Operate ultrasound equipment to create images of organs and tissues that help doctors diagnose conditions.
You may also see this posted as: Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS), Sonographer, Ultrasonographer, Cardiac Sonographer, Medical Sonographer.
Hospitals and clinics; dim rooms, standing and moving patients.
Full-time; some evenings, weekends, and on-call.
Realistic
working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world
Conventional
organizing information, following systems, and getting details right
Investigative
solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work
O*NET job zone 3 of 5
Medium preparation—often vocational training, an associate degree, or substantial experience—is usually needed.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 2.5% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Associate degree
Training path: Associate degree + certification.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: None.
No universal license; most employers require professional certification.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
Bachelor-level wages on a 2-year degree.
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Standard Occupational Classification 29-2032. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.