AR · Fort Smith · Updated October 15, 2026

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs in Fort Smith, AR

Pay for diagnostic medical sonographers in the Fort Smith area centers on $36.65 per hour, or about $76,230 a year. The lower quarter earns under $32.61 and the upper quarter over $37.08. That ranks 228th of 267 U.S. metro areas for diagnostic medical sonographer pay, and 128th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Fort Smith.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay in Fort Smith, AR

The metro median is 3% below the Arkansas statewide median of $37.74 per hour. Nationally the median is $42.95 per hour. BLS counts about 40 diagnostic medical sonographers employed in the Fort Smith metro area, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.68).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$30.97$64,42028% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$32.61$67,83024% below U.S. median
Median$36.65$76,23015% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$37.08$77,13014% below U.S. median
Top 10%$46.41$96,5308% above U.S. median

How Fort Smith ranks

  • 228th of 267 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 128th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th of 4 Arkansas metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SOC 29-2032), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Fort Smith

  • Overall prices in Fort Smith run 14% below the U.S. average (index 85.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 47% below the U.S. average (index 53.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $36.65 median hour buys what $42.67 buys at the national price level, 1% below the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Get the Fort Smith Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay report

Named employers near Fort Smith, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

Get my free pay report

Estimate your Fort Smith paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,319
  • Per year: $65,970
  • Per month: $5,498

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Fort Smith metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Fort Smith

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

Travel diagnostic medical sonographer assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Diagnostic Medical Sonographer roles in Arkansas

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Fort Smith as they open.

Per diemPosted 14 days ago

Sonographer

CommonSpirit Health · Hot Springs, AR

$31.53–$46.90/ hour
  • PRN
  • Req 101408652816
View role

All Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs in Arkansas

Hospitals in Fort Smith

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of diagnostic medical sonographers.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Baptist Health - Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Fayetteville, AR51 mi$38.58/hr103,134
Springdale, AR59 mi$38.58/hr89,368
Rogers, AR68 mi$38.58/hr75,639
Bentonville, AR70 mi$38.58/hr61,791
Broken Arrow, OK92 mi$38.47/hr122,756
Tulsa, OK101 mi$38.47/hr415,154

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs in Arkansas · Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Arkansas

ARDMS or equivalent credential (RDMS, RDCS, RVT). Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Arkansas taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Arkansas state guide

Other healthcare roles in Fort Smith

Fort Smith city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in Fort Smith, AR?

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in the Fort Smith metro area have a median pay of $36.65 per hour, about $76,230 a year. The middle half earn between $32.61 and $37.08 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Fort Smith a good place for diagnostic medical sonographers once cost of living is counted?

Fort Smith ranks 128th of 248 metro areas for diagnostic medical sonographer pay after adjusting for local prices, and 228th of 267 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.

Where do diagnostic medical sonographers work in Fort Smith?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith, led by Mercy Hospital Fort Smith. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Arkansas license to work in Fort Smith as a diagnostic medical sonographer?

ARDMS or equivalent credential (RDMS, RDCS, RVT). Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Fort Smith?

The federal per diem benchmark in Fort Smith is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place diagnostic medical sonographers in Fort Smith?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Fort Smith and across Arkansas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Fort Smith.

Free for every candidate

What do employers near Fort Smith pay diagnostic medical sonographers? Get the report.

Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
    Roles open for you right now

    Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.

Get your free pay report

20+ Diagnostic Medical Sonographer roles in Arkansas, sent free by email

Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.

Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
That email doesn't look quite right.
Please choose your role.
Please enter your city or ZIP.

Free for candidates. No phone number, no cold calls. One-click unsubscribe.

The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · Sonographer near Fort Smith, AR
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Sonographer pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Arkansas list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 5 postings$73.71/ hr$56–$91
  • MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 3 postings$71.30/ hr$57–$99
  • CommonSpirit HealthOXNARD, CA · 5 postings$69.06/ hr$58–$83
  • MultiCareTacoma, WA · 23 postings$64.09/ hr$41–$91

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Arkansas list

2What they are offering now

Low$34Median$47.16High$63

285 Sonographer postings with published pay in the US, 219 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 1 Sonographer roles

  1. SonographerPer diem
    $31.53–$46.90/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Hot Springs, AR · posted 14 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
Check my pay