Sleep technician vs patient care technician

The differences between sleep technicians and patient care 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 $32,806 average annual salary of a patient care technician.

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

Sleep technician vs patient care technician overview

	Sleep Technician	Patient Care Technician
Yearly salary	$50,458	$32,806
Hourly rate	$24.26	$15.77
Growth rate	1%	9%
Number of jobs	25,502	167,520
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Average age	43	34
Years of experience	-	-

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 patient care technician do?

Patient care technicians are medical workers who work in clinics, hospitals, or other medical facilities under the supervision of doctors or other health professionals. They provide assistance to health professionals and patients. They help patients with mobility concerns get into hospital beds, bathrooms, wheelchairs, and more. They also help patients with their physical therapy sessions and other physical needs. They handle patient concerns and communicate these to attending physicians. They may be assigned to administer basic medical procedures such as checking vital signs and collecting samples from patients, among others.

Sleep technician vs patient care technician salary

Sleep technicians and patient care technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Sleep Technician	Patient Care Technician
Average salary	$50,458	$32,806
Salary range	Between $36,000 And $70,000	Between $24,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	-	Rochester, NH
Highest paying state	-	Vermont
Best paying company	-	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between sleep technician and patient care technician education

There are a few differences between a sleep technician and a patient care technician in terms of educational background:

	Sleep Technician	Patient Care Technician
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Most common major	Medical Technician	Nursing
Most common college	University of Connecticut	Emory University

Sleep technician vs patient care technician demographics

Here are the differences between sleep technicians' and patient care technicians' demographics:

	Sleep Technician	Patient Care Technician
Average age	43	34
Gender ratio	Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1%	Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0%
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, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	10%	15%

Differences between sleep technician and patient care 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.

Patient care technician example responsibilities.

Manage care and prepare medical records, transcription and supply orders.
Manage daily care of high acuity patients with neurological trauma/disorders and post-surgery.
Qualify to perform patient care responsibilities on catheter patients.
Transport patients using wheelchairs and stretchers and assist patients to ambulate safely.
Assist with transferring patients in and out of wheelchairs, recliners, and stretchers.
Apply protective restraints safely and appropriately, assist in the admission, discharge and transfer of patients as needed.

Sleep technician vs patient care technician skills

Common sleep technician skills

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

Common patient care technician skills

Patients, 24%
Vital Signs, 9%
Phlebotomy, 7%
CPR, 6%
Direct Patient Care, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Sleep Technician
Sleep Technician vs Patient Care Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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