Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary
The median pay for a diagnostic medical sonographers in Ames, IA is $82,110/year ($39.48/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $92,435 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 22.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $82K get you in Ames?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ames’s Regional Price Parity (88.83). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About diagnostic medical sonographers
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What this looks like in Ames
Pay for diagnostic medical sonographers in Ames runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,153/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.83 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Ames can be a reasonable trade-off for diagnostic medical sonographerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for diagnostic medical sonographers in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $87K | $95K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $83K | $93K |
| Iowa City | $87K | $95K |
| Cedar Rapids | $86K | $97K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ames, IA
Entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $129K | +33% | 10,110 |
| Hawaii | $124K | +29% | 210 |
| Washington | $121K | +26% | 2,190 |
| Oregon | $120K | +24% | 1,210 |
| District of Columbia | $112K | +16% | 160 |
| Colorado | $108K | +12% | 1,430 |
| Massachusetts | $107K | +11% | 2,190 |
| Alaska | $106K | +9% | 140 |
| Vermont | $104K | +8% | 140 |
| New York | $104K | +8% | 6,880 |
| New Hampshire | $104K | +7% | 400 |
| Connecticut | $103K | +7% | 990 |
| New Jersey | $103K | +7% | 3,370 |
| Minnesota | $103K | +6% | 1,710 |
| Wisconsin | $102K | +6% | 1,530 |
| Montana | $101K | +5% | 230 |
| Illinois | $101K | +4% | 3,270 |
| Wyoming | $101K | +4% | 90 |
| Missouri | $100K | +4% | 1,930 |
| Utah | $100K | +4% | 740 |
| Arizona | $100K | +4% | 2,070 |
| Idaho | $100K | +3% | 510 |
| Maryland | $99K | +3% | 1,760 |
| Delaware | $99K | +2% | 220 |
| Kansas | $96K | -0% | 670 |
| Nevada | $96K | -1% | 640 |
| Virginia | $96K | -1% | 2,160 |
| Maine | $95K | -1% | 380 |
| Rhode Island | $93K | -4% | 380 |
| Texas | $93K | -4% | 6,960 |
| Kentucky | $91K | -6% | 940 |
| New Mexico | $87K | -10% | 410 |
| Iowa | $86K | -10% | 740 |
| North Carolina | $86K | -11% | 2,970 |
| Indiana | $85K | -12% | 1,380 |
| North Dakota | $84K | -13% | 240 |
| Oklahoma | $84K | -13% | 1,060 |
| South Carolina | $83K | -14% | 1,340 |
| Georgia | $83K | -14% | 2,700 |
| Florida | $83K | -14% | 6,670 |
| Ohio | $83K | -14% | 3,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $83K | -14% | 2,980 |
| Nebraska | $83K | -14% | 780 |
| Michigan | $82K | -15% | 3,100 |
| Arkansas | $82K | -16% | 640 |
| South Dakota | $81K | -16% | 370 |
| Louisiana | $81K | -16% | 1,150 |
| Tennessee | $81K | -17% | 1,880 |
| West Virginia | $77K | -20% | 780 |
| Mississippi | $77K | -21% | 700 |
| Alabama | $68K | -29% | 1,510 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track diagnostic medical sonographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ames numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a diagnostic medical sonographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,153/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new diagnostic medical sonographers typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,175/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is diagnostic medical sonographer a high-paying job in Ames?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $82K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ames compare to the national average for diagnostic medical sonographers?
Ames pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — below the national median.
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in Ames, IA?
The median is $82,110 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,580, and experienced diagnostic medical sonographers can clear $102,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,158/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 22.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a diagnostic medical sonographers salary go in Ames?
Ames has a Regional Price Parity of 88.83 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median diagnostic medical sonographers salary is worth about $92,435 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do diagnostic medical sonographers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.