Career comparison
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer vs. Respiratory Therapist
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. $82,280), 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. Respiratory therapists help patients breathe, from asthma treatments to managing ventilators in the ICU.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | Respiratory Therapist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $96,590 ($46.44/hr) | $82,280 ($39.56/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $67,820 – $129,370 | $63,660 – $118,050 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +13.9% (much faster than average) | +8.5% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 6,000 | 8,600 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 18–24 months | 2 years |
| Key credential | RDMS (ARDMS) | Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) |
| Work setting | Sonographers work in hospitals, imaging centers, physician offices and cardiology and obstetric clinics. | Most respiratory therapists work in hospitals, especially ICUs, emergency departments and neonatal units. |
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
Respiratory Therapist
- Assess patients’ breathing, oxygen levels and lung sounds
- Give aerosol, inhaler and oxygen therapy
- Set up, monitor and adjust mechanical ventilators
- Draw and analyze arterial blood gases
- Respond to codes, rapid responses and intubations
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 respiratory therapist if…
- I want to help people in critical situations
- I like science and physiology
- I can stay calm during emergencies
Still torn? Take the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer fit quiz and the Respiratory Therapist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, diagnostic medical sonographer or respiratory therapist?
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earn more at the median: $96,590 versus $82,280 for respiratory therapists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers typically train faster (18–24 months) than respiratory therapists (2 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects diagnostic medical sonographers to grow +13.9% from 2025–35, compared with +8.5% for respiratory therapists.