Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary in California: $138,355 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median diagnostic medical sonographer pay sits at $138,355/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2032. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $122,330 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($177,216), Santa Clara ($176,052), San Jose ($173,150).

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California diagnostic medical sonographer salary overview (2026)

$138,355

Avg Median Salary

$66.52

Avg Hourly Rate

12,405

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In California, the projected average median salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in 2026 is $138,355, significantly higher than the national median of $101,352, creating a salary advantage of 36.5%. The disparity between the highest and lowest paying cities is considerable; Sunnyvale leads with a salary of $185,953, while Visalia offers $103,891. This difference can be attributed to factors like the cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and local economic conditions. California requires specific licensure for sonographers, which influences entry into the field, alongside a defined scope of practice that governs their responsibilities. The demand for sonographers is expected to remain strong, driven by an aging population and advances in medical imaging technology. The job market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 4.93%, reflecting continued need for skilled professionals. Other high-paying cities include Santa Clara at $184,731, San Jose at $181,686, Vallejo at $179,609, and Folsom at $172,424. As you consider a career in this field, weigh these regional salary variations and ongoing opportunities in California's healthcare market.

California Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$80,792

avg across 157 cities

Median

$138,355

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$185,369

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $55,099 (lowest entry-level) to $255,968 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$138,355

National Median

$101,352

California diagnostic medical sonographers earn 36.51% more than the national median (+$37,003/year difference).

California Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary Distribution (2026)

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer salaries in California range from $80,792 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $185,369 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $138,355. The California median is $37,003 above the US national median of $101,352. The average hourly rate is $66.52/hr. Approximately 12,405 diagnostic medical sonographers are employed across 157 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$99,761

2025 BLS Actual

$131,855

2026 Current Est.

$138,355

2019–2027 Growth

+45.5%

Salary Trajectory for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.93% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$99,761	Actual
2020	$108,922	Actual
2021	$109,821	Actual
2022	$114,002	Actual
2023	$121,397	Actual
2024	$127,606	Actual
2025	$131,855	Actual
2026(current)	$138,355	Estimated
2027	$145,176	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median diagnostic medical sonographer salary grew 32.2% from $99,761 (2019) to $131,855 (2025). At a 4.93% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $145,176 by 2027 — a total increase of $45,415 (45.52%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.93% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $89.40/hr

$185,953

+34.40% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $88.81/hr

$184,731

+33.52% vs avg

San Jose

500 employed · $87.35/hr

$181,686

+31.32% vs avg

Vallejo

140 employed · $86.36/hr

$179,609

+29.82% vs avg

Folsom

17 employed · $82.89/hr

$172,424

+24.62% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Visalia	$103,891	-24.91%	$49.95
Riverside	$111,079	-19.71%	$53.41
San Bernardino	$111,216	-19.62%	$53.47
Ontario	$112,576	-18.63%	$54.12
Fresno	$113,062	-18.28%	$54.35

Best Value Cities for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for diagnostic medical sonographers.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Vallejo	$179,609	108.479	$165,570
San Jose	$181,686	110.423	$164,536
Sunnyvale	$185,953	113.1	$164,415
Santa Clara	$184,731	113.1	$163,334
Sacramento	$171,267	106.67	$160,558

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$80,792	$38.84	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$138,355	$66.52	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$185,369	$89.12	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$185,953	$89.40	$128,227	$255,968	26
2	Santa Clara	$184,731	$88.81	$125,438	$244,880	32
3	San Jose	$181,686	$87.35	$105,066	$223,511	500
4	Vallejo	$179,609	$86.36	$70,681	$215,621	140
5	Folsom	$172,424	$82.89	$115,957	$226,926	17
6	Oakland	$171,999	$82.70	$115,027	$243,464	78
7	Sacramento	$171,267	$82.34	$107,165	$197,583	610
8	Roseville	$170,562	$82.00	$123,435	$235,757	35
9	Santa Rosa	$169,535	$81.51	$108,372	$216,387	90
10	Fremont	$168,205	$80.87	$106,708	$241,343	43
11	San Francisco	$168,171	$80.85	$99,264	$214,204	1,300
12	Petaluma	$167,914	$80.73	$122,660	$226,176	12
13	Santa Cruz	$149,158	$71.71	$91,488	$183,963	40
14	Modesto	$148,172	$71.24	$84,364	$186,545	200
15	Santa Ana	$144,764	$69.60	$93,654	$200,365	69
16	Fontana	$142,085	$68.31	$92,042	$196,728	32
17	Irvine	$141,928	$68.24	$97,945	$200,398	72
18	Pomona	$141,236	$67.90	$96,824	$189,159	36
19	Simi Valley	$141,158	$67.87	$97,073	$193,777	23
20	Escondido	$141,126	$67.85	$97,139	$188,412	31
21	Fairfield	$140,872	$67.72	$96,416	$187,545	25
22	Fullerton	$140,352	$67.48	$94,810	$191,366	25
23	Daly City	$140,232	$67.42	$94,535	$185,731	20
24	El Monte	$140,188	$67.40	$94,997	$190,798	20
25	Vista	$140,110	$67.37	$94,822	$190,167	24
26	Concord	$140,076	$67.34	$94,747	$190,418	29
27	Redding	$139,914	$67.27	$80,628	$178,538	40
28	Clovis	$139,866	$67.24	$94,271	$184,129	19
29	Garden Grove	$139,724	$67.18	$93,386	$189,209	37
30	Temecula	$139,690	$67.16	$93,871	$183,897	25
31	Santa Clarita	$139,597	$67.11	$96,898	$197,880	41
32	Lancaster	$139,414	$67.03	$93,249	$197,186	40
33	Inglewood	$139,414	$67.03	$93,249	$197,186	21
34	Corona	$139,238	$66.95	$92,712	$196,118	24
35	Richmond	$139,216	$66.93	$92,243	$187,476	25
36	Rialto	$139,150	$66.90	$92,653	$187,251	17
37	Santa Maria	$139,022	$66.84	$102,328	$169,368	100
38	Torrance	$138,972	$66.81	$91,697	$195,654	26
39	Salinas	$138,818	$66.74	$91,909	$195,119	29
40	Elk Grove	$138,708	$66.68	$91,523	$185,388	25
41	Oceanside	$138,674	$66.67	$91,449	$185,186	28
42	Whittier	$138,634	$66.65	$97,828	$182,078	22
43	San Rafael	$138,623	$66.64	$97,661	$181,953	11
44	Rancho Cucamonga	$138,498	$66.59	$91,054	$184,679	46
45	Hayward	$138,421	$66.55	$90,882	$193,385	23
46	Woodland	$138,385	$66.54	$97,104	$186,290	15
47	Buena Park	$138,363	$66.53	$97,195	$181,523	20
48	Encinitas	$138,352	$66.52	$97,169	$181,132	16
49	Downey	$138,344	$66.52	$90,293	$193,481	22
50	Dublin	$138,266	$66.47	$96,968	$181,197	14
51	Redlands	$138,222	$66.45	$96,866	$186,093	16
52	Chino	$138,147	$66.42	$96,548	$180,443	17
53	Westminster	$138,104	$66.40	$96,022	$185,690	21
54	Santa Monica	$138,093	$66.39	$96,422	$180,263	20
55	San Mateo	$138,078	$66.38	$90,120	$192,209	21
56	Tulare	$138,039	$66.37	$96,295	$180,081	17
57	San Buenaventura	$137,990	$66.34	$100,331	$192,266	19
58	Mission Viejo	$137,898	$66.29	$96,110	$179,964	23
59	Moreno Valley	$137,897	$66.29	$93,717	$191,973	53
60	Pleasanton	$137,876	$66.28	$96,058	$184,568	16
61	Pasadena	$137,681	$66.19	$96,236	$190,847	35
62	Santee	$137,584	$66.15	$95,380	$178,916	9
63	Glendale	$137,460	$66.08	$99,118	$190,451	36
64	Mountain View	$137,389	$66.05	$94,928	$178,267	13
65	Pittsburg	$137,379	$66.04	$94,340	$183,242	19
66	Novato	$137,336	$66.02	$94,663	$177,736	11
67	Costa Mesa	$137,283	$66.00	$95,338	$189,847	23
68	Berkeley	$137,140	$65.94	$98,388	$180,473	23
69	Huntington Beach	$137,107	$65.92	$98,725	$193,989	50
70	Jurupa Valley	$136,985	$65.85	$98,448	$188,474	24
71	Hemet	$136,946	$65.84	$93,903	$176,793	14
72	Union City	$136,935	$65.83	$93,878	$176,757	11
73	West Covina	$136,919	$65.82	$98,298	$188,159	25
74	Chino Hills	$136,881	$65.81	$93,613	$181,199	21
75	Gilroy	$136,686	$65.72	$93,305	$189,601	10
76	Stockton	$136,629	$65.69	$87,165	$187,541	140
77	San Marcos	$136,610	$65.68	$92,571	$189,344	17
78	Tustin	$136,491	$65.62	$92,299	$180,268	18
79	San Ramon	$136,480	$65.61	$92,833	$179,883	19
80	Eastvale	$136,350	$65.55	$92,535	$179,449	10
81	Murrieta	$136,345	$65.55	$97,133	$186,302	25
82	Vacaville	$136,345	$65.55	$97,133	$191,732	15
83	Brentwood	$136,285	$65.52	$92,386	$188,239	13
84	Hesperia	$136,221	$65.49	$92,238	$188,020	14
85	Lake Elsinore	$136,210	$65.49	$92,212	$187,634	18
86	Chula Vista	$136,178	$65.47	$86,058	$186,582	51
87	Citrus Heights	$136,036	$65.40	$91,817	$178,754	19
88	San Diego	$136,021	$65.39	$68,509	$176,345	720
89	El Cajon	$135,915	$65.34	$91,727	$185,205	18
90	San Clemente	$135,875	$65.33	$91,308	$186,498	10
91	Bellflower	$135,820	$65.30	$91,324	$186,662	11
92	Palmdale	$135,761	$65.27	$95,677	$189,381	29
93	La Mirada	$135,758	$65.27	$98,494	$172,805	10
94	Apple Valley	$135,733	$65.26	$91,125	$177,400	19
95	Menifee	$135,693	$65.23	$95,665	$184,460	20
96	Yucaipa	$135,637	$65.21	$90,905	$186,041	14
97	Norwalk	$135,627	$65.20	$95,379	$183,884	22
98	Yuba City	$135,572	$65.18	$90,757	$177,210	10
99	Rancho Cordova	$135,507	$65.15	$90,609	$185,256	20
100	Montebello	$135,376	$65.09	$90,314	$185,165	16
101	Compton	$135,323	$65.06	$90,053	$176,041	25
102	Porterville	$135,225	$65.01	$89,971	$176,065	11
103	Lompoc	$135,208	$65.00	$97,309	$171,013	8
104	Hawthorne	$134,998	$64.90	$89,457	$175,315	13
105	Antioch	$134,955	$64.88	$93,874	$186,649	17
106	Burbank	$134,943	$64.88	$89,581	$181,942	22
107	Carlsbad	$134,883	$64.85	$96,312	$185,648	23
108	Lodi	$134,744	$64.78	$97,377	$179,922	14
109	Napa	$134,694	$64.75	$99,549	$182,874	17
110	Alhambra	$134,630	$64.73	$99,398	$182,658	13
111	Livermore	$134,630	$64.73	$94,918	$182,658	21
112	Orange	$134,590	$64.71	$93,197	$180,763	21
113	South Gate	$134,586	$64.70	$98,745	$182,512	25
114	Victorville	$134,557	$64.69	$93,124	$180,302	30
115	West Sacramento	$134,511	$64.67	$98,569	$182,258	9
116	Poway	$134,476	$64.65	$95,559	$168,981	8
117	San Leandro	$134,295	$64.56	$98,480	$186,091	23
118	Indio	$134,144	$64.49	$97,716	$181,032	23
119	Lake Forest	$134,144	$64.49	$97,716	$181,032	14
120	Carson	$133,905	$64.37	$97,714	$185,123	21
121	Rocklin	$133,883	$64.36	$97,664	$185,050	10
122	Newport Beach	$133,656	$64.26	$97,139	$179,410	12
123	Redwood City	$133,645	$64.25	$96,977	$178,948	13
124	Turlock	$133,613	$64.24	$96,902	$183,800	17
125	Manteca	$133,570	$64.22	$96,940	$179,124	13
126	Perris	$133,559	$64.21	$96,368	$179,088	12
127	Madera	$133,451	$64.15	$96,666	$178,388	8
128	Baldwin Park	$133,213	$64.05	$95,982	$177,601	19
129	Palo Alto	$133,213	$64.05	$96,118	$182,802	15
130	Lakewood	$133,158	$64.02	$95,993	$177,763	19
131	Hanford	$132,888	$63.89	$95,237	$176,444	10
132	Beaumont	$132,769	$63.83	$94,557	$176,479	9
133	Merced	$132,747	$63.82	$91,177	$176,406	20
134	Tracy	$132,736	$63.82	$95,027	$176,032	14
135	Alameda	$132,693	$63.80	$94,928	$180,730	12
136	Laguna Niguel	$132,661	$63.78	$94,310	$180,961	16
137	Milpitas	$132,596	$63.74	$94,706	$180,406	16
138	Camarillo	$132,315	$63.61	$94,063	$174,985	13
139	Oakley	$132,260	$63.59	$90,336	$174,736	8
140	Davis	$132,228	$63.57	$93,731	$174,277	14
141	Upland	$132,130	$63.52	$93,104	$179,202	18
142	Oxnard	$131,949	$63.44	$55,099	$174,488	140
143	La Habra	$131,936	$63.43	$93,069	$178,137	16
144	Lynwood	$131,881	$63.41	$93,080	$173,568	16
145	Thousand Oaks	$131,416	$63.18	$95,254	$182,035	32
146	San Luis Obispo	$131,257	$63.10	$67,680	$160,008	40
147	Chico	$129,987	$62.50	$98,613	$158,822	80
148	Brea	$129,631	$62.32	$94,853	$170,537	10
149	Anaheim	$127,549	$61.32	$84,213	$178,788	51
150	Long Beach	$125,734	$60.45	$80,363	$180,892	89
151	Los Angeles	$125,318	$60.25	$59,999	$176,660	3,550
152	Bakersfield	$114,363	$54.98	$72,444	$161,750	180
153	Fresno	$113,062	$54.35	$80,964	$171,970	390
154	Ontario	$112,576	$54.12	$75,863	$152,667	42
155	San Bernardino	$111,216	$53.47	$70,731	$159,519	33
156	Riverside	$111,079	$53.41	$64,322	$158,046	960
157	Visalia	$103,891	$49.95	$80,796	$133,251	90

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore diagnostic medical sonographer hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new diagnostic medical sonographers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced diagnostic medical sonographers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Compare Cities in California

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View all comparisons →

Explore More Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in California in 2026?

The average median diagnostic medical sonographer salary in California is $138,355/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $103,891 in Visalia to $185,953 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 36.51% above the national median of $101,352. The state employs approximately 12,405 diagnostic medical sonographers.

What is the highest paying city for diagnostic medical sonographers in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest diagnostic medical sonographer salary in California at $185,953/year ($89.40/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($185,953), Santa Clara ($184,731), San Jose ($181,686). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for sonography services, and competition among employers for licensed diagnostic medical sonographers.

How does California diagnostic medical sonographer pay compare to the national average?

California's average diagnostic medical sonographer salary of $138,355 is 36.51% above the national median of $101,352 in 2026. The state employs approximately 12,405 diagnostic medical sonographers across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level diagnostic medical sonographer salary in California?

Entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $80,792/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $55,099 in lower-paying areas to $128,227 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many diagnostic medical sonographers are employed in California?

California employs approximately 12,405 diagnostic medical sonographers across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of diagnostic medical sonographers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the sonography field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for diagnostic medical sonographers?

When adjusted for cost of living, Vallejo offers the highest purchasing power for diagnostic medical sonographers in California, with an adjusted salary of $165,570 (nominal: $179,609, CoL index: 108.479). This means your dollar goes 8% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Aisha Khan, RDMS, RVT

Career Analyst

Aisha has over 10 years of experience in abdominal sonography. She works at a regional hospital. Aisha also conducts training for new sonographers.

Clinically reviewed by Liam Johnson, RDMS, RTData verified by Maria Gonzalez, ARDMS, RVT

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 4.93% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 diagnostic medical sonographer compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more diagnostic medical sonographerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.93%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for diagnostic medical sonographers (SOC 29-2032).

Compiled and verified by Aisha Khan, RDMS, RVT, a licensed diagnostic medical sonographer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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