Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary
The median pay for a diagnostic medical sonographers in Illinois is $100,660/year ($48.4/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $107,256 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $101K actually covers in Illinois, month by month
About diagnostic medical sonographers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Diagnostic medical sonographers pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $97K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 22.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salary by metro in Illinois
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $103K | +2% | 2,280 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $100K | -0% | 100 |
| Springfield | $98K | -2% | 120 |
| Rockford | $95K | -6% | 110 |
| Bloomington | $94K | -7% | 50 |
| Peoria | $92K | -9% | 170 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a diagnostic medical sonographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 22.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new diagnostic medical sonographers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,969/month. At HUD’s $1,407/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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for diagnostic medical sonographers?
Illinois pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in Illinois?
The median is $100,660 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,350, and experienced diagnostic medical sonographers can clear $122,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,185/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 22.7% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $107,256 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.