Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs in Chattanooga, TN
The median diagnostic medical sonographer pay in the Chattanooga area is $36.88 per hour ($76,710 a year), with the typical range running from $30.49 to $37.79. That ranks 223rd of 267 U.S. metro areas for diagnostic medical sonographer pay, and 187th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Chattanooga. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Chattanooga.
- $36.88median pay per hour, Chattanooga
- $30–$38typical range per hour
- 230employed in the metro area
- 91cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay in Chattanooga, TN
The metro median is 3% below the Tennessee statewide median of $38.21 per hour. Nationally the median is $42.95 per hour. BLS counts about 230 diagnostic medical sonographers employed in the Chattanooga metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.53).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $23.81 | $49,520 | 45% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $30.49 | $63,420 | 29% below U.S. median |
| Median | $36.88 | $76,710 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $37.79 | $78,600 | 12% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $40.76 | $84,780 | 5% below U.S. median |
How Chattanooga ranks
- 223rd of 267 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 187th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 8th of 8 Tennessee 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 Chattanooga
- Overall prices in Chattanooga run 9% below the U.S. average (index 91.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 23% below the U.S. average (index 76.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $36.88 median hour buys what $40.32 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Chattanooga Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay report
Named employers near Chattanooga, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Chattanooga paycheck
- Per year: $66,384
- Per month: $5,532
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Chattanooga metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Chattanooga
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $117 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,337 |
| 13-week assignment | $17,381 |
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 Chattanooga
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Chattanooga, 3 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of diagnostic medical sonographers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Healthcare System, Inc Chattanooga, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | No |
| Erlanger Medical Center Chattanooga, TN | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Parkridge Medical Center Chattanooga, TN | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Erlanger Behavioral Hospital, Llc Chattanooga, TN | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute Chattanooga, TN | Psychiatric | Government and federal | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, TN | 23 mi | $38.21/hr | 50,232 |
| Huntsville, AL | 85 mi | $31.62/hr | 230,402 |
| Murfreesboro, TN | 86 mi | $39.83/hr | 168,387 |
| Marietta, GA | 87 mi | $41.97/hr | 63,122 |
| Roswell, GA | 87 mi | $41.97/hr | 92,227 |
| Alpharetta, GA | 88 mi | $41.97/hr | 67,275 |
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs in Tennessee · Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Tennessee
ARDMS or equivalent credential (RDMS, RDCS, RVT). Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Tennessee does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.
Other healthcare roles in Chattanooga
Chattanooga city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in Chattanooga, TN?
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in the Chattanooga metro area have a median pay of $36.88 per hour, about $76,710 a year. The middle half earn between $30.49 and $37.79 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Chattanooga a good place for diagnostic medical sonographers once cost of living is counted?
Chattanooga ranks 187th of 248 metro areas for diagnostic medical sonographer pay after adjusting for local prices, and 223rd of 267 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% below the U.S. average.
Where do diagnostic medical sonographers work in Chattanooga?
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Chattanooga, led by Memorial Healthcare System, Inc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Chattanooga as a diagnostic medical sonographer?
ARDMS or equivalent credential (RDMS, RDCS, RVT). Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee 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 Chattanooga?
The federal per diem benchmark in Chattanooga is $117 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,337 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 Chattanooga?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chattanooga and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chattanooga.
What do employers near Chattanooga 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.
Get your free pay report
70+ Diagnostic Medical Sonographer roles in Tennessee, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your Sonographer pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Tennessee 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 Tennessee list
2What they are offering now
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 Sonographer roles
Open Sonographer roles near Chattanooga, TN, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.