Licensed Practical Nurses vs Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Median pay is about $32k higher for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. The usual entry education is postsecondary cert for Licensed Practical Nurses and associate's for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Licensed Practical Nurses | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $64,400 | $96,590, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $59,000 | $80,430, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $76,030 | $106,930, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +3.0% Growing | +14% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 51,800 | 6,000 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Postsecondary cert | Associate's |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.8 / 5 | 2.8 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Very low | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 6th pct | 14th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, speaking, monitoring, reading comprehension, critical thinking, active learning.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.