SOC 29-2032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers — West Virginia
West Virginia · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in West Virginia is $76,820 a year, trailing the national median of $96,590 by 20.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in West Virginia is $76,820 a year, trailing the national median of $96,590 by 20.5%. Half of workers earn between $67,500 and $84,100. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $64,750 and the ninetieth at $99,060.
The area has 780 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.1 of every thousand jobs. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, West Virginia ranks 49th by median wage. Wheeling leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,880. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 119th of 618 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,750 | −33.0% |
| 25th | $67,500 | −30.1% |
| Median (50th) | $76,820 | −20.5% |
| 75th | $84,100 | −12.9% |
| 90th | $99,060 | +2.6% |
| Mean | $80,040 | −17.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheeling | $78,880 | 60 | |
| 2 | Huntington | $78,830 | 160 | |
| 3 | Charleston | $75,900 | 160 | |
| 4 | Beckley | $67,210 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in West Virginia run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $76,820 goes as far as $85,832 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$76,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$85,832US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $76,820 a year, 20.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,750 to $99,060 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 780 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 49th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Wheeling, at $78,880.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in West Virginia?
The median annual wage is $76,820, or $36.93 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $96,590, so pay in West Virginia is 20.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in West Virginia earns more than $99,060 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,750 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Wheeling, at $78,880 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 780 jobs in this occupation in West Virginia. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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