Anesthesiologists: Career Overview
Administer anesthetics and analgesics for pain management prior to, during, or after surgery.
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What Tasks Do Anesthesiologists Take On?
Typical responsibilities of anesthesiologists span:
- Monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications.
- Record type and amount of anesthesia and patient condition throughout procedure.
- Provide and maintain life support and airway management and help prepare patients for emergency surgery.
- Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, using local, intravenous, spinal, or caudal methods.
- Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures.
- Position patient on operating table to maximize patient comfort and surgical accessibility.
- Coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons during operation.
- Decide when patients have recovered or stabilized enough to be sent to another room or ward or to be sent home following outpatient surgery.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective anesthesiologists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Anesthesiologists Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Ambulatory Anesthesiologist
- Anaesthesiologist
- Anesthesiologist
- Anesthesiology Pain Management Physician
- Anesthesiology Physician
- Anesthetist
- Cardiac Anesthesiologist
- DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician)
Employment and Demand
There are about 2,641,515 anesthesiologists working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +10.1% over the projection horizon.
Anesthesiologists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $78,195 |
| Hourly median | $37.59 |
| 10th percentile | $48,812 |
| 25th percentile | $63,504 |
| 75th percentile | $92,887 |
| 90th percentile | $107,578 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Anesthesiologists Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | $229,870 |
| New York | $215,740 |
| Georgia | $206,890 |
| Texas | $203,450 |
| West Virginia | $168,390 |
Where Anesthesiologists Earn the Most
Earnings for anesthesiologists vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $200,237 | 12.1% | 0.99 |
| Middle Atlantic | $84,380 | 15.1% | 1.06 |
| Southeast | $50,805 | 22.0% | 1.11 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $235,950 | 450 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $208,680 | 1,530 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $206,890 | |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $202,830 | 1,190 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | VA | $199,430 | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | GA | $196,100 | 40 |
Which Industries Hire Anesthesiologists
The largest employers of anesthesiologists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 40,890 | n/a |
| Educational Services | 680 | $217,170 |
Below are examples of industries where anesthesiologists work:
Tools and Technology
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for anesthesiologists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
- Physical Proximity
Education and Training
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Physician Assistants (Primary-Long)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Primary-Short)
- Respiratory Therapists (Supplemental)
- Registered Nurses (Supplemental)
- Acute Care Nurses (Supplemental)
- Nurse Anesthetists (Primary-Short)
- Nurse Practitioners (Primary-Long)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Future anesthesiologists commonly pursue programs in:
5 programs across 2 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced 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: 29-1211.00 (Anesthesiologists).
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