What can you do with a Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree?

First, some facts. Of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 52 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 91%, Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduates have a substantially higher likelihood (+24%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 91%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 7% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2016 from Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Internship
Associates for Women's Medicine
Jan 2016 - May 2016
The internship at Associates for Women's Medicine directly relates to the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, providing hands-on experience and knowledge relevant to the degree.

Sonographer
St. Vincents Healthcare
Oct 2016 - Aug 2019
Working as a Sonographer at St. Vincents Healthcare requires the application of skills and knowledge acquired from the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, making it highly relevant.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Community Medical Center
Sep 2019 - Present
The role of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer at Community Medical Center directly utilizes the expertise and training from the Bachelor's degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography on a daily basis.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at the career paths of individuals who have graduated with a degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, a clear trend emerges: the vast majority of these professionals have secured roles directly related to ultrasound technology and medical imaging. The most common jobs appear to be positions as Diagnostic Medical Sonographers or related roles such as Ultrasound Technologists or Echocardiographers. These positions heavily involve the skill sets and knowledge acquired during their educational programs, making them highly relevant to their degree. Whether they are working at medical facilities, hospitals, or specialized clinics, they are applying their sonography expertise in significant ways.

However, not all job trajectories align neatly with the core competencies of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. A notable number of graduates have ventured into roles that are less related to direct patient care or medical imaging, such as merchandisers, customer service representatives, and managers in unrelated fields. For instance, graduates who took roles like Call Center Representatives or customer service jobs clearly divert from the sonography path, lacking any substantial application of their technical training. Even within some managerial roles related to healthcare, like Clinical Service Managers or Operations Directors, the direct application of sonography knowledge can diminish since these duties often lean more on administrative tasks rather than clinical practice.

In coming to a conclusion, while the traditional roles in sonography remain the most prevalent and directly relevant for graduates in this field, it's essential to recognize that some individuals may find themselves in jobs where their degree and training aren't fully utilized. This varied landscape indicates not only the demand for diagnostic medical professionals but also the reality that graduates may navigate through different career options that aren't strictly aligned with their academic background. Overall, the job market for graduates in Diagnostic Medical Sonography still strongly favors positions that leverage their specialized skills, ensuring a vast range of opportunities in healthcare settings.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career paths of individuals who graduated with a degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, a pretty clear picture emerges about where these graduates start and where they go over time. Generally, a lot of these folks seem to land their first jobs as Diagnostic Medical Sonographers or in related roles shortly after graduation. It makes sense, right? They just spent time and energy getting trained, and they’re ready to jump into the field. For instance, many graduates from various institutions have secured positions as sonographers in hospitals or specialized clinics, demonstrating a solid entry into the medical imaging career they prepared for.

However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. As we dig deeper, we notice some of these graduates, especially those from more recent classes, taking on roles that seem to stray a bit from traditional sonography. For example, one graduate went from being an ultrasound tech to a merchandiser—definitely not a natural progression in the medical field. Others have drifted into roles like customer service or even different departments within healthcare, which may indicate a struggle to find relevant positions immediately after graduating. Five to ten years down the line, a number of graduates are indeed thriving in their field, progressing to lead positions, various specialties, and even teaching roles. But there's also a subset who seem to have veered off into sales, management, or other areas that don’t really utilize their sonography training. This all paints a picture of varying degrees of success and engagement in careers relevant to their degree.

In a nutshell, while many graduates of Diagnostic Medical Sonography are successfully pursuing careers directly related to their studies, there is a noticeable fraction who either cannot find jobs in the field or end up in roles that diverge from what they trained for. It’s a mixed bag, but generally, if you're looking to enter this field, it looks promising—as long as you stay focused on your career goals!

How hard is a Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree?

A Bachelor’s degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography can be pretty challenging, but it really depends on how well you handle science and medical concepts. You’ll be diving into subjects like anatomy, physiology, and ultrasound physics, which can feel overwhelming at times, especially with all the technical details you need to memorize. On top of that, you’ll have clinical hours where you actually practice scanning patients, and that pressure can be intense. Some students find it more difficult than other degrees because it requires both technical skills and strong critical thinking. So, if you’re passionate about it and willing to put in the effort, you can totally succeed, but don’t underestimate the workload—it’s not a walk in the park!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Do Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduates tend to make good money?

Looking at these graduates, it seems like the earning potential varies quite a bit. Some of the older graduates, especially those who have held roles like Lead Sonographer, Ultrasound Supervisor, or in management positions, are likely pulling in decent salaries, potentially in the range of $75,000 to $100,000 a year or more. For instance, graduates from Kent State, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences appear to be in roles that usually command better pay due to their experience and responsibilities.

On the other hand, some of the newer graduates, like the one from American Medical Science Center who worked as a Merchandiser for part of their time, might not be earning as much just yet. It’s pretty common for fresh graduates to start lower on the pay scale, especially if they are doing internships or have mixed roles. However, as they gain experience and transition into full-time sonographer roles, they could see their salaries increase significantly over time. So, while the prospects are better for those with more experience, there’s a clear pathway for newer graduates to also make decent money in the long run.

What buzzwords do Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Diagnostic Medical Sonography?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ordered by the average relevance score of their Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count