Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Salary
The median pay for a diagnostic medical sonographers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $86,630/year ($41.65/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.94), that's roughly $88,452 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,713/month, about 31.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $87K get you in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk’s Regional Price Parity (97.94). 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Diagnostic medical sonographers pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk tracks closely to the national median, $87K locally vs. $97K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,713/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.94) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for diagnostic medical sonographers in metros near Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $96K | $98K |
| Roanoke | $83K | $89K |
| Charlottesville | $89K | $89K |
| Lynchburg | $95K | $106K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $29K 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a diagnostic medical sonographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 31.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,713/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new diagnostic medical sonographers typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,537/month. At HUD’s $1,713/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $87K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk compare to the national average for diagnostic medical sonographers?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.94), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median is $86,630 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,620, and experienced diagnostic medical sonographers can clear $104,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,405/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,713/month, which eats 31.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a diagnostic medical sonographers salary go in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has a Regional Price Parity of 97.94 (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 $88,452 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.