Anesthesiologist Assistants: Job Description
Assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Anesthesiologist Assistants Take On?
The core tasks performed by anesthesiologist assistants span:
- Provide airway management interventions including tracheal intubation, fiber optics, or ventilary support.
- Respond to emergency situations by providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), or pediatric advanced life support (PALS).
- Verify availability of operating room supplies, medications, and gases.
- Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and monitors.
- Participate in seminars, workshops, or other professional activities to keep abreast of developments in anesthesiology.
What Anesthesiologist Assistants Need to Know
Effective anesthesiologist assistants combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Anesthesiologist Assistants Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Anesthesia Assistant
- Anesthesia Specialist
- Anesthesia Technician
- Anesthesia Technologist
- Anesthesiologist Assistant
- Anesthesiologists' Assistant
- Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Technician
- Certified Anesthesia Technician
Employment and Demand
There are about 117,012 anesthesiologist assistants working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +15.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Anesthesiologist Assistants
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $116,229 |
| Hourly median | $55.88 |
| 10th percentile | $67,027 |
| 25th percentile | $91,628 |
| 75th percentile | $140,830 |
| 90th percentile | $165,431 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Anesthesiologist Assistants Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $163,020 |
| California | $161,080 |
| Washington | $156,990 |
| New York | $152,650 |
| Oregon | $149,130 |
| Rhode Island | $141,600 |
| New Jersey | $140,490 |
| New Mexico | $139,990 |
| Minnesota | $139,300 |
| Missouri | $139,200 |
| Delaware | $138,720 |
| Vermont | $138,610 |
| Connecticut | $138,440 |
| Massachusetts | $138,090 |
| New Hampshire | $137,330 |
| Alaska | $136,350 |
| Virginia | $135,490 |
| Arizona | $135,240 |
| Utah | $134,390 |
| Maryland | $134,100 |
| Nevada | $133,450 |
| Iowa | $133,400 |
| Wyoming | $133,330 |
| Montana | $132,980 |
| Wisconsin | $132,820 |
| Texas | $132,810 |
| Indiana | $132,200 |
| Michigan | $131,980 |
| Colorado | $131,910 |
| Maine | $131,250 |
| District of Columbia | $131,070 |
| Oklahoma | $130,750 |
| Louisiana | $129,610 |
| Idaho | $129,000 |
| North Carolina | $128,540 |
| Nebraska | $128,240 |
| South Dakota | $128,130 |
| Florida | $127,200 |
| Ohio | $126,760 |
| North Dakota | $126,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $124,880 |
| Kansas | $124,440 |
| Illinois | $122,990 |
| West Virginia | $122,970 |
| South Carolina | $119,190 |
| Tennessee | $113,990 |
| Kentucky | $110,300 |
| Georgia | $109,990 |
| Mississippi | $104,570 |
| Arkansas | $103,550 |
| Alabama | $101,620 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for anesthesiologist assistants vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $157,044 | 13.6% | 0.84 |
| Middle Atlantic | $143,124 | 21.7% | 1.62 |
| New England | $137,767 | 7.1% | 1.57 |
| Plains States | $134,318 | 6.5% | 1.04 |
| Southwest | $133,406 | 10.3% | 0.84 |
| Rocky Mountains | $132,190 | 4.5% | 1.14 |
| Great Lakes | $129,056 | 12.3% | 0.92 |
| Southeast | $123,075 | 24.1% | 1.10 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $215,600 | |
| Napa, CA | CA | $183,930 | |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $180,540 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $178,520 | 200 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $167,090 | 1,980 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $166,730 | 1,160 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $163,940 | 330 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $163,700 | 170 |
Industry Breakdown
Most anesthesiologist assistants are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 143,290 | $132,820 |
| Educational Services | 3,820 | $127,900 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,140 | $157,590 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 450 | $127,870 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 380 | $117,220 |
| Finance and Insurance | 40 | $134,840 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Anesthesiologist Assistants Use
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for anesthesiologist assistants tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Getting Started in This Career
Typical anesthesiologist assistants positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Physician Assistants (Primary-Long)
- Radiation Therapists (Supplemental)
- Respiratory Therapists (Supplemental)
- Registered Nurses (Supplemental)
- Acute Care Nurses (Supplemental)
- Critical Care Nurses (Primary-Long)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Nurse Anesthetists (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future anesthesiologist assistants typically earn programs in:
21 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1071.01 (Physician Assistants).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.