PermanentPosted 10 days ago
REI Sonographer (0.8 FTE)
Stanford Children's Health · Sunnyvale, CA
$77.90–$88.35/ hour
Top 25% pay
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs in Palo Alto, CA
The median diagnostic medical sonographer pay in the Palo Alto area is $82.02 per hour ($170,600 a year), with the typical range running from $68.12 to $88.35. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Palo Alto and its metro area. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Palo Alto. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Palo Alto.
- $82.02median pay per hour, San Jose
- $68–$88typical range per hour
- 490employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Diagnostic Medical Sonographer roles near Palo Alto
Roles in other cities of the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area.
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75+ more Diagnostic Medical Sonographer roles for you in Palo Alto, CA
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More open Diagnostic Medical Sonographer roles in Palo Alto
2 more open roles from employers in Palo Alto. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Sonographer
Sutter Health · Palo Alto, CA
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 24 days ago
Ophthalmic Sonographer - Eye Clinic Watson - Full Time(SEIU)
Stanford Health Care · Palo Alto, CA
Pay range with your report
Get the Palo Alto Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay report
Named employers near Palo Alto, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportDiagnostic Medical Sonographer pay in Palo Alto, CA
The metro median is 41% above the California statewide median of $58.09 per hour. Nationally the median is $42.95 per hour. BLS counts about 490 diagnostic medical sonographers employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.77).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $46.01 | $95,700 | 7% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $68.12 | $141,690 | 59% above U.S. median |
| Median | $82.02 | $170,600 | 91% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $88.35 | $183,770 | 106% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $98.93 | $205,770 | 130% above U.S. median |
How Palo Alto ranks
- 1st of 267 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 1st of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 21 California 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 Palo Alto
- Overall prices in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara run 10% above the U.S. average (index 110.4, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 112% above the U.S. average (index 211.9).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $82.02 median hour buys what $74.28 buys at the national price level, 73% above 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.
Estimate your Palo Alto paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,953
- Per year: $147,636
- Per month: $12,303
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Palo Alto
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $192 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,988 |
| 13-week assignment | $25,844 |
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. 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).
Hospitals in Palo Alto
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Palo Alto, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of diagnostic medical sonographers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto Va Medical Center Palo Alto, CA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hsp At Stanford Palo Alto, CA | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View, CA | 4 mi | $82.02/hr | 87,316 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 6 mi | $82.02/hr | 156,792 |
| Redwood City, CA | 9 mi | $77.45/hr | 82,982 |
| Fremont, CA | 13 mi | $77.45/hr | 228,192 |
| San Mateo, CA | 15 mi | $77.45/hr | 103,006 |
| Union City, CA | 16 mi | $77.45/hr | 66,196 |
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs in California · Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
ARDMS or equivalent credential (RDMS, RDCS, RVT). Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Palo Alto
Palo Alto city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in Palo Alto, CA?
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area have a median pay of $82.02 per hour, about $170,600 a year. The middle half earn between $68.12 and $88.35 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Palo Alto a good place for diagnostic medical sonographers once cost of living is counted?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks 1st of 248 metro areas for diagnostic medical sonographer pay after adjusting for local prices, and 1st of 267 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring diagnostic medical sonographers in Palo Alto?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Palo Alto.
Do I need a California license to work in Palo Alto as a diagnostic medical sonographer?
ARDMS or equivalent credential (RDMS, RDCS, RVT). Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California 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 Palo Alto?
The federal per diem benchmark in Palo Alto is $192 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,988 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 Palo Alto?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Palo Alto and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Palo Alto.
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What do employers near Palo Alto 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.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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230+ Diagnostic Medical Sonographer roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Sonographer pay reportPalo Alto, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 3 postings$71.30/ hr$57–$99
- CommonSpirit HealthOXNARD, CA · 5 postings$69.06/ hr$58–$83
- Sharp HealthCareChula Vista, CA · 3 postings$63.34/ hr$55–$77
- Kaweah Delta Health Care DistrictVisalia, CA · 2 postings$58.05/ hr$46–$71
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$30Median$57.41High$76
30 Sonographer postings with published pay in California, 28 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 30 Sonographer roles
- MFM Sonographer lPermanent$45.53–$68.30/ hour
- Ultrasound TechnicianPermanent$39.00–$54.45/ hour
+ 28 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.