Herbie Murray
So, you want to get paid to sleep? Well, believe it or not, you can! Professional sleepers are typically paid to support scientific investigations into sleep patterns or assessments of the efficacy of various sleep-related items. While there are no specific qualifications needed to become a professional sleeper, you do need to be at least 18 years old and meet a variety of other criteria for scientific studies. This includes being in good health and providing a full medical history. In some cases, you may need to have certain conditions, such as insomnia. So, if you're looking for a career that's a little more relaxed, professional sleeping might just be your dream job!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Qualifications needed | No specific qualifications are needed, but some roles may require a background in fields related to sleep science, such as psychology, neuroscience, or a certification in sleep technology. |
| Age requirement | Must be at least 18 years old |
| Health requirements | Must be in good health and willing to disclose full medical history, and in some cases, the medical history of your family |
| Flexibility | Must be able to work in different environments and be willing to adapt to the needs of the job |
| Skills | Good communication skills, observational skills, organisational skills, ability to provide feedback, ability to sleep in different circumstances |
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What You'll Learn
Qualifications and requirements
While there are no specific qualifications needed to become a professional sleeper, there are some essential requirements and desirable skills that can increase your chances of success in this field. Here are the key qualifications and requirements to become a professional sleeper:
- Age Requirement: Most opportunities require candidates to be at least 18 years old. This is a standard requirement for participating in scientific research and medical trials.
- Good Health: Being in good overall health and having good sleeping habits are important. Employers and researchers look for individuals with healthy sleep patterns and habits to ensure the accuracy of findings.
- Medical History: You must be willing to disclose your complete medical history and, in some cases, the medical history of your family. Certain studies may specifically look for participants with particular medical conditions, such as insomnia.
- Flexibility: A flexible schedule is crucial, as projects can happen at any time of the day or night. You should be prepared to sleep at unusual hours and adapt to varying sleep schedules.
- Communication Skills: Effective verbal and written communication skills are highly valued. Professional sleepers need to clearly articulate their experiences, provide detailed feedback, and write comprehensive reports for researchers and product developers.
- Observational Skills: Strong observational skills are essential for noting specific aspects of your sleep experience, such as changes in sleep quality and the sleep environment.
- Adaptability: The ability to sleep in different circumstances is vital. This includes sleeping away from home, with people watching, and with wires or monitoring equipment attached to your body.
- Organisational Skills: Excellent organisational and time management skills are beneficial, especially if you plan to participate in multiple studies simultaneously.
- Niche Specialisation: While not a requirement, building expertise in a specific area, such as mattress quality evaluation, can enhance your employability and help you establish yourself in the field.
- Background in Sleep Science: Although not mandatory, a background in fields related to sleep science, such as psychology or neuroscience, can be advantageous. Additionally, certifications or participation in sleep studies can make your application more competitive.
While a degree is not necessary to become a professional sleeper, meeting these qualifications and requirements will better position you for opportunities in this unique career path.
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Salary and prospects
The salary of a professional sleeper is not fixed as each job and role differ from others. In many cases, they are hired for certain projects, so pinning down a specific salary range is difficult. However, there are some examples of the salaries professional sleepers have been paid for specific roles.
NASA, for example, paid volunteers $18,000 to lie in bed for 70 days back in 2013, while one study at the University of Colorado offered to pay subjects up to $2,730 to participate in a 14–17-hour sleep study. In 2006, budget hotel chain Travelodge hired Wayne Munnelly into their newly created Director of Sleep position, offering a salary of £60,000 ($76,450) to sleep in every single one of the chain’s 17,000 rooms and evaluate lighting, noise, cleanliness and overall comfort.
Roisin Madigan, a student from Manchester, was paid £1,000 ($1,270) to sleep in designer beds every day for a month, while the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City offered subjects $10 an hour to take sleeping pills and sleep on a bed in the middle of the museum as part of an exhibition.
The Sleep Medicine division at Harvard Medical School can pay around $10,125 to professional sleepers for 32-37 days of research study. Bed and mattress testers can also be paid handsomely, with one hospitality company paying a bed tester over $100,000 a year to sleep in every room of their hotel. In this niche, people are even hired to test designer beds and mattresses, with Roisin Madigan being paid £1000 by Travelodge.
The National Health Service (NHS) pays its medical consultants £1800 to work a 12 and a half hour shift, and if that shift is a night shift, they are paid £144 an hour, in addition to their regular salary.
While it might not replace a full-time income, being a professional sleeper can certainly contribute to your financial pool, especially if you can land consistent opportunities. A sleep coach, for example, can make an average salary of around $35,000 per year. Some reports suggest an average hourly wage for a professional sleeper could be around $15 to $20 per hour.
As a professional sleeper, expanding your expertise in sleep-related fields can open doors to new advancements. You may find opportunities to participate in more specialized sleep studies or pivot to roles focused on sleep analysis and consultation. While the role may not follow a traditional career ladder, staying proactive in seeking new projects and continuous learning can lead to personal and professional growth. Engaging with industry communities and staying abreast of emerging trends will help position you for unique opportunities within this niche field.
While there isn't a regular source of income in this profession, and there can be long waits between tests, the job market for professional sleepers will surely expand in the near future. This is because machines and AI cannot truly understand and analyse the emotions of comfort and relaxation like a human does. As long as humans continue to be biologically hardwired for sleeping, there will be a need for people to test sleep-related products.
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Pros and cons
Pros
- Getting paid to sleep
- Learning more about your own sleeping patterns
- Receiving medical treatment for any detected problems
- Getting to stay in luxury hotels and enjoy five-star treatment as a mattress tester for free
Cons
- Needing to make some lifestyle changes — for example, to participate in some studies, you won’t be allowed caffeine, alcohol or vitamins, or will be asked to drink or eat certain foods
- Spending a long time indoors and possibly feeling out of touch with the outside world
- Spending long periods of time away from family and friends, depending on the gig
- Having no regular source of income and other benefits
- Having to wait up to a month to be allowed to participate in other tests
- The job may become boring after a while
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Skills needed
To become a professional sleeper, you will need to possess a unique set of skills and attributes. Here are some essential skills and qualities that will help you succeed in this career:
- Ability to Sleep in Different Environments: Professional sleepers must be able to sleep in various settings, such as laboratories, hotels, or test centres, often with people watching or wires attached to their bodies. They should be comfortable sleeping away from home and adapt to different conditions, such as sleeping with monitoring equipment or in unusual surroundings.
- Communication Skills: Effective communication, both verbal and written, is crucial. Professional sleepers need to articulate their experiences, provide detailed feedback, and convey their insights clearly to researchers, product developers, and other stakeholders. Strong communication skills also help build relationships with clients and secure future opportunities.
- Observational Skills: A keen eye for detail and a strong observational ability are essential. Professional sleepers must notice and document subtle changes in their sleep quality and environment, such as lighting, noise, and comfort levels. This information is vital for providing comprehensive reports and contributing to product development or scientific research.
- Report Writing Skills: Professional sleepers are often required to produce detailed reports about their sleep experiences. Strong writing skills enable them to create compelling, well-organised, and informative reports that provide valuable insights for clients.
- Flexibility: This career often involves a flexible schedule, as projects can take place at any time of the day or night. Professional sleepers should be adaptable and willing to work around the needs of each job, which may include irregular hours and varying durations.
- Health and Fitness: Maintaining good overall health and fitness is important. Professional sleepers should aim for healthy sleep habits and lifestyles, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, to ensure their bodies are in optimal condition for testing.
- Strong Character: This career often involves spending time away from home and long periods of seclusion. A strong character and the ability to handle solitude are important, as well as the willingness to make necessary lifestyle changes, such as avoiding caffeine or alcohol before certain studies.
- Organisational Skills: Professional sleepers may work on multiple studies or projects simultaneously, so excellent organisational and time management skills are crucial to ensure they can meet the demands of each job without overlap or interference.
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Job opportunities
Professional sleepers can find work in a variety of industries, including science, hospitality, manufacturing, and art. Here are some specific job opportunities within these industries:
- Scientific and medical research subject: Professional sleepers can participate in sleep studies conducted by scientists, researchers, and doctors to better understand sleep patterns and disorders. This may involve sleeping with wires and equipment attached to your body, and you may be required to take sleep aids or medications. These studies are often conducted by universities, sleep clinics, and medical research centres.
- Bed and mattress tester: Hotels, mattress companies, and luxury brands often hire professional sleepers to test their beds, mattresses, bedding, and pillows. You will be expected to provide detailed feedback and reviews on comfort, room lighting, noise, and overall experience. This may also include testing designer beds and high-end mattresses.
- Medical consultant: In some cases, medical consultants like paediatricians and neonatologists who work long hours are permitted to sleep during their shifts. This role involves being on-call and providing medical services when needed, but also allows for rest during quieter periods.
- Exhibitionist sleeper: Some artists and art exhibitions may hire professional sleepers to be part of their living art displays. This may involve sleeping in unusual settings or taking sleeping pills as part of the performance.
- Company-induced napping: Tech companies like Google and Facebook are known for offering perks such as nap pods or dedicated nap rooms to enhance employee productivity. Professional sleepers can find opportunities to test these facilities and provide feedback on their effectiveness.
- Sleep coach: Sleep coaches provide guidance and support to individuals struggling with sleep issues. They may offer advice on sleep hygiene, sleep environment, and sleep-promoting lifestyle changes.
- Product tester for sleep-related products: This involves testing and evaluating a wide range of sleep-related products, including pillows, blankets, quilts, pyjamas, sleep masks, and other sleep accessories. You will provide feedback to help improve the design and functionality of these products.
- Market research participant: Market research companies often conduct studies for sleep-related products, and professional sleepers can be hired to provide feedback and insights as part of focus groups or surveys.
- Sleep study participant: Sleep study centres and universities conducting sleep research may hire professional sleepers as participants for their studies. This helps them collect data on sleep quality, sleep disorders, and the effectiveness of various sleep interventions.
To find these job opportunities, it is recommended to network with people in the relevant industries, such as hotel managers, scientists, researchers, artists, and mattress manufacturers. Online job boards, sleep clinics, medical research centres, and direct outreach to companies are also viable avenues for finding work as a professional sleeper.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you don't need a degree to be a professional sleeper. However, having a background in fields related to sleep science, such as psychology or neuroscience, or even a certification in sleep technology, can be beneficial.
Most opportunities for professional sleepers require candidates to be at least 18 years old and in good health. It's also important to consider any medical conditions that may qualify or disqualify you from specific jobs, as some studies may look for individuals with certain conditions, such as insomnia.
Professional sleepers are paid to sleep and provide feedback to support research investigations. They may work with manufacturers, scientists, medical professionals, and artists. They may test sleep products, participate in medical trials, and provide feedback about their sleeping experiences.
