SLEEP TECHNICIAN

This year, the number of sleep technicians who responded was low (eight or fewer respondents for each region). The highest average salary reported was slightly lower than last year ($51,430 from the Pacific region) and came from New England at $49,500. However, there was only one respondent for this title in the New England region. No sleep technicians from the Pacific and West North Central regions responded. Taking into account all regions, average salary decreased .5% for sleep technicians from 2008 to 2009.

SLEEP PHYSICIAN (MD)

New England posted the lowest average salary for sleep physicians at only $141,667 annually—drastically lower than the highest reported salary of $381,667 from the Pacific region. (Both of these regions had only three respondents.) No sleep physicians from the West North Central region responded. Taking into account all regions, average salary for sleep physicians increased 33% from 2008 to 2009.

REGISTERED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST (RPSGT)

Salaries for RPSGTs ranged from $48,143 in the Mountain region up to $60,500 in the East South Central region. In 2008, the highest reported average salary for an RPSGT was about the same and came from the Pacific region at $59,063. Taking into account all regions, average salary increased 5% for RPSGTs from 2008 to 2009.

RESPIRATORY THERAPIST (RRT/CRT)

New England posted the highest average salary for respiratory therapists at $76,333. The lowest reported salary for this profession was $35,000 from just one respondent in the West North Central region. Taking into account all regions, average salary for respiratory therapists decreased 4.7% from 2008 to 2009.

SLEEP CENTER DIRECTOR/SUPERVISOR/MANAGER

Nationally, the average salary for sleep center director/supervisor/manager was $70,083. New England anchored this number with an average reported salary of $90,000, although only one respondent from this region participated. New England also reported the highest salary in 2008, but it came in at $71,600. For 2009, the lowest salary for this position came in from the Mountain region where sleep center director/supervisor/managers make $56,650 annually. Taking into account all regions, from 2008 to 2009 average salary increased 8% in the sleep center director/supervisor/manager category.

METHODOLOGY

Sleep Review’s third annual salary survey was conducted in partnership with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC. A total of 414 Sleep Review readers participated in the salary survey. The majority of respondents (32%) were sleep center directors, supervisors, or managers. The salary figures are the respondents’ base salaries; they do not include the value of additional bonuses, stock options, or other incentives.

It is unlikely that the same people responded as did in 2008, so an absolute comparison cannot be assumed.