How to hire a diagnostic medical sonographer

How to hire a diagnostic medical sonographer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step diagnostic medical sonographer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a diagnostic medical sonographer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new diagnostic medical sonographer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a diagnostic medical sonographer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The diagnostic medical sonographer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   Hiring the perfect diagnostic medical sonographer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents diagnostic medical sonographer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer	Description	Hourly rate
   Diagnostic Medical Sonographer	Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians, including vascular technologists, operate special imaging equipment to create images or to conduct tests. The images and test results help physicians assess and diagnose medical conditions... Show more	$25-66
   Ultrasound Technologist	An ultrasound technologist is responsible for assisting medical professionals in operating high-end equipment to diagnose patients' illnesses and monitor health conditions. Ultrasound technologists regularly inspect the efficiency and reliability of the machine and report inconsistencies and defects for immediate repair or replacement... Show more	$24-67
   Echocardiographer	An echocardiographer has knowledge acquired through years of studying. They assist doctors in diagnosing diseases by producing two- or three-dimensional images of the heart... Show more	$21-65

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • ARDMS
   • Patient Care
   • OB-GYN
   • Abdomen
   • Ultrasound Procedures
   • Ultrasound Equipment
   • Radiology
   • Pacs
   • Doppler
   • Medical History
   • Obstetrics
   • Invasive Procedures
   • Compassion

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Document studies in PACS and manage exams electronically.
   • Register by ARDMS in abdomen, OB/GYN, breast, neuro, and RVT (vascular).
   • Maintain the ultrasound room cleanliness.
   • Maintain cleanliness of the sonography rooms.
   • Perform duties for department QA, revenue/statistics, patient record keeping.
   • Perform abdominal, small part, obstetrics, gynecological, DVT, and carotid ultrasounds.

   More diagnostic medical sonographer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your diagnostic medical sonographer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A diagnostic medical sonographer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a diagnostic medical sonographer in Iowa may be lower than in California, and an entry-level diagnostic medical sonographer usually earns less than a senior-level diagnostic medical sonographer. Additionally, a diagnostic medical sonographer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average diagnostic medical sonographer salary

   $85,607yearly

   $41.16 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level diagnostic medical sonographer salary

   $52,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average diagnostic medical sonographer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$137,459	$66
   2	Maine	$118,308	$57
   3	Alaska	$117,315	$56
   4	Connecticut	$115,947	$56
   5	New York	$109,134	$52
   6	Washington	$108,893	$52
   7	District of Columbia	$107,026	$51
   8	Idaho	$101,886	$49
   9	Ohio	$96,196	$46
   10	Michigan	$92,599	$45
   11	Pennsylvania	$90,230	$43
   12	Texas	$89,441	$43
   13	Virginia	$86,462	$42
   14	Indiana	$86,169	$41
   15	Florida	$84,995	$41
   16	Colorado	$84,183	$40
   17	Arizona	$82,642	$40
   18	North Dakota	$79,793	$38
   19	Iowa	$72,987	$35
   20	South Dakota	$70,771	$34

   Average diagnostic medical sonographer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	St. Mary's Health Inc.	$155,077	$74.56
   2	Erlanger Health System	$139,766	$67.20	5
   3	Heritage Valley Health System	$138,368	$66.52
   4	Queens Health Systems	$132,688	$63.79	6
   5	AdventHealth	$130,583	$62.78	134
   6	Fairview Health Services	$123,495	$59.37	5
   7	Lawrence + Memorial Hospital	$113,918	$54.77
   8	Dayton Children's Hospital	$111,883	$53.79	4
   9	The Arora Group	$111,345	$53.53	2
   10	Bartlett Regional Hospital	$111,323	$53.52	2
   11	CovenantHealth	$111,138	$53.43	38
   12	Norton Healthcare	$107,941	$51.89
   13	Memorial Medical Group	$106,597	$51.25
   14	SACH S.A.	$102,754	$49.40
   15	Providence Health & Services	$99,058	$47.62	11
   16	Deaconess	$97,965	$47.10	19
   17	Cedars-Sinai	$97,421	$46.84	16
   18	Central Maine Healthcare	$96,497	$46.39
   19	Swedish Hospital	$95,926	$46.12
   20	Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health	$94,562	$45.46	4

4. Writing a diagnostic medical sonographer job description

   A diagnostic medical sonographer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a diagnostic medical sonographer job description:

   Diagnostic medical sonographer job description example

   At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?
   Benefits
   
   * Annual Employee Incentive Bonus
   * $6,000 Student Loan Repayment ($5,000 part-time)
   * $5,250 Tuition Reimbursement per year ($3,000 part-time)
   * $1,000 Professional Development per year ($500 part-time)
   * $250 Wellbeing Fund per year
   
   At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?
   
   Description
   
   The Sonographer reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
   
   The Sonographer demonstrates independent judgment in performing two dimensional ultrasonic recordings of internal organs and peripheral vascular systems for the diagnosis of disease.
   
   Qualifications
   
   * Required:
   * Must be able to lift/push/pull up to 50lbs.
   * ARDMS certification. New graduates must be registered within one year of hire date
   * Basic Life Support Certification
   
   Preferred:
   
   * Graduate of AMA approved training program in sonography
   
   Equal Opportunity
   
   Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right diagnostic medical sonographer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with diagnostic medical sonographers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit diagnostic medical sonographers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your diagnostic medical sonographer job on Zippia to find and recruit diagnostic medical sonographer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit diagnostic medical sonographers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new diagnostic medical sonographer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the diagnostic medical sonographer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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