by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician explores Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Physicians, To Utilize Medical Ultrasound Techniques To Gather Sonographic Data Used To Diagnose A Variety Of Conditions And Diseases. Includes Instruction In Obtaining, Reviewing, And Integrating Patient Histories And Data; Patient Instruction And Care; Anatomic, Physiologic And Pathologic Data Recording; Sonographic Data Processing; Sonography Equipment Operation; And Professional Standards And Ethics. Examples: [Vascular Sonography]. Continue reading for the essential details every diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician programs.
In the U.S., diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician is a popular field of study, with 7,272 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician Schools ranking analyzes these 321 schools to determine the best overall colleges for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician programs later in this article.
Programs in Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,351 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,813 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 959 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 128 |
People currently working in careers related to diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 35.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 14.9% |
| First professional degree | 12.2% |
| Master’s degree | 9.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 3,388,429 | 3.2% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,845 |
| 4 years | $61,295 |
| 5 years | $69,015 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $91,848 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 321 different diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician school rankings to help you.
Those considering diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
