Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary
The median pay for a diagnostic medical sonographers in Tennessee is $80,640/year ($38.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $89,820 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in Tennessee?
About diagnostic medical sonographers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for diagnostic medical sonographers in Tennessee runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for diagnostic medical sonographerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salary by metro in Tennessee
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $90K | +11% | 500 |
| Memphis | $83K | +3% | 390 |
| Jackson | $82K | +2% | 90 |
| Knoxville | $79K | -2% | 280 |
| Johnson City | $79K | -2% | 90 |
| Chattanooga | $79K | -2% | 190 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $75K | -6% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track diagnostic medical sonographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a diagnostic medical sonographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new diagnostic medical sonographers typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,733/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is diagnostic medical sonographer a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $81K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for diagnostic medical sonographers?
Tennessee pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in Tennessee?
The median is $80,640 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,220, and experienced diagnostic medical sonographers can clear $101,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,426/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 22.4% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $89,820 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.