Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary
The median pay for a diagnostic medical sonographers in Chico, CA is $123,880/year ($59.56/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $94K at the entry level to $151K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.2), that's roughly $122,411 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,625/month, or 22.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $124K get you in Chico?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chico’s Regional Price Parity (101.2). 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 Chico
Chico sits well above the national pay line for diagnostic medical sonographers, local pay runs about 28% higher than the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,625/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 101.2) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Chico offers a genuinely strong financial position for diagnostic medical sonographerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for diagnostic medical sonographers in metros near Chico, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $119K | $105K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $160K | $139K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $106K | $99K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $130K | $116K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chico, CA
Entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers (10th percentile) start around $94K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $151K or more, a $57K 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track diagnostic medical sonographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a diagnostic medical sonographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chico?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,625/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in Chico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new diagnostic medical sonographers typically earn — is $94K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,639/month. At HUD’s $1,625/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is diagnostic medical sonographer a high-paying job in Chico?
Local pay is 28% above the national median — $124K here vs. $97K nationally.
How does Chico compare to the national average for diagnostic medical sonographers?
Chico pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s +28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $122K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in Chico, CA?
The median is $123,880 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $93,980, and experienced diagnostic medical sonographers can clear $151,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Chico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,314/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,625/month, which eats 22.2% 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 Chico?
Chico has a Regional Price Parity of 101.2 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median diagnostic medical sonographers salary is worth about $122,411 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.