Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Anesthesiologists
Anesthesiologists administer anesthetics prior to, during, or after surgery or other medical procedures.
Table of contents
What they do
Anesthesiologists administer anesthetics prior to, during, or after surgery or other medical procedures.
- 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.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Anesthesiologists record the type and amount of anesthesia and patient condition throughout the procedure. They decide when patients have recovered or stabilized enough to be sent to another room or ward or to be sent home following outpatient surgery.
A typical day for an Anesthesiologist will also include:
- Position the patient on the operating table to maximize patient comfort and surgical accessibility.
- Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures.
- Monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications.
- Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, using local, intravenous, spinal, or caudal methods.
- Coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons during operation.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Anesthesiologists also diagnose illnesses, using examinations, tests, and reports. They may also order laboratory tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic procedures.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Anesthesiologists instruct individuals and groups on ways to preserve health and prevent disease. They might also conduct medical research to aid in controlling and curing disease, investigate new medications, and develop and test new medical techniques.
In addition, they coordinate and direct the work of nurses, medical technicians, and other health care providers.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them confer with other medical professionals to determine the type and method of anesthetic or sedation to render patients insensible to pain.
To some Anesthesiologists, it is also their responsibility to schedule and maintains the use of the surgical suite, including operating, wash-up, waiting rooms, or anesthetic and sterilizing equipment.
Featured Schools
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
83% said they were satisfied with their job and 91% said they found their job meaningful.
My name is Dr. Taylor Graber. I am an MD resident anesthesiologist and I work in San Diego with the University of California San Diego. Anesthesiology is the practice of using medications and pharmacology to assist patients and surgeons with medical procedures. There are a wide variety of roles and responsibilities, and we work inside … Read More
Some use this analogy, which isn’t too far off. Being an anesthesiologist is like being a pilot for a plane with passengers. 98% of the time it’s relatively calm and smooth, but the other 2% is intense and requires one to turn up the dial for immense focus and action. I have the unique experience … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.
Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.
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.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Anesthesiologists with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $136,180 to $208,000+ per year or $65 to $100+ per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $208,000+ | $100+ |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $208,000+ | $100+ |
| Median | $208,000+ | $100+ |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $208,000+ | $100+ |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $136,180 | $65 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Anesthesiologists based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians | $283280 | $136.19 |
| Specialty Hospitals | $278460 | $133.87 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $222580 | $107.01 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $163310 | $78.51 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $95300 | $45.82 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $ | $# |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Anesthesiologists work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Anesthesiologists including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians | 23120 | $283280 | $136.19 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 3920 | $222580 | $107.01 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 560 | $ | $# |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 430 | $95300 | $45.82 |
| Specialty Hospitals | 280 | $278460 | $133.87 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 180 | $163310 | $78.51 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
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
Anesthesiology Residency Program
Internal Medicine/Anesthesiology Combined Specialty Program
Pediatrics/Anesthesiology Combined Specialty Program
Emergency Medicine/Anesthesiology Combined Specialty Program
Medicine
Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this 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 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 working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
They also 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.
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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