Cardiac sonographer salary: Where does it sit?
If you are looking for a precise published figure for a cardiac sonographer salary in Australia, you will not find one. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not release median or average earnings for occupations at the six-digit ANZSCO level, and cardiac sonography falls into that category. The closest occupation listed is Sonographers (ANZSCO 251214), but even that figure is suppressed due to a high relative standard error, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. This means we cannot point to a single number and say “this is what a cardiac sonographer earns.”
Instead, we can use the national benchmarks to understand where a cardiac sonographer’s pay might sit relative to the average Australian worker. The site’s line is the national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings: $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). This is the figure the chart on this page draws. If you are a cardiac sonographer working full-time, your salary may be above or below that line depending on several factors.
The role of state and territory
One of the biggest influences on any salary in Australia is where you work. Average full-time earnings differ markedly across states and territories. For example:
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090 per year
- Western Australia: $115,825 per year
- New South Wales: $109,658 per year
- Victoria: $106,137 per year
- Queensland: $106,064 per year
- Northern Territory: $103,173 per year
- South Australia: $102,450 per year
- Tasmania: $96,008 per year
These are averages across all full-time adults, not specific to health professionals. But they show the general pattern: if you work in the ACT or WA, the overall wage environment is higher, which often lifts salaries in health occupations too. Conversely, Tasmania’s lower average suggests cardiac sonographers there may earn less than their counterparts in Canberra. For a more detailed breakdown, see our States and territories page.
Awards, agreements, and the public sector
Cardiac sonographers are typically employed in public hospitals, private radiology practices, or cardiac clinics. Many are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 or by enterprise agreements negotiated at the state or hospital level. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, but award rates are higher. For example, a sonographer classified under the award may receive a rate above $35 per hour depending on experience and qualifications. Enterprise agreements in public hospitals often pay more than the award, especially in states with strong public sector wages.
The public sector generally pays higher average earnings than the private sector. According to ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings in the public sector are $2,263.10 per week ($117,681 per year), compared to $2,034.10 in the private sector ($105,773 per year). This gap matters for cardiac sonographers because many work in public hospitals. If you are employed by a state health service, your salary is likely to be closer to the public sector average.
Gender and hours worked
The sonographer workforce is 77% female, according to Jobs and Skills Australia data from the 2021 Census. Only 51% of sonographers work full-time hours, and the average full-time hours per week are 40, slightly below the all-occupations average of 44. This part-time share is important because part-time workers earn less on a weekly basis. The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) shows that the median weekly earnings for all part-time employees is $769, compared to $1,887 for full-time employees. If a cardiac sonographer works part-time, their annual salary will naturally be lower than the full-time average.
Gender also plays a role. The full-time adult ordinary-time average for women is $1,934.50 per week ($100,594 per year), while for men it is $2,181.50 ($113,418 per year). Given the high proportion of women in sonography, the typical cardiac sonographer’s salary may be closer to the female average than the male average. However, these are broad averages and do not account for differences in occupation, experience, or hours worked.
How the site’s line compares
The chart on this page uses the national full-time adult ordinary-time average as its line. If you are a cardiac sonographer earning above $108,352 per year, you are above the national average. If you earn below, you are below it. But remember: that line is an average across all full-time adults, not a target for any specific job. Many health professionals earn above the national average, especially in senior roles or with overtime.
For a more tailored comparison, you can use the interactive tool on this site to Place a salary on the line and see how it compares to the national average, state averages, and industry medians. You can also explore How the figures are set to understand the sources behind the numbers.
The bottom line
There is no single published cardiac sonographer salary. But by understanding the national average, state differences, award coverage, and the public-private split, you can estimate where your pay might fall. If you are negotiating a salary or considering a move, use the state averages as a guide and check the relevant award or enterprise agreement for minimum rates. The site’s line gives you a consistent benchmark to measure against.