Where the Ultrasound Tech Salary Sits Against the Australian Full-Time Average
If you are researching an ultrasound tech salary in Australia, you will find that official pay data for sonographers is surprisingly scarce. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a median weekly earnings figure for the occupation (ANZSCO 251214) because the relative standard error is too high. This means we cannot give you a precise dollar figure from the most reliable source. Instead, we can place the role in context against the national full-time average, broader professional earnings, and the minimum wage.
The National Full-Time Average: The Line on This Site
This site uses the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, as its benchmark line. For full-time adult ordinary time earnings, the national average is $2,083.70 per week, which works out to about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52 weeks). This figure is the seasonally adjusted estimate for all persons. It is the line against which all salaries on this site are measured.
For comparison, the full-time median (the middle point of all full-time earnings) is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, about $52,255 per year (Fair Work).
What We Know About Sonographer Pay
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, sonographers are classified under Medical Imaging Professionals (ANZSCO 2512). The occupation profile shows:
- Employment: about 6,000 people.
- Part-time share: 77% (very high, meaning many work part-time).
- Full-time share: only 51% of workers work full-time hours.
- Average full-time hours: 40 hours per week (slightly above the standard 38).
- Female share: 77%.
- Median age: 39 years.
- Median weekly earnings: N/A (not available).
The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) provides average weekly total cash earnings for the broad Professionals occupation group: $2,049.60 for all employees (including part-time). This is below the national full-time average of $2,083.70. However, because sonographers are a specialised subset of professionals, and many work part-time, the full-time equivalent earnings for sonographers could be higher. Without a published median, we cannot be certain.
How the Ultrasound Tech Salary Compares to Other Benchmarks
- Versus the national full-time average ($2,083.70/week): If a sonographer works full-time, their earnings are likely to be in a similar range to other health professionals. The average for all professionals (including part-time) is $2,049.60, so full-time sonographers may earn slightly above or below the line. But without data, we cannot say.
- Versus the all-employees median ($1,436/week): Given that sonographers are skilled professionals, their earnings are almost certainly above this median.
- Versus the minimum wage ($1,004.90/week): Sonographers earn well above the minimum wage, as expected for a profession requiring tertiary qualifications and registration.
State-by-State Context
The national full-time average varies by state. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, gives these state full-time adult ordinary time earnings (annualised):
- New South Wales: about $109,658
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- Tasmania: about $96,008
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
Sonographer pay may also vary by state, but no official breakdown is published. The ACT and WA have the highest averages, which may reflect higher wages for health professionals in those regions.
Why the Median Is Not Published
The ABS suppresses median weekly earnings for occupations where the relative standard error is 25% or higher. For sonographers, the sample size in the survey is too small to produce a reliable estimate. This is common for smaller occupations. Jobs and Skills Australia also notes that median figures are not produced for 6-digit ANZSCO occupations like sonographers.
What This Means for Your Salary Research
If you are an employer or employee trying to benchmark an ultrasound tech salary, you will need to look beyond the ABS. Possible sources include:
- Enterprise agreements and awards for medical imaging professionals (check Fair Work).
- Industry surveys from the Australasian Sonographers Association or similar bodies.
- Job advertisements that list salary ranges.
On this site, we can only show what the official statistics support. For sonographers, that means we cannot place a precise point on the line. However, you can use the national full-time average and the professional average as reference points.
Internal Resources
- Place a salary on the line – Use our tool to see how any salary compares to the national average.
- Job medians – Browse median earnings for other occupations where data is available.
- States and territories – See how averages differ across Australia.
- Guides – Read more about how salaries are measured.
Summary
The official ultrasound tech salary figure is not published by the ABS. The best available proxy is the average for all professionals ($2,049.60 per week), which sits just below the national full-time average of $2,083.70. Given the high part-time share and specialised nature of the role, full-time sonographers likely earn close to the national line, but we cannot confirm this with official data. For precise benchmarking, consult industry sources or enterprise agreements.