Surgical Technologists vs Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Median pay is about $32k higher for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. The usual entry education is postsecondary cert for Surgical Technologists 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 | Surgical Technologists | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $64,650 | $96,590, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $54,690 | $80,430, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $79,750 | $106,930, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +5.0% Growing fast | +14% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 7,100 | 6,000 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Postsecondary cert | Associate's |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.8 / 5 | 2.8 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 3rd pct | 14th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: monitoring, active listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading comprehension, 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.