Salary for a sleep technician is based on the job title and geographic location. The national average for sleep technicians was $33,920 in 2014. In some cases, this salary may be supplemented by overtime hours and/or benefits. Other factors that can affect your salary include experience, your educational background and the type of employer where you work
A sleep technician is primarily responsible for the setup, operation and maintenance of life support systems. While these machines are monitored and controlled by nurses in the intensive care unit (ICU), those working with sleep apnea patients require additional training that may be offered at a nearby hospital. A salary for sleep technician can vary between $19,000 and $95,000 depending on education, experience and location.
Average salary for sleep technician is $40,000. Based on our research and using the median numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) we have compiled this average salary table of sleep technician pay scales based on years of experience. Jobtome looks at many different factors to discover how much a sleep technician makes hourly, as well as what an average sleep technician makes annually. Read on for details about how much money you can expect to make as a sleep technician
Salary For Sleep Technician Overview
A sleep technician is a person who has been trained to work with patients who have sleep disorders. Sleep technologists can be certified in areas such as polysomnography, which is the process of gathering information about a person’s sleep patterns, and electroencephalography (EEG), which involves using electrodes to record electrical activity in the brain. They may also be able to use the equipment used in polysomnography, such as an electroencephalograph (EEG) machine and electrocardiogram (EKG) machine.
To become a sleep technician, you’ll need to complete two years of training at an accredited program. You will learn how to use the equipment used in polysomnography, how to interpret test results, how to treat patients with sleep disorders and how to educate them about their condition.
You should also make sure that your school or program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). This ensures that your education will meet the standards set forth by the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic & Evoked Potential Technologists
What Is A Sleep Technician
Sleep technicians or polysomnographic technicians work with people who have sleeping disorders. They run tests as part of the diagnosing process, collecting data and writing up reports to aid physicians’ work coming up with treatment plans for the patients.
You will need to acquire appropriate training as a sleep technician to work in this field, and the lowest requirement is having a CPR certification. Patients will look to you for explanations about the sleeping tests and procedures to be carried out, so you will need to be patient and understanding when performing this role.
You will be working under the supervision of a physician or licensed sleep technologist. It will be your job to prepare equipment, create documentation of the processes and results, and prepare reports on the findings analyzing the procured data.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a Sleep Technician. For example, did you know that they make an average of $23.88 an hour? That’s $49,680 a year!
Sleep Technician Job Description
There are approximately 100 different sleep disorders, any of which can cause serious health problems such as a heart attack or stroke. A sleep technologist (also called a polysomnographic technician) works under the supervision of a licensed physician to monitor and record physiological data during a patient’s sleep state. Technologists use a variety of equipment, techniques and procedures to analyze heart rhythms and breathing patterns. They place electrodes on patients to monitor brain activity and muscle movements, and they visually assess patient sleep behaviors such as position changes, patterns of sleep and wakefulness, and snoring. They also assist in educating patients and promoting health and wellness, which can help pave the way to quality sleep.
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Sleep Technologist Jobs
We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Sleep Technologist job is above the national average. Topping the list is San Mateo, CA, with Daly City, CA and Berkeley, CA close behind in the second and third positions. Berkeley, CA beats the national average by $9,166 (17.6%), and San Mateo, CA furthers that trend with another $10,252 (19.6%) above the $52,231 average.
With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Sleep Technologist appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top ten cities varies very little at 7% between San Mateo, CA and Merced, CA, reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Sleep Technologist role.
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo, CA | $62,484 | $5,207 | $1,202 | $30.04 |
| Daly City, CA | $61,432 | $5,119 | $1,181 | $29.53 |
| Berkeley, CA | $61,398 | $5,116 | $1,181 | $29.52 |
| Green River, WY | $59,976 | $4,998 | $1,153 | $28.83 |
| Irvine, CA | $59,625 | $4,969 | $1,147 | $28.67 |
| Richmond, CA | $58,496 | $4,875 | $1,125 | $28.12 |
| Orange, CA | $57,957 | $4,830 | $1,115 | $27.86 |
| Oxnard, CA | $57,940 | $4,828 | $1,114 | $27.86 |
| Tacoma, WA | $57,933 | $4,828 | $1,114 | $27.85 |
| Merced, CA | $57,817 | $4,818 | $1,112 | $27.80 |
