Sonographer Pay

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary in Billings, MT: $112,632 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time diagnostic medical sonographer in Billings, MT earns a median $112,632/year (≈ $54.15/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2032). Once you factor in Billings's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.5), that paycheck buys what $120,429 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 15.5% above the Montana state average.

$112,632
Median Annual Salary
$54.15/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$84,416
Entry Level (P10)
$121,687
Top Earners (P90)

Official BLS data · View source

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary in Billings, MT — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Billings, MT diagnostic medical sonographer salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In Billings, Montana, the projected annual salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in 2026 reaches a notable $112,632, showcasing a compelling advantage for professionals in this field compared to the national median of $101,352. Salary ranges between $84,416 at the lower percentile to $121,687 for those in the 90th percentile reflect a diverse job market influenced by varying employment settings, such as hospital imaging departments and outpatient centers. The salary data, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, indicates potential for career growth, particularly in a city where advancements in healthcare practices are dynamically shaping sonographer compensation.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$84,416$40.59
Lower Range (P25)$102,863$49.45
Median (P50)(typical)$112,632$54.15
Upper Range (P75)$112,632$54.15
Top Earners (P90)$121,687$58.51

Median Salary Position

$84,416$121,687
City Median: $112,632
National: $101,352
P10–P90 Range

11.13% above the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Billings

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for diagnostic medical sonographers in Billings. The median salary is $112,632, compared to the national median of $101,352.$76.0K$88.9K$101.9K$114.8K$127.8K$84.4K10th Pctl$102.9K25th Pctl$112.6KMedian$112.6K75th Pctl$121.7K90th PctlUS Median$101.4K

In Billings, MT, the diagnostic medical sonographer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $37,271 (2026 est.). At $112,632, the local median is 11.13% above the national median of $101,352.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of diagnostic medical sonographer pay in the Billings metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$2,166
per week
$9,387
per month
$112,641
per year

At 40 hours/week in Billings: You'd be in the upper quartile

How Billings Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Pay Compares

Billings median: $112,632/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryBillings Pays
Montana Average$97,517+15.50% more
National Average$101,352+11.13% more
Horizontal bar chart comparing diagnostic medical sonographer median salary in Billings ($112,632) with Montana average ($97,517) and the US national median ($101,352).Billings$112,632Montana Avg$97,517+15.50%US National$101,352+11.13%

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in Billings, MT earn a median of $112,632 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.13% higher than the national median of $101,352 and 15.50% above the Montana state average of $97,517.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$112,632
Nominal Salary
93.526
CoL Index
$120,429
Adjusted Salary

Billings has a cost of living 6.47% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.

Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $112,632. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 93.526, the purchasing-power equivalent is $120,429, a gain of $7,797.$86.1K$99.2K$112.3K$125.4K$138.5K$112,632NominalSalary$120,429CoL Adjusted(CoL: 93.526) 6.92%US Median $101.4K

Billings, MT has a cost-of-living index of 93.526 (below the national average of 100). A diagnostic medical sonographer earning $112,632 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $120,429 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.92% boost.

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2019 BLS Actual

$78,250

2025 BLS Actual

$107,340

2026 Current Est.

$112,632

2019–2027 Growth

+51.0%

Salary Trajectory for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in Billings (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.93% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for diagnostic medical sonographers in Billings. Baseline $78,250 in 2025, projected to $118,185 by 2027.$70.3K$84.2K$98.2K$112.2K$126.2K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$78.3K$84.4K$79.4K$84.4K$99.7K$103.7K$107.3K$112.6K$118.2K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$78,250Actual
2020$84,370Actual
2021$79,360Actual
2022$84,430Actual
2023$99,650Actual
2024$103,670Actual
2025$107,340Actual
2026(current)$112,632Estimated
2027$118,185Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Billings metropolitan area, the median diagnostic medical sonographer salary grew 37.2% from $78,250 (2019) to $107,340 (2025). At a 4.93% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $118,185 by 2027 — a total increase of $39,935 (51.04%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Billings metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.93% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Salary by Experience Level

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$84,416$102,863
3-5 years (Mid Career)$102,863$112,632
5+ years (Experienced)$112,632$112,632
10+ years (Top Earner)$112,632$121,687

DMS salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual diagnostic medical sonographer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Job Market in Billings

The job market in Billings currently employs around 50 diagnostic medical sonographers, providing a solid foundation amidst a cost of living index of 93.526, suggesting that take-home pay may stretch farther than in higher-cost cities. Hospitals typically offer the highest compensation, especially for specialties in cardiac echo, followed by vascular and OB-GYN practices, with outpatient imaging chains like RadNet and SimonMed also contributing to competitive pay. Various factors drive the differences in earnings, such as specialty focus, shift differentials, and opportunities with travel sonography agencies or vendor applications roles. For those looking to maximize their earnings in Billings, gaining additional certifications, such as RDCS or RVT, and seeking roles in high-demand specialties can significantly enhance overall compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do diagnostic medical sonographers make in Billings, MT in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median diagnostic medical sonographer salary in Billings is $112,632/year ($54.15/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 4.93% annual growth). Salaries range from $84,416 at entry level (10th percentile) to $121,687 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Billings at 11.1% above the national median. Full-time diagnostic medical sonographers typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Billings, MT a good place to work as a diagnostic medical sonographer?

Billings diagnostic medical sonographer salaries are 11.1% above the national average and 15.5% above the Montana state average. The metro area employs approximately 50 diagnostic medical sonographers. With a cost-of-living index of 93.526, your salary stretches further here than in higher-cost metros. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can diagnostic medical sonographers make $100K in Billings?

Yes — the median diagnostic medical sonographer salary in Billings is already $112,632, meaning more than half of diagnostic medical sonographers here earn six figures. Top earners (90th percentile) make $121,687/year. Factors that push pay above $100K include years of experience, specialty certifications, and working at high-production practices or large organizations.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted diagnostic medical sonographer salary in Billings?

After adjusting for Billings's cost-of-living index of 93.526 (where 100 equals the national average), the $112,632 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $120,429 in an average-cost city. This means your dollar goes 6.9% further in Billings compared to the national average, making it an attractive location for diagnostic medical sonographers seeking strong real wages.

How much does a diagnostic medical sonographer make per hour in Billings?

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in Billings earn a median hourly rate of $54.15, which translates to approximately $112,632/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $40.59 for entry-level positions to $58.51 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem diagnostic medical sonographers sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

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Written by Aisha Khan, RDMS, RVT

Career Analyst

Aisha has over 10 years of experience in abdominal sonography. She works at a regional hospital. Aisha also conducts training for new sonographers.

Clinically reviewed by Liam Johnson, RDMS, RTData verified by Maria Gonzalez, ARDMS, RVT

Methodology & Data Source

Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $107,340 for diagnostic medical sonographersin the Billings metropolitan area. A 4.93% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.93%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for diagnostic medical sonographers (SOC 29-2032).

Compiled and verified by Aisha Khan, RDMS, RVT, a licensed diagnostic medical sonographer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

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