Sleep Tech Salary

Sleep technicians, also called polysomnography technicians, work under the supervision of a physician or nurse. Sleep technicians monitor patients who are undergoing treatment for various sleep disorders and other conditions related to sleep.

Working Area

The majority of sleep technicians work in hospital environments. But some sleep technicians may be employed by private sleep clinics and testing centers.

Working Hours

Sleep technicians generally work the night shift, because they must be awake to monitor patients and test equipment while they are sleeping--but some sleep technicians do work daytime hours.

Salary

Sleep technicians average between $38,000 and $43,000 per year. This number may be higher or lower depending on geographical area, advanced training and work experience. Sleep technicians in the top earning segment may earn $47,000 a year or more.

Gender Gap

A survey conducted by the Advanced Centers For Respiratory Care and Sleep Medicine discovered that on average, male sleep technicians earned almost $8,000 more per year than their female counterparts.

Career Advancement

Sleep technicians have the opportunity to become sleep lab managers and take on administrative and supervisory roles over other technicians.

Certifications

To become a sleep technician, a person must successfully complete either an on-the-job training program or a program sponsored by a technical or vocational college. This training leads to the completion of an exam that grants sleep technician certification from the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists

References

• Advance Center For Respiratory Care and Sleep Medicine, Salary Savvy: Sleep Technicians
• American Association of Sleep Technologists
• Polysomnography Technologist Salary