How to Become A Sonography Technician in South Dakota

South Dakota employs approximately 370 sonography technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $80,820 1. The state’s concentration of sonography technician jobs is 1.39x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, sonography technician employment is projected to grow 13.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 5,800 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a sonography technician in South Dakota, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Sonography Technician in South Dakota

How do I become a sonography technician in South Dakota? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for sonography technicians in South Dakota.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do sonography technicians earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for sonography technicians in South Dakota is $80,820 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $51,100 and experienced professionals can earn $98,090 or more 1.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
  • Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
  • Median wage (South Dakota): $80,820 per year 1

Sonography Technician Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), diagnostic medical sonographers wages in South Dakota vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Sioux Falls250$80,600$74,440$51,100$98,090
Sioux City40$81,450$81,540$67,410$96,660

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Sonography technicians in South Dakota

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest sonography technician employment within South Dakota according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual Wage
Sioux Falls250$80,600

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for sonography technicians in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 370 sonography technicians 1. Nationally, sonography technician employment is projected to grow 13.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in South Dakota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in South Dakota.

How much do sonography technicians earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for sonography technicians in South Dakota is $80,820, which is $8,520 below the national median of $89,340 according to BLS data 1.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References


  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)