Career comparison
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer vs. Radiologic Technologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Diagnostic medical sonographers earn more at the median ($96,590 vs. $80,110), while diagnostic medical sonographers usually get to work faster (18–24 months of training). Diagnostic medical sonographers use ultrasound to create images of organs, blood vessels and babies for diagnosis. Radiologic technologists take the X-rays and diagnostic images doctors use to find fractures, disease and injuries.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | Radiologic Technologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $96,590 ($46.44/hr) | $80,110 ($38.52/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $67,820 – $129,370 | $55,980 – $118,660 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +13.9% (much faster than average) | +5.0% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 6,000 | 13,000 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 18–24 months | 2 years |
| Key credential | RDMS (ARDMS) | ARRT Radiography (R) |
| Work setting | Sonographers work in hospitals, imaging centers, physician offices and cardiology and obstetric clinics. | Technologists work in hospital radiology departments, emergency departments, imaging centers and clinics. |
What each job does
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Review orders and patient history before each exam
- Prepare and position patients and explain the procedure
- Scan with transducers and optimize the image settings
- Capture required images and measurements per protocol
- Recognize normal and abnormal findings
Radiologic Technologist
- Review imaging orders and confirm patient identity
- Explain procedures and answer patient questions
- Position patients and equipment for the correct views
- Set exposure factors and capture diagnostic images
- Apply radiation protection for patients, staff and yourself
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, helping others, working with people, and indoor work. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose diagnostic medical sonographer if…
- I find anatomy and physiology fascinating
- I have steady hands and good coordination
- I can focus for long stretches
Choose radiologic technologist if…
- I’m interested in anatomy and how the body works
- I like technology and equipment
- I can stay calm with patients in pain
Still torn? Take the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer fit quiz and the Radiologic Technologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, diagnostic medical sonographer or radiologic technologist?
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earn more at the median: $96,590 versus $80,110 for radiologic technologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers typically train faster (18–24 months) than radiologic technologists (2 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects diagnostic medical sonographers to grow +13.9% from 2025–35, compared with +5.0% for radiologic technologists.