is $104,740 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $77,160; the top 10% earn $143,500 or more. About 1,852 people work in this role across the state.
How does Washington diagnostic medical sonographer pay compare to the national average?
Washington's median of $104,740 is $20,270 above the U.S. national median of $84,470. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 109.8), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $95,392.
Where does Washington pay diagnostic medical sonographers the most?
Top-paying metros in Washington include Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $110,400. 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 Washington?
On the data: Washington employs roughly 1,852 diagnostic medical sonographers, with a median wage of $104,740 and the top decile clearing $143,500. 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 Washington?
At the Washington median of $104,740 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $50.36/hr. The top 10% earn around $68.99/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $37.10/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Washington-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 Washington's RPP is 109.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.