U.S. salary & occupation data · BLS sourcedSer. 2026
Salary GuideSOC 29-2032
Ultrasound vs MRI Tech Salary: BLS May 2025 Medians
May 2025 BLS medians: diagnostic medical sonographers $96,590, MRI technologists $95,480. Percentiles, jobs, outlook, and training compared.
Last updated 2026-10-29 · Wage data: May 2025 (BLS)
Key figures
Diagnostic medical sonographers earned a median of $96,590 a year in May 2025 and MRI technologists $95,480, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — a $1,110 edge to sonography on national medians despite MRI’s higher projected growth rate (8% vs 5% for radiologic technologists through 2035). Sonographers numbered about 92,200 jobs in 2025; MRI technologists about 43,900. Both occupations typically require an associate’s degree, but credentialing runs through different bodies (ARDMS for sonography, ARRT for MRI).
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: Annual Wage by Percentile (May 2025, U.S. national)
Enter your own pay as a diagnostic medical sonographers, either annual or hourly, and this tool locates it against the BLS wage percentiles above.
If you moved industries
These are published industry medians for diagnostic medical sonographers, not a personalized prediction for your salary.
BLS publishes a median hourly wage of $46.44 for this occupation; that real figure is used as the hourly reference. Your own hourly-to-annual conversion assumes 2,080 hours/year (BLS full-time convention).
Sonography uses high-frequency sound waves; MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves. BLS profiles sonographers separately from the combined radiologic/MRI handbook chapter.
Employers commonly expect ARDMS certification for sonography and ARRT MR certification for MRI, often after radiography experience. See how to become an ultrasound tech and MRI tech salary.
Frequently asked questions
Who earns more, ultrasound or MRI techs?
On May 2025 national medians, sonographers were $1,110 higher ($96,590 vs $95,480). Local employers and shift differentials can invert that gap.
Is ultrasound or MRI tech growing faster?
BLS projects 12% growth for sonographers and 8% for MRI technologists from 2025 to 2035 — both faster than the all-occupations average.
WageLark Editorial, “Ultrasound vs MRI Tech Salary: BLS May 2025 Medians,” WageLark, published October 29, 2026, https://wagelark.com/ultrasound-tech-vs-mri-tech-salary/.
This page reports government wage statistics for informational purposes. It is not personalized career, financial, or legal advice, and does not endorse or recommend any specific employer, school, or training program.
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