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Ultrasound technician salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$128,530median pay per year in California, or $61.79 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $62,890lowest 10% earn less
  2. $99,51025th percentile
  3. $128,530median
  4. $160,58075th percentile
  5. $177,780top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $96,590[3]

The median pay for ultrasound technicians in California was $128,530 a year in May 2025[1]. That was the highest median of any state and DC[5].

Jobs in CA
10,110[4]
Rank by median pay
1 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+33.1%[6]

How much do ultrasound technicians make in California?

Half of the ultrasound technicians in California earned more than $128,530 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $61.79 an hour[1]. Across the US, the median was $96,590[3], so California was $31,940 higher, or 33.1%[6]. Next to all jobs in the state, which had a median of $58,240[7], ultrasound technicians earned $70,290 more[8].

Pay varies a lot inside the state. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $62,890, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $177,780[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $99,510 and $160,580[2].

By metro area, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $173,150[9]. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom had a median of $163,220, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had $160,270[10]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 3,550 jobs and a median of $119,430[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not count bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[11].

California vs US pay

Pay for ultrasound technicians in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$128,530[1]$96,590[3]
Median per hour$61.79[1]$46.44[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$62,890[2]$67,820[12]
Top 10% earn more than$177,780[2]$129,370[12]
Jobs10,110[4]90,160[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for ultrasound technicians, and the median pay in each[10].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[10]$119,4303,550
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$160,2701,300
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$105,860960
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$129,630720
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$163,220610
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$173,150500
Fresno, CA$107,750390
Modesto, CA$141,210200

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for ultrasound technicians in the states that border California, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[13]$120,2201,210
Arizona$100,0402,070
Nevada$95,980640

Median pay for ultrasound technicians in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for ultrasound technicians are projected to grow 13.9% from 2025 to 2035[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an ultrasound technician make in California?
The median was $128,530 a year in May 2025, and the average was $126,610[1][16]. The US median was $96,590[3].
How much does an ultrasound technician make an hour in California?
The median was $61.79 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $30.24 an hour and the 90th percentile was $85.47[17].
Which city in California pays ultrasound technicians the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median of the 19 metro areas with a published figure, at $173,150 a year[9].
Is California a good state for ultrasound technicians?
California had the 1st highest median annual wage for this job among the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was 33.1% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become an ultrasound technician in California?
This is a US figure, not a California one. Across the US, the typical education for entry is an associate's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training needed[15].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California was $128,530 per year and $61.79 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California: 10th percentile $62,890, 25th percentile $99,510, 75th percentile $160,580, 90th percentile $177,780. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in the US as a whole was $96,590 per year and $46.44 per hour, with about 90,160 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 10,110 people worked as Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 1st highest median annual wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers out of the 50 states and DC with a published median (the highest of all). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California ($128,530) was $31,940 (33.1%) higher than the US median ($96,590). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California was $70,290 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 19 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $173,150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in the US: 10th percentile $67,820, 25th percentile $80,430, 75th percentile $106,930, 90th percentile $129,370. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $120,220; Arizona $100,040; Nevada $95,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is projected to grow 13.9% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,000 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California was $126,610 per year and $60.87 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California: 10th percentile $30.24, 25th percentile $47.84, 75th percentile $77.20, 90th percentile $85.47. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.