Sleep technician vs certified medical technician

The differences between sleep technicians and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a sleep technician has an average salary of $50,458, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a sleep technician include patients, patient care and RPSGT. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Sleep technician vs certified medical technician overview

	Sleep Technician	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$50,458	$38,859
Hourly rate	$24.26	$18.68
Growth rate	1%	5%
Number of jobs	25,502	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	43	44
Years of experience	-	12

What does a sleep technician do?

The sleep technician is someone who works with a physician to ensure the optimal sleep experience of people. The sleep technician's goal is to assist the physician in diagnosing the type of sleep problem of a patient. The sleep technician will help monitor the patient's vital signs, determine sleep patterns, and help execute all prescriptions and instructions of a physician. The sleep technician also works in various laboratory roles, especially in studies concerning people's sleep patterns and problems.

What does a certified medical technician do?

Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.

Sleep technician vs certified medical technician salary

Sleep technicians and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Sleep Technician	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$50,458	$38,859
Salary range	Between $36,000 And $70,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between sleep technician and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a sleep technician and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Sleep Technician	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Medical Technician	Nursing
Most common college	University of Connecticut	University of Connecticut

Sleep technician vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between sleep technicians' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Sleep Technician	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	43	44
Gender ratio	Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 8.8% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	10%	8%

Differences between sleep technician and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Sleep technician example responsibilities.

Administer CPAP and BiPAP devices and educate patients the effective way of using and trouble shooting operate clinical devices.
Perform mask fitting, CPAP and BiPap set ups and titration through modification of modes and settings base on patient response.
Identify and troubleshoot artifact (EEG, EMG, ECG, and respiratory channels as well as the environment).
Have experience with running research, in hospital patient's, pediatrics and set ups for MSLT's and MWT's.
general floors, PFT lab and perform ECG's.
Maintain current CPR, a certification.

Certified medical technician example responsibilities.

Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.

Sleep technician vs certified medical technician skills

Common sleep technician skills

Patients, 16%
Patient Care, 9%
RPSGT, 6%
CPR, 5%
Patient Safety, 3%
Sleep Disorders, 3%

Common certified medical technician skills

Patients, 17%
Vital Signs, 12%
CPR, 8%
Administer Medications, 7%
Resident Care, 6%
HIPAA, 6%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Sleep Technician
Sleep Technician vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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