NOC 32122: Medical sonographers
What medical sonographers do
Medical sonographers operate ultrasound equipment to produce and record images of various parts of the body to aid physicians in monitoring pregnancies and in diagnosing cardiac, ophthalmic, vascular and other medical disorders. They are employed in clinics and hospitals. Medical sonographers who are supervisors or instructors are included in this unit group.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Operate ultrasound imaging equipment that transmits high frequency sound pulses through the body to produce images of those parts of the body requiring examination
- Monitor examination by viewing images on video screen, to evaluate quality and consistency of diagnostic images, and make adjustments to equipment, as required
- Record, store and process scanned images by using camera unit connected to ultrasound equipment
- Observe and care for patients throughout examinations to ensure patient safety and comfort
- Prepare examination reports for physicians to aid in the monitoring of pregnancies and the diagnosis of cardiac, abdominal, ophthalmic, vascular and other disorders
- Perform quality control checks on ultrasound equipment to ensure proper operation and perform minor repairs and adjustments as required
- May supervise and train students and other medical sonographers.
- Medical sonographers may specialize in abdominal, cardiac, cerebral, obstetrical and gynaecological, ophthalmic, intraluminal or peripheral vascular sonography. They may also specialize in adult or pediatric echocardiography or neurosonology.
Job titles under NOC 32122
37 job titles are classified here, including diagnostic medical sonography instructor, medical sonographer, medical sonographers supervisor.
- adult echocardiographer
- cardiac sonographer
- cardiac ultrasound technician
- cardiac ultrasound technologist
- chief diagnostic medical sonographer
- diagnostic cardiac sonographer
- diagnostic echography technician
- diagnostic medical sonographer
- diagnostic medical sonography instructor
- diagnostic ultrasonography technician
- diagnostic ultrasound supervisor
- diagnostic ultrasound technician
- diagnostic ultrasound technologist - medical
- echocardiographer
- echocardiography technician
- echocardiography technologist
- echocardiography technologist sonographer
- echography technician
- echography technologist
- medical imaging technologist - ultrasound
- medical sonographer
- medical sonographers supervisor
- pediatric echocardiographer
- registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer
Employment requirements
- Completion of a three- to four-year program in diagnostic medical sonography or ultrasound technology or completion of a two- to three-year program in a related allied health field and a one-year post-diploma program in diagnostic medical sonography from an accredited institution are required.
- Registration with Sonography Canada and/or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is usually required by employers.
- Registration with l'Ordre des technologues en imagerie médicale, en radio-oncologie et en électrophysiologie médicale du Québec is required in Quebec.
- Registration with the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario (CMRTO) is required in Ontario.
Medical sonographers wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $34.90/hr | $42.00/hr | $51.00/hr |
Toronto ON | $35.00/hr | $41.00/hr | $45.60/hr |
Montréal QC | $30.61/hr | $38.14/hr | $46.53/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $34.38/hr | $43.96/hr | $50.96/hr |
Calgary AB | $36.10/hr | $46.09/hr | $54.01/hr |
Edmonton AB | $36.22/hr | $46.37/hr | $54.15/hr |
Ottawa ON | $29.91/hr | $40.63/hr | $50.25/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $33.17/hr | $40.16/hr | $48.17/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $29.47/hr | $38.50/hr | $45.70/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $28.16/hr | $39.04/hr | $47.33/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $30.16/hr | $40.69/hr | $51.64/hr |
London ON | $33.50/hr | $42.00/hr | $44.86/hr |
Halifax NS | $30.48/hr | $39.33/hr | $46.57/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $34.40/hr | $44.02/hr | $52.35/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $33.41/hr | $43.61/hr | $51.20/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $33.86/hr | $44.17/hr | $50.44/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $33.44/hr | $42.70/hr | $48.72/hr |
Nova Scotia | $29.56/hr | $39.01/hr | $45.30/hr |
New Brunswick | $30.31/hr | $37.23/hr | $43.72/hr |
Quebec | $29.47/hr | $38.50/hr | $45.70/hr |
Ontario | $35.00/hr | $41.00/hr | $48.08/hr |
Manitoba | $39.21/hr | $41.70/hr | $46.00/hr |
Saskatchewan | $33.55/hr | $44.07/hr | $52.52/hr |
Alberta | $38.46/hr | $46.00/hr | $55.65/hr |
British Columbia | $35.00/hr | $44.41/hr | $50.00/hr |
Using NOC 32122 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 37 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Medical radiation technologists (NOC 32121)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for medical sonographers?
Medical sonographers are NOC 2021 unit group 32122. Example job titles in this group include diagnostic medical sonography instructor, medical sonographer, medical sonographers supervisor, registered diagnostic medical sonographer (RDMS).
What TEER is NOC 32122?
NOC 32122 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do medical sonographers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $42.00/hr, about $82,000 a year full-time, with a range of $34.90/hr to $51.00/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.