Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Anesthesiologist Assistants
Anesthesiologist Assistants assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.
Table of contents
What they do
Anesthesiologist Assistants assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.
- Control anesthesia levels during procedures.
- Assist anesthesiologists in monitoring of patients, including electrocardiogram (EKG), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine measurement of temperature, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate.
- 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).
Typical day
On a daily basis, Anesthesiologist Assistants control anesthesia levels during procedures. They assist anesthesiologists in monitoring of patients, including electrocardiogram (ekg), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine measurement of temperature, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate.
A typical day for an Anesthesiologist Assistant will also include:
- Monitor and document patients’ progress during the post-anesthesia period.
- Collect and document patients’ pre-anesthetic health histories.
- Verify availability of operating room supplies, medications, and gases.
- Administer anesthetic, adjuvant, or accessory drugs under the direction of an anesthesiologist.
- Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and monitors.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Anesthesiologist Assistants also collect samples or specimens for diagnostic testing. They may also assist in the provision of advanced life support techniques including those procedures using high frequency ventilation or intra-arterial cardiovascular assistance devices.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Anesthesiologist Assistants participate in seminars, workshops, or other professional activities to keep abreast of developments in anesthesiology. They might also administer blood, blood products, or supportive fluids.
In addition, they assist anesthesiologists in performing anesthetic procedures, such as epidural or spinal injections.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them provide clinical instruction, supervision or training to staff in areas such as anesthesia practices.
To some Anesthesiologist Assistants, it is also their responsibility to assist anesthesiologists in monitoring of patients, including electrocardiogram (EKG), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine measurement of temperature, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
74% said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the fastest-growing careers.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.
It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Anesthesiologist Assistants with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $76,700 to $95,730 per year or $37 to $46 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $162,470 | $78 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $135,220 | $65 |
Median | $115,390 | $55 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $95,730 | $46 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $76,700 | $37 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Anesthesiologist Assistants based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Personal Care Services | $144260 | $69.35 |
Outpatient Care Centers | $128820 | $61.93 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | $124400 | $59.81 |
Employment Services | $120400 | $57.89 |
Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | $119970 | $57.68 |
Individual and Family Services | $118790 | $57.11 |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $117320 | $56.40 |
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $116710 | $56.11 |
State Government | $115410 | $55.49 |
Offices of Physicians | $115120 | $55.34 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Anesthesiologist Assistants work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Anesthesiologist Assistants including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Offices of Physicians | 67870 | $115120 | $55.34 |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 30860 | $117320 | $56.40 |
Outpatient Care Centers | 10190 | $128820 | $61.93 |
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 4930 | $108010 | $51.93 |
Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 2070 | $111140 | $53.43 |
Specialty Hospitals | 1630 | $114600 | $55.10 |
Employment Services | 1540 | $120400 | $57.89 |
Federal Executive Branch | 1390 | $105930 | $50.93 |
Local Government | 960 | $113420 | $54.53 |
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 640 | $96880 | $46.58 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
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Group discussions
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Public speaking
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Level of competition
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What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
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On The Job Training
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Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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