Diagnostic Medical Sonographers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,220 or more. The middle half of diagnostic medical sonographers in Columbia earn between $74,210 and $89,390.
- $70K10th
- $74K25th
- $84KMedian
- $89K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,500 | $6,792 | $39.18 |
| Median | $84,440 | $7,037 | $40.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,210 | $6,184 | $35.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,390 | $7,449 | $42.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Diagnostic medical sonographers in Columbia earn 5% less than the South Carolina average ($85,540) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($97,240). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $96,590.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $81,500 | $84,440 | $69,530 | $97,220 | 320 |
| South Carolina | $85,540 | $83,290 | $69,530 | $102,540 | 1,340 |
| United States | $97,240 | $96,590 | $67,820 | $129,370 | 90,160 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $81,500, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $63,077 a year, or $5,256 a month and $2,426 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for diagnostic medical sonographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $81,500 buys what about $87,015 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 5th of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($91,810).
- Charleston$91,810
- Greenville$87,730
- Myrtle Beach$82,730
- Spartanburg$81,810
- Columbia$81,500
- Florence$78,970
All Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salaries in South Carolina
Highest-paying cities for diagnostic medical sonographers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($166,230).
- San Jose, CA$166,230
- Vallejo, CA$158,930
- Santa Rosa, CA$152,780
- Sacramento, CA$151,900
- San Francisco, CA$151,740
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Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salary in Columbia: questions
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make an hour in Columbia?
$39.18 an hour on average, and $40.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the diagnostic medical sonographers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $63,077 a year ($5,256 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,500.
Do diagnostic medical sonographers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($97,240).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-2032; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.41, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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