NHS role

Sonographer Sonographer

A specialist who performs and interprets ultrasound scans (obstetric, vascular, abdominal). An acute national shortage profession, usually entered from radiography.

Salary
£49,387–£56,515
NHS demand
Growing
Next step
Consultant AHP

Already here? This is my role →

CareRoute Career Score™
Excellent
relative to other NHS roles

Strong on work–life balance and salary growth; held back by entry.

Salary growth93

Can reach ~£84,000 via Clinical Director / Consultant-level Lead.

Job security70

Large workforce (~207,579); growing (+3% YoY).

AI resistance55

Moderately resistant to automation — mixed work.

Work–life balance95

Strong work–life balance; regular hours.

Entry access43

Moderate entry — high study load, low competition.

Flexibility62

2 onward routes; good flexible-working scope.

Career Score™ is CareRoute's own indicative rating from public NHS-style data — not an official NHS ranking. A composite of six factors; same inputs always give the same score.

Salary
£49,387–£56,515
Next step
Consultant AHP
Avg progression
~5 yrs
NHS demand
Growing
Study required
High
Flexibility
Solid
Why we scored it 72: Strong on work–life balance and salary growth; held back by entry.

What you'd do

  • Perform diagnostic ultrasound examinations
  • Interpret and report findings
  • Communicate results sensitively to patients
  • Maintain imaging quality and safety

Is this you?

You enjoy helping people and working as part of a team
You want hands-on NHS experience
You're drawn to imaging & radiography
You value secure, structured public-sector work

Typical progression routes

Indicative routes from the career graph — not usage data.

Your salary roadmap

Indicative pay on the highest-reaching route, by year.

£49,387
Yr 0
£51,932
Yr 2
£51,932
Yr 4
£57,528
Yr 6
£79,504
Yr 8
See how to reach £84,346

Skills & requirements

Skills you'll use in this role
Image interpretationManual precisionCommunicationClinical reasoning
What you'll need for your next step → Consultant AHP
  • HCPC registration (allied health professional)
  • Consultant-level portfolio / doctoral study
  • 2+ years post-registration experience
Latest intelligence

Guides & updates

We're writing in-depth imaging & radiography guides — pay, entry routes and progression. In the meantime, explore the roles and career map above.

FAQ

Questions, answered straight

Band 7 on the 2026/27 Agenda for Change scale — indicative figures; verify against official NHS sources.
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Where to look next

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