Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary in California
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California earn a median of $58.09 per hour, about $120,840 a year, 35% above the U.S. median of $42.95. The middle half earn between $41.37 and $74.42 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $82.02 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $58.09median pay per hour
- $120,840median pay per year
- 9,240employed in California
- #2of 50 states by median pay
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $28.00 | $58,240 | $31.13 |
| Lower quartile | $41.37 | $86,050 | $37.54 |
| Median | $58.09 | $120,840 | $42.95 |
| Upper quartile | $74.42 | $154,790 | $49.82 |
| Top 10% | $83.55 | $173,780 | $59.22 |
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $82.02 | $170,600 | 490 | 41% above | $74.28 |
| Vallejo, CA | $79.34 | $165,020 | 110 | 37% above | $73.14 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $77.45 | $161,090 | 1,170 | 33% above | $66.99 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $75.79 | $157,640 | 590 | 30% above | $71.05 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $73.07 | $151,980 | 40 | 26% above | $66.49 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $69.11 | $143,750 | 90 | 19% above | $64.12 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $67.78 | $140,980 | 90 | 17% above | $62.30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $62.23 | $129,440 | 570 | 7% above | $55.62 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $61.41 | $127,720 | 50 | 6% above | $56.55 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59.96 | $124,720 | 130 | 3% above | $57.06 |
| Modesto, CA | $59.78 | $124,330 | 150 | 3% above | $57.42 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58.11 | $120,880 | 130 | in line with | $52.57 |
| Merced, CA | $56.36 | $117,220 | 40 | 3% below | $57.35 |
| Salinas, CA | $55.29 | $115,010 | 60 | 5% below | $50.71 |
| Chico, CA | $52.41 | $109,010 | 60 | 10% below | $51.79 |
| Redding, CA | $51.86 | $107,870 | 40 | 11% below | $51.51 |
| Fresno, CA | $50.16 | $104,320 | 300 | 14% below | $49.10 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $49.28 | $102,510 | 190 | 15% below | $48.85 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $49.16 | $102,250 | 840 | 15% below | $46.18 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48.95 | $101,820 | 3,470 | 16% below | $43.10 |
| Visalia, CA | $46.17 | $96,040 | 80 | 21% below | $46.25 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 30roles with published pay
- $57.41median pay per hour
- $30–$75typical published range
- 11employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| RadNet | 10 | $32.50 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 5 | $69.06 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 3 | $63.34 |
| MarinHealth | 3 | $71.30 |
| Kaweah Delta Health Care District | 2 | $58.05 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 2 | $46.72 |
| Stanford Children's Health | 1 | $83.12 |
| Emanate Health | 1 | $48.50 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 30 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs in California · Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a diagnostic medical sonographer make in California?
The median is $58.09 per hour, about $120,840 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $28.00 and the top 10% earn over $83.55 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays diagnostic medical sonographers the most?
Among California metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median at $82.02 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for diagnostic medical sonographer pay?
California ranks 2nd of 50 states by median diagnostic medical sonographer pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you pay diagnostic medical sonographers? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
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The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
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Your Sonographer pay reportCalifornia · 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
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.