Sonographer Salary Australia: No Official Median, But National Benchmarks Apply
If you are researching a sonographer salary in Australia, you will find that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a median weekly earnings figure for this occupation. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for Sonographers (ANZSCO 251214) lists median weekly earnings as ‘N/A’. This is common for six-digit ANZSCO occupations where the sample size is too small for a reliable estimate. However, several national benchmarks can help you understand where sonographer pay sits relative to the broader workforce.
What the Data Shows
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, there are about 6,000 sonographers employed nationally. The workforce is predominantly female (77%) with a median age of 39 years. Only 51% of sonographers work full-time hours, compared to 64% across all occupations. For those working full-time, the average weekly hours are 40, slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours. This part-time skew may affect overall earnings comparisons.
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings for all occupations is $2,083.70, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). This is the figure used as the ‘line’ on this site. For men, the full-time average is $2,181.50 per week ($113,438 per year); for women, it is $1,934.50 per week ($100,594 per year). Because sonography is a female-dominated profession, the gender pay gap may be relevant when comparing individual earnings to the national average.
State-by-State Differences
State full-time averages vary considerably, and sonographer pay can shift depending on where you work. The table below shows the full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings for each state and territory (original estimates, May 2026):
- New South Wales: $2,108.80 per week ($109,658 per year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10 per week ($106,137 per year)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 per week ($106,064 per year)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 per week ($102,450 per year)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 per week ($115,825 per year)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 per week ($96,008 per year)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 per week ($103,173 per year)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 per week ($119,090 per year)
A sonographer in Western Australia or the ACT may earn significantly more than one in Tasmania, even before considering award classifications or experience. You can compare your own salary against these state averages using our States and territories page.
Award Coverage and Enterprise Agreements
Sonographers are classified as Medical Imaging Professionals under the ANZSCO system. Most are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, which sets minimum wages for various classification levels. However, many sonographers work in public hospitals or private practices under enterprise agreements that often pay above the award. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week (about $52,255 per year). Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date, but sonographers, as skilled professionals, typically earn well above these floors.
Other Benchmarks
The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours release for August 2025 gives a median weekly earnings for all employees of $1,425 ($74,100 per year). For full-time employees, the median is about $1,741 per week ($90,532 per year). These figures include all occupations and are lower than the full-time average because the median is less affected by very high incomes. Sonographers, with their specialised training, are likely to earn above the all-employees median, but without a published occupation-specific median, it is impossible to say exactly where they sit.
Putting It All Together
Because the ABS does not publish a median for sonographers, the best approach is to use the national full-time average as a reference point. If you are a sonographer earning near $2,083.70 per week, you are close to the national line. If you earn more or less, factors such as state, hours worked, and whether you are covered by an award or enterprise agreement will explain the difference. You can Place a salary on the line to see how your pay compares to the national full-time average, or explore How the figures are set to understand the methodology behind these benchmarks.
Remember that the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey is published twice a year (May and November), so the figures above are the most current available as of May 2026. The next release will be in February 2027. For the most up-to-date information, always refer to the ABS directly.