How long does sonography technician training take in West Virginia?

Most people become a Sonography Technician in West Virginia through a CAAHEP-accredited diagnostic medical sonography program plus ARDMS or CCI.

How to Become a Sonography Technician in West Virginia (2026)

Q: How much do sonography technicians earn in West Virginia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), sonography technicians in West Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $76,820. Employment concentration in West Virginia is about 1.92 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for sonography technicians in West Virginia?

West Virginia currently employs approximately 780 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 13.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

West Virginia diagnostic medical sonographers earn a median annual wage of $76,820 ($36.93/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 780 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -20.5% below the national median of $96,590 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $76,820 ($36.93/hr)
25th percentile: $67,500 per year
75th percentile: $84,100 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $99,060 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $64,750 per year
Workers employed in West Virginia: 780
Versus national median: -20.5% below the U.S. median of $96,590
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.92 - this occupation is more concentrated in West Virginia than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

West Virginia employs about 780 sonography technicians earning a median $76,820 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Sonography Technician here means completing a CAAHEP-accredited diagnostic medical sonography program plus ARDMS or CCI. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Sonography Technician Schools in West Virginia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	West Virginia University Hospital Departments of Rad Tech and Nutrition	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	$64,188	Not reported	—	98 mi
2	Collins Career Technical Center	63.7	Contact school for pricing	$51,897	58%	—	66 mi
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3	Piedmont Virginia Community College	62.2	Contact school for pricing	$51,090	37%	Yes*	158 mi
4	Central Ohio Technical College	56.8	Contact school for pricing	$59,751	27%	Yes*	116 mi
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5	BridgeValley Community & Technical College	55.3	Contact school for pricing	$57,464	30%	Yes*	31 mi
6	Marion Technical College	55.3	Contact school for pricing	$50,593	28%	Yes*	166 mi
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7	University of Rio Grande	50.3	Contact school for pricing	$51,840	34%	Yes*	62 mi
8	Westmoreland County Community College	49.1	Contact school for pricing	$49,187	28%	Yes*	142 mi
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9	Hazard Community and Technical College	48.9	$4,728 - $12,520	$45,683	47%	Yes*	143 mi
10	Clark State College	46.3	Contact school for pricing	$50,997	23%	Yes*	160 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

West Virginia employs approximately 780 sonography technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $76,820 ¹. The state’s concentration of sonography technician jobs is 1.92x 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 West Virginia, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: CAAHEP-accredited sonography program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a CAAHEP-accredited diagnostic medical sonography program plus ARDMS or CCI
Exam: ARDMS or CCI
Median wage (West Virginia): $76,820 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Sonography Technician in West Virginia

How to become a Sonography Technician in West Virginia? Complete a CAAHEP-accredited diagnostic medical sonography program plus ARDMS or CCI. Apply through the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a CAAHEP-accredited diagnostic medical sonography program plus ARDMS or CCI. Confirm current hour totals with the program and the program and employer.

Do I need a license in West Virginia? Yes. West Virginia typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do sonography technicians earn in West Virginia? The median annual wage for sonography technicians in West Virginia is $76,820 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $64,750 and experienced professionals can earn $99,060 or more ¹.

How to Become a Sonography Technician in West Virginia

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED and science prerequisites.
Complete a CAAHEP-accredited sonography program. Finish a diagnostic medical sonography program in West Virginia. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Earn ARDMS or CCI. Pass ARDMS or CCI specialty exams employers expect.
Confirm state licensure. Some states license sonographers. Confirm with the program and employer.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Sonography Technician License Requirements in West Virginia

Sonographers typically complete a CAAHEP-accredited program and earn ARDMS or CCI. Some states add licensure.

Typical path

Complete a CAAHEP-accredited program.
Earn ARDMS or CCI.
Apply for state licensure if West Virginia requires it.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Sonography Technician Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	1,550	$105,290	$106,040	$87,820	$131,500
Charleston	160	$75,900	$78,150	$64,820	$97,300
Huntington-Ashland	160	$78,830	$81,400	$67,500	$100,690
Hagerstown-Martinsburg	70	$86,480	$88,820	$74,690	$103,700
Wheeling	60	$78,880	$78,740	$66,100	$94,700
Beckley	50	$67,210	$70,910	$58,240	$79,680
Winchester	40	$83,470	$86,070	$72,570	$101,630

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for sonography technicians in West Virginia? West Virginia currently employs approximately 780 sonography technicians ¹. Nationally, sonography technician employment is projected to grow 13.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a sonography technician in West Virginia with an out-of-state license? Contact the program and employer for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in West Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in West Virginia.

How much do sonography technicians earn in West Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for sonography technicians in West Virginia is $76,820, which is $12,520 below the national median of $89,340 according to BLS data ¹.

In West Virginia

Best Trade Schools in West Virginia (2026)

Top local programs

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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

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

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)