Sonographer salary UK 2026/27
You are looking at ultrasound as a career, or comparing an NHS post with agency work. A qualified sonographer in an NHS trust in England is usually on Band 7: £49,387 to £56,515 in 2026/27, about £2,934 a month after tax and pension at entry. Trainees are usually paid Band 6 or a reduced Band 7 rate while they qualify.
Sonographer pay from trainee to consultant
England, full time on 37.5 hours, NHS Pension member, standard tax code.
| Stage | Band | Salary | Take-home a month | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee sonographer Common for trainees on a postgraduate course | Band 6 | £39,959 | £2,430 | £20.44 |
| Qualified sonographer | Band 7 | £49,387 | £2,934 | £25.26 |
| Sonographer, 5 years on Band 7 | Band 7 | £56,515 | £3,309 | £28.90 |
| Advanced or specialist sonographer | Band 8a | £57,528 | £3,353 | £29.42 |
| Consultant or lead sonographer | Band 8b | £66,582 | £3,742 | £34.05 |
Trusts train sonographers in two main ways. Many put trainees on Band 6, £39,959, rising to Band 7 on qualifying. Others pay Band 7 under Annex 21 of the NHS terms, which sets trainee pay as a percentage of the Band 7 rate that rises as you get closer to qualifying. Ask which one a training post uses, because the difference over two years can be several thousand pounds.
Experienced sonographers move to Band 8a, £57,528, in advanced roles such as reporting complex obstetric or vascular scans, leading a service or teaching, and to Band 8b as consultant sonographers.
Why some sonographer posts pay more
Sonography has long-standing shortages, so some trusts add a recruitment and retention premium on top of Band 7, typically a percentage of basic pay. It is shown separately on the advert and on your payslip. Check whether it is temporary, how long it lasts, and whether it counts for your NHS Pension before you rely on it.
Posts in and around London also get the High Cost Area Supplement, 5% to 20% of basic pay depending on the zone.
NHS sonographer or locum?
Agency adverts for Band 7 sonographers commonly offer £40 to £60 an hour, against £25.26 an hour basic at Band 7 entry. The hourly gap looks large, but locum pay has to cover the things an NHS post includes.
| Full time, England 2026/27 | Gross a year | Take-home a year | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS Band 7 entry | £49,387 | £35,206 | Paid holiday, sick pay, NHS Pension with 23.7% from your employer |
| Locum at £40 an hour | £69,000 | £50,577 | Nothing for weeks not worked; no NHS Pension |
| Locum at £60 an hour | £103,500 | £69,887 | Nothing for weeks not worked; no NHS Pension |
The locum figures assume 46 weeks of work a year through PAYE with no pension, so they allow for holidays and gaps between contracts. Locum work pays more into your bank account, but the NHS figure leaves out the pension. Add what you and your employer pay in, £4,840 and £11,705, and a Band 7 post is worth about £51,751 a year, close to the bottom of the locum range. At the top of the range, locum work is well ahead, as long as the contracts keep coming and you do not need sick pay.
Sonographer pay per hour
| England 2026/27 | Basic | Evening or Saturday (+30%) | Sunday or bank holiday (+60%) | Overtime (x1.5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 6 entry | £20.44 | £26.57 | £32.70 | £30.65 |
| Band 7 entry | £25.26 | £32.83 | £40.41 | £37.89 |
| Band 7 top | £28.90 | £37.57 | £46.24 | £43.35 |
| Band 8a entry | £29.42 | £38.25 | £47.07 | No overtime |
Most ultrasound lists run in the day, but many departments now run evening and weekend lists to cut waiting times, paid at the enhanced rates above.
Sonographer pay in each UK nation
| Nation | Band 6 | Band 7 |
|---|---|---|
| England 37.5-hour week | £39,959 to £48,117 £2,430 a month at entry | £49,387 to £56,515 £2,934 a month at entry |
| Scotland 36-hour week | £43,231 to £52,679 £2,600 a month at entry | £52,845 to £61,466 £3,032 a month at entry |
| Wales 37.5-hour week | £40,559 to £48,841 £2,462 a month at entry | £50,129 to £57,365 £2,974 a month at entry |
| Northern Ireland 37.5-hour week | £38,682 to £46,580 £2,356 a month at entry | £47,810 to £54,710 £2,843 a month at entry |
Scotland pays most and has a 36-hour week. Northern Ireland figures are 2025/26 rates while the 2026/27 award waits for approval.
How to become a sonographer
Most sonographers qualify through a postgraduate certificate or diploma in medical ultrasound, accredited by CASE, after training as a radiographer, midwife or nurse. There are also direct-entry BSc and MSc ultrasound courses for people without a clinical background.
“Sonographer” is not a legally protected title, and employers have to check competence themselves. Sonographers who are already radiographers stay registered with the HCPC; others can join a voluntary register. The radiographer salary page covers the usual route in.
What it comes to
A qualified NHS sonographer in England takes home about £2,934 a month at Band 7 entry, rising to about £3,309 at the top after five years. Before you accept a training post, ask whether it pays Band 6 or Annex 21, and whether any retention premium is permanent.
Common questions
What band is a sonographer?
Usually Band 7 once qualified, £49,387 to £56,515 in England in 2026/27. Trainees are often on Band 6 or a reduced Band 7 rate, and advanced sonographers are Band 8a.
How much does a sonographer take home a month?
About £2,934 at Band 7 entry in England after tax, National Insurance and pension, before any enhancements or retention premium.
Do sonographers earn more as locums?
Agency rates are commonly £40 to £60 an hour. Allowing for unpaid holidays and no employer pension, the bottom of that range is close to an NHS Band 7 post overall, and the top is well ahead if the work is steady.
Is sonographer a protected title?
No. Employers must check competence themselves. Many sonographers are HCPC-registered radiographers, and others can join a voluntary register.
Can you become a sonographer without being a radiographer?
Yes. Nurses and midwives can take a postgraduate ultrasound course, and there are direct-entry BSc and MSc courses for people without a clinical background.