Diagnostic Medical Sonographers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,970 or more. The middle half of diagnostic medical sonographers in Hickory earn between $78,960 and $84,070.
- $70K10th
- $79K25th
- $84KMedian
- $84K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,360 | $6,947 | $40.08 |
| Median | $83,510 | $6,959 | $40.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,960 | $6,580 | $37.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,070 | $7,006 | $40.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Diagnostic medical sonographers in Hickory earn 5% less than the North Carolina average ($87,500) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($97,240). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $96,590.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $83,360 | $83,510 | $69,600 | $99,970 | 50 |
| North Carolina | $87,500 | $86,010 | $67,070 | $105,530 | 2,970 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $83,360, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $64,656 a year, or $5,388 a month and $2,487 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for diagnostic medical sonographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $83,360 buys what about $94,207 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 7th of 11 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($93,240).
- Charlotte$93,240
- Greensboro$91,330
- Pinehurst$91,240
- Winston-Salem$89,270
- Raleigh$88,110
- Wilmington$84,900
- Hickory$83,360
- Asheville$83,220
- Fayetteville$82,180
- Rocky Mount$82,080
All Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salaries in North 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salary in Hickory: questions
How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make an hour in Hickory?
$40.08 an hour on average, and $40.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the diagnostic medical sonographers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $64,656 a year ($5,388 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,360.
Do diagnostic medical sonographers earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.