Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary
The median pay for a diagnostic medical sonographers in Columbia, MO is $88,540/year ($42.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.44), which stretches that salary to about $98,994 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,160/month, or 20.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $89K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (89.44). 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 Columbia
Diagnostic medical sonographers pay in Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $89K locally vs. $97K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,160/month, 20.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.44 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for diagnostic medical sonographers in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $99K | $104K |
| Kansas City | $100K | $109K |
| Springfield | $81K | $92K |
| Joplin | $82K | $96K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, MO
Entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $98K 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track diagnostic medical sonographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a diagnostic medical sonographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 20.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,160/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new diagnostic medical sonographers typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,875/month. At HUD’s $1,160/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is diagnostic medical sonographer a high-paying job in Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $89K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for diagnostic medical sonographers?
Columbia pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $99K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in Columbia, MO?
The median is $88,540 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,590, and experienced diagnostic medical sonographers can clear $97,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,603/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,160/month, which eats 20.7% 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 Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.44 (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 $98,994 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.