Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary
The median pay for a diagnostic medical sonographers in South Carolina is $83,290/year ($40.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $89,396 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $83K get you in South Carolina?
About diagnostic medical sonographers
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for diagnostic medical sonographers in South Carolina runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 24% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, South Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for diagnostic medical sonographerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salary by metro in South Carolina
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $88K | +6% | 210 |
| Florence | $86K | +3% | 80 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $85K | +1% | 320 |
| Columbia | $84K | +1% | 320 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $83K | -0% | 100 |
| Spartanburg | $82K | -1% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track diagnostic medical sonographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a diagnostic medical sonographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 24% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new diagnostic medical sonographers typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,172/month. At HUD’s $1,263/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 South Carolina?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $83K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for diagnostic medical sonographers?
South Carolina pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — below the national median.
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in South Carolina?
The median is $83,290 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,530, and experienced diagnostic medical sonographers can clear $102,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,273/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 24% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $89,396 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.