Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary
The median pay for a diagnostic medical sonographers in Iowa is $86,480/year ($41.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $97,322 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 19.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $86K actually covers in Iowa, month by month
About diagnostic medical sonographers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Diagnostic medical sonographers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $86K locally vs. $97K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 19.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salary by metro in Iowa
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $87K | +1% | 170 |
| Iowa City | $87K | +1% | 90 |
| Cedar Rapids | $86K | +0% | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $83K | -4% | 100 |
| Ames | $82K | -5% | 30 |
| Sioux City | $81K | -6% | 40 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $81K | -7% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Iowa 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 Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 19.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new diagnostic medical sonographers typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,639/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is diagnostic medical sonographer a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $86K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for diagnostic medical sonographers?
Iowa pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in Iowa?
The median is $86,480 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,480, and experienced diagnostic medical sonographers can clear $101,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,393/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 19.7% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $97,322 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.