Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Working effectively with people by building relationships, understanding others, and responding appropriately.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Sonography programs usually include a clinical component in which students work in a medical facility. Diagnostic medical sonographers typically need at least an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate. Some sonographers need a license or certification.
Education
High school students who are interested in becoming a diagnostic medical sonographer may benefit from taking classes in anatomy, physiology, physics, and math. Two- and 4-year colleges and universities offer associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in sonography. Certificate programs also are available from colleges and some hospitals. Sonography programs usually include courses in anatomy, medical terminology, and applied sciences, as well as specialized instruction in areas such as abdominal or breast sonography. Programs also typically include a clinical component in which students earn credit while working under the direction of an experienced worker in a hospital, a physician’s office, or an imaging laboratory.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Some diagnostic medical sonographers need a state-issued license. Information on state licensing board requirements is available from CareerOneStop. Employers may require or prefer that these workers earn professional certification, which helps to show competency in the field. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. These workers also may need basic life support (BLS) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.
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Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is projected to grow 14 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 6,000 openings for diagnostic medical sonographers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment With an aging population, the need to diagnose medical conditions that affect older adults, such as tumors, will likely increase. As a result, demand for diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow as they use ultrasound technology to help physicians diagnose these conditions. The many and expanding uses of sonography in various medical specialties also is expected to increase employment demand for these workers. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Diagnostic medical sonographers 14% Health technologists and technicians 7% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Do
Diagnostic medical sonographers, also called ultrasound technicians, operate special equipment to create images of inside the body. They work closely with physicians and surgeons, who view the images to assess and diagnose medical conditions.
Duties
Diagnostic medical sonographers typically do the following:
- Prepare patients by explaining the procedure to them and answering their questions
- Prepare exam rooms and maintain diagnostic imaging equipment
- Properly position patients for imaging
- Operate equipment to obtain diagnostic images
- Review images to check for quality and adequate coverage of the areas needed for diagnoses
- Analyze results for abnormalities and other diagnostic information and provide a summary of findings to physicians
- Record findings and keep track of patients’ records
Diagnostic medical sonographers specialize in creating images, known as sonograms or ultrasounds, that depict the body’s organs and tissues. Sonography is often the first imaging test performed when disease is suspected.
Sonography uses high-energy sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. The sonographer uses an instrument called a transducer to scan parts of the patient’s body that are being examined. The transducer emits pulses of sound that bounce back, causing echoes. The echoes form an image on a computer that physicians use for diagnosis.
The following are types of diagnostic medical sonographers:
Abdominal sonographers specialize in imaging a patient’s abdominal cavity and nearby organs, such as the kidney, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. Abdominal sonographers may assist with biopsies or other examinations requiring ultrasound guidance.
Breast sonographers specialize in imaging a patient’s breast tissue. Sonography can confirm the presence of cysts and tumors that may have been detected by the patient, the physician, or a mammogram. Breast sonographers assist with procedures that track tumors and help to provide information that will aid physicians in making decisions about treatment options for breast cancer patients.
Cardiac sonographers (echocardiographers) specialize in imaging a patient’s heart. They use ultrasound equipment to examine the heart’s chambers, valves, and vessels. An echocardiogram may be performed either while the patient is resting or after the patient has been physically active. Cardiac sonographers also may take echocardiograms of fetal hearts so that physicians can diagnose cardiac conditions during pregnancy.
Musculoskeletal sonographers specialize in imaging muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. These sonographers may assist with ultrasound guidance for injections, or during surgical procedures, that deliver medication or treatment directly to affected tissues.
Pediatric sonographers specialize in imaging of children and infants. Many of the medical conditions they image are associated with premature births or birth defects. Pediatric sonographers may work closely with pediatricians and other caregivers.
Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers specialize in imaging the female reproductive system. For example, many pregnant women receive sonograms to track the baby’s growth and health.
Vascular technologists (vascular sonographers) create images of blood vessels and collect data that help physicians diagnose disorders affecting blood flow. Vascular technologists often evaluate blood flow and identify blocked arteries or blood clots.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Diagnostic medical sonographers held about 92,200 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of diagnostic medical sonographers were as follows:
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 58% |
| Offices of physicians | 21 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 11 |
| Outpatient care centers | 5 |
| Self-employed workers | 1 |
Diagnostic medical sonographers complete most of their work at diagnostic imaging machines in dimly lit rooms. They may need to stand for long periods and to lift or turn patients who are ill or disabled.
Diagnostic medical sonographers work as part of a team that includes physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, and other healthcare workers.
Work Schedules
Most diagnostic medical sonographers work full time. Because they may work in medical facilities that are always open, they may have shifts that include evenings, weekends, or overnights.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Diagnostic medical sonographers must be able to explain procedures to patients in an understandable way. They also must convey information clearly when discussing images with physicians and other members of the healthcare team. Detail oriented. Diagnostic medical sonographers must follow precise instructions to obtain the images needed to diagnose and treat patients. They also must pay attention to the images they produce, because healthy and unhealthy areas may be subtle. Hand–eye coordination. To get quality images, diagnostic medical sonographers must accurately move equipment on the patient’s body in response to what they see on the screen. Interpersonal skills. Diagnostic medical sonographers work closely with patients, including those who may be in pain, so they should be patient and understanding. They also must be able to work well with others on the healthcare team. Physical stamina. Diagnostic medical sonographers stand for long periods and must be able to lift and move patients who need assistance. Technical skills. Diagnostic medical sonographers must understand how to operate complex machinery and computerized instruments.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about diagnostic medical sonographers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.