Runs overnight sleep studies that record brain waves, breathing, and heart rhythm to diagnose disorders like sleep apnea and narcolepsy. BLS does not publish separate figures for neurodiagnostic technologists; it counts them within neurodiagnostic technologist (SOC 29-2099), whose median pay is $50,290 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 29-2099
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Sleep Technologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $50,290a year, or $24.18/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $38KTop 10% $85K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.9%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 12,400185,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025185.6K
- Projected 2035196.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 185.6K Projected 2035 196.4K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Certificate35.5%
- Associate's48.4%
- Bachelor's16.1%
Highest education held by neurodiagnostic technologists Segment Value Certificate 35.5% Associate's 48.4% Bachelor's 16.1%
Also advertised as: Polysomnographic Technologist, Registered Polysomnographic Technologist, RPSGT, Sleep Tech, Polysomnographer.
Pay
How much do Neurodiagnostic Technologists make?
Every sleep technologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$50,290
Middle half earn $44,170 to $64,340
- 10th
- $38,180
- 25th
- $44,170
- 75th
- $64,340
- 90th
- $85,270
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $38,180 |
| 25th | $44,170 |
| Median | $50,290 |
| 75th | $64,340 |
| 90th | $85,270 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $50,290
- Median hourly wage
- $24.18/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $58,710
- People employed
- 182,610
Versus all US occupations
At $50,290, the median for Neurodiagnostic Technologists sits in line with the $50,980 median across all US occupations.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 51% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $85,270 or more while the bottom 10% earn $38,180, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 22% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Wyoming pays the most at $80,520, and still leads at $86,869 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Neurodiagnostic Technologists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Wyoming | $80,520 | $86,869 | 90 |
| 2Delaware | $78,650 | $78,801 | 110 |
| 3U.S. Virgin Islands | $72,450 | N/A | 30 |
| 4Washington | $62,090 | $58,021 | 3,870 |
| 5Maine | $61,490 | $63,359 | 550 |
| 6Massachusetts | $60,500 | $57,207 | 3,550 |
| 7California | $60,390 | $54,543 | 26,540 |
| 8Oregon | $60,390 | $58,426 | 1,720 |
| 9New York | $60,320 | $55,893 | 11,910 |
| 10Hawaii | $59,900 | $54,479 | 1,000 |
Job outlook
Is Sleep Technologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | +5.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Neurodiagnostic Technologists to change 5.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 10,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 12,400 openings are projected each year, 6.7% of the 185,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Sleep Technologist
The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) awards the Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) credential. Eligibility pathways include graduating from a CAAHEP- or CoARC-accredited polysomnography program, or combining supervised clinical experience with BRPT-approved education or another healthcare credential, such as respiratory therapy.
Many technologists start as sleep technicians or trainees and certify while working. The American Board of Sleep Medicine also offers the Registered Sleep Technologist credential, and the National Board for Respiratory Care offers a sleep disorders specialty for respiratory therapists. Some states require a license to practice.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as neurodiagnostic technologists.
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree48.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate35.5%
- Bachelor's Degree16.1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 48.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 35.5% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 16.1% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Sleep Technologist do?
Sleep technologists perform polysomnography, the overnight test used to diagnose sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs, parasomnias, and other sleep disorders. They attach sensors to the scalp, face, chest, and legs, then monitor brain waves, eye movements, muscle activity, breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rhythm through the night from a control room.
When a patient shows apnea, they may start and adjust CPAP or BiPAP pressure to find an effective setting. They also run daytime nap tests, set up home sleep apnea tests, score recorded studies by standardized rules, fit masks, and teach patients how to use their therapy equipment at home.
Day-to-day tasks
- Apply sensors and electrodes for overnight polysomnography
- Monitor brain, breathing, and heart signals throughout the night
- Titrate CPAP and BiPAP pressures for patients with sleep apnea
- Conduct multiple sleep latency and maintenance of wakefulness tests
- Score sleep studies using standardized scoring rules
- Fit masks and teach patients to use home therapy equipment
- Set up and process home sleep apnea tests
- Respond to cardiac or breathing emergencies during studies
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Sleep technologists work in hospital sleep labs, independent sleep centers, and neurology or pulmonary practices. Most clinical studies run overnight, so the job usually involves night shifts, often three or four long shifts a week. Daytime roles focus on scoring, home testing, and patient education, and some scoring work can be done remotely.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.6
- Writing3.4
- Active Learning3.1
- Learning Strategies3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Instructing3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Medical software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Sleep Technologist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RIS) built on O*NET's Neurodiagnostic Technologist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Sleep Technologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative5.8
- Realistic5.5
- Conventional4.4
- Social4.0
- Enterprising1.4
- Artistic1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Sleep Technologist
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More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with neurodiagnostic technologists highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
- Sleep Technologist$50,290
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
| Sleep Technologist | $50,290 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Sleep Technologist appears on
Questions
Sleep Technologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Neurodiagnostic Technologists make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for neurodiagnostic technologists. It counts them within neurodiagnostic technologist, whose median pay is $50,290 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $44,170 and $64,340, and the top 10% earn $85,270 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Sleep Technologist?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Neurodiagnostic Technologists. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 48.4% hold associate's degree or other 2-year degree.
Is Sleep Technologist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.9% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 12,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Sleep Technologist do?
Sleep technologists perform polysomnography, the overnight test used to diagnose sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs, parasomnias, and other sleep disorders. A typical task: apply sensors and electrodes for overnight polysomnography. Employers most often ask for Medical software, Object or component oriented development software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Neurodiagnostic Technologists the most?
The highest state medians for Neurodiagnostic Technologists are Wyoming ($80,520), Delaware ($78,650), U.S. Virgin Islands ($72,450) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Sleep Technologist?
O*NET scores Neurodiagnostic Technologists highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.