Prevailing Wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Prevailing wage floors for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers are set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, covering four experience levels from entry to fully competent. Whether you work as a Medical Sonographer, Cardiac Sonographer, or under another recognized title, the floor varies significantly by worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level sonographers with limited hands-on scanning experience, typically recent graduates or candidates completing clinical training hours. These positions involve routine image acquisition under direct supervision with minimal independent protocol decision-making.
Level 2 applies to qualified sonographers with a established scanning proficiency across standard exam types. Most H-1B and green card LCA filings for this occupation land at Level 2, reflecting the degree-plus-registry credential baseline most U.S. employers require.
Level 3 covers experienced sonographers who independently manage complex or multi-system exams, mentor junior staff, and require minimal oversight. Candidates with specialty registry credentials such as RDMS with abdomen and OB-GYN endorsements often qualify at this level.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior sonographers, lead technologists, or imaging supervisors who set scanning protocols, oversee department quality standards, and may carry cross-modal or multi-site responsibilities with no supervision required.
Prevailing Wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Confirm your registry credential maps to the right level
Employers sometimes file LCAs at Level 1 for RDMS-credentialed sonographers because the job title says 'staff' rather than 'senior.' A registered diagnostic medical sonographer with specialty endorsements typically supports a Level 2 or Level 3 filing, not Level 1.
Watch for California metro wage gaps on your offer
San Jose and San Francisco prevailing wages for this occupation run more than double the floor in Puerto Rico metros. If your offer is benchmarked to a national median rather than the specific worksite city listed on the LCA, the cited wage may fall short of the local floor.
Check how signing bonuses are treated in your wage calculation
Some imaging centers offer below-floor base salaries supplemented by signing bonuses amortized across a service commitment. DOL's prevailing wage compliance is tested against the annualized base rate on the LCA, not total compensation including one-time bonuses.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sonographer sponsorship history
Imaging centers and hospital systems vary widely in H-1B filing activity for diagnostic sonographer roles. Migrate Mate shows which employers have actually sponsored this occupation before, so you can focus applications on organizations with a documented track record.
Jobs for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-2032.00 alongside Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cardiac Sonographer Prevailing Wage
Cardiac Sonographer Prevailing Wage
Cardiac Sonographer positions fall under SOC 29-2032.00 (Diagnostic Medical Sonographers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Medical Sonographer Prevailing Wage
Medical Sonographer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Medical Sonographer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2032.00 (Diagnostic Medical Sonographers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) Prevailing Wage
Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) Prevailing Wage
Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2032.00 (Diagnostic Medical Sonographers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Sonographer Prevailing Wage
Sonographer Prevailing Wage
Sonographer positions fall under SOC 29-2032.00 (Diagnostic Medical Sonographers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Staff Sonographer Prevailing Wage
Staff Sonographer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Staff Sonographer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2032.00 (Diagnostic Medical Sonographers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Ultrasonographer Prevailing Wage
Ultrasonographer Prevailing Wage
Ultrasonographer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2032.00 (Diagnostic Medical Sonographers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Ultrasound Technician (Ultrasound Tech) Prevailing Wage
Ultrasound Technician (Ultrasound Tech) Prevailing Wage
Ultrasound Technician (Ultrasound Tech) positions fall under SOC 29-2032.00 (Diagnostic Medical Sonographers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Ultrasound Technologist (Ultrasound Tech) Prevailing Wage
Ultrasound Technologist (Ultrasound Tech) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Ultrasound Technologist (Ultrasound Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2032.00 (Diagnostic Medical Sonographers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 29-2032, wages are reported by metropolitan area and divided into four levels based on experience and responsibility. Employers file a Labor Condition Application with OFLC citing the level and worksite location that match the actual position being sponsored.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers supervised entry-level scanning roles. Level 2 reflects qualified independent practice, and most sponsored sonographer positions are filed here. Level 3 applies to experienced staff managing complex exams. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles with protocol-setting responsibilities. Review the LCA your employer files with OFLC: the certified wage level must match the actual duties in your offer letter.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same sonographer role vary so much by city?
DOL uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys to capture local labor market conditions, so wages reflect what employers in that metro actually pay. The worksite address on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters, determines which metro wage floor applies. High-cost imaging markets like San Jose carry floors that can be nearly double those in lower-cost metros, driven by dense employer competition and cost of living.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with OFLC unless the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the designated level and worksite. If the offer falls short, OFLC will not certify the LCA, and USCIS cannot approve the H-1B or other sponsored status. The employer must either raise the offered salary to meet the floor or reclassify the role at a lower wage level if the duties genuinely support it.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Diagnostic Medical Sonographers position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 29-2032 by metropolitan area and wage level. Select the worksite metro, confirm the SOC code matches the role, and note the certified wage for the relevant level. You can also check the O*NET occupation profile for title variants that employers may use when filing. For sponsored job leads filtered by employer sponsorship history, Migrate Mate lists positions from employers with documented sonographer sponsorship activity.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers right now.
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