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Polysomnography

A program that prepares individuals to work under the supervision of a physician to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders. Includes instruction in human anatomy and physiology, polysomnographic technology, polysomnography scoring, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of sleep, sleep disorders, and medical terminology. Examples: [Polysomnography], [Polysomnography/Sleep Technology]

Types of Degrees Polysomnography Majors Are Earning

Those studying Polysomnography have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	65
Associate’s Degree	73
Bachelor’s Degree	1
Master’s Degree	117

What Polysomnography Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Polysomnography develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Polysomnography graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Polysomnography emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a Polysomnography program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Social Perceptiveness — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Polysomnography careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Polysomnography graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.6 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.4 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.4 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Polysomnography professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Microsoft Windows	Operating system software	—
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
MEDITECH software	Medical software	—
Medical condition coding software	Medical software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Polysomnography graduates include:

• Medical Technologist
• Polysomnographic Technologist
• Patient Partner
• Patient Resource Worker
• Patient Resource Coordinator
• Patient Registration Representative
• Patient Access Representative
• Case Manager
• Patient Account Representative
• Patient Services Representative
• Patient Resources Agent
• Patient Relations Representative (PRR)
• Patient Navigator
• Care Navigator
• PCT (Patient Care Technician)

What Can You Do With a Polysomnography Degree?

Graduates with a degree in Polysomnography commonly enter the following occupations:

Occupation	Job Growth	Median Salary	25th–75th Pctile
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	10.7%	$46,663	$40,304–$53,022

^{Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*}

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Polysomnography graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Postsecondary certificate	19.2%
High school diploma or equivalent	19.0%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	16.8%
Bachelor’s degree	15.0%
Master’s degree	13.6%
Some college courses	7.4%
Doctoral degree	3.5%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	3.1%
Post-doctoral training	2.7%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Polysomnography?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 80.5% of Polysomnography degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	206	80.5%
Men	50	19.5%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Polysomnography graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	75	29.3%
Asian	9	3.5%
Hispanic or Latino	33	12.9%
Black or African American	74	28.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native	2	0.8%
Two or More Races	9	3.5%
Race Unknown	51	19.9%
International Students	3	1.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Polysomnography Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Polysomnography graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$67,845
4 years	$61,295
5 years	$69,015

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $69,015 — roughly 2% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Polysomnography Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Polysomnography graduates earn a median of $61,295 four years after completion — roughly 61% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	90,379
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)	29,337
Physician Associate/Assistant	13,046
Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer	11,777
Surgical Technology/Technologist	7,626
Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	6,686
Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist	4,111
Athletic Training/Trainer	3,132
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other	2,445
Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist	1,540
Electrocardiograph Technology/Technician	677
Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist	596

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.