Career Profile: Anesthesiologists

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 34,100 people employed as anesthesiologists in the United States. The median annual salary is $208,000. Entry level employees earn approximately $117,590 per year and senior employees earn approximately $208,000 (or more) per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• 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.
• Diagnose illnesses, using examinations, tests, and reports.
• Coordinate and direct work of nurses, medical technicians, and other health care providers.
• Instruct individuals and groups on ways to preserve health and prevent disease.
• Schedule and maintain use of surgical suite, including operating, wash-up, waiting rooms, or anesthetic and sterilizing equipment.
• Conduct medical research to aid in controlling and curing disease, to investigate new medications, and to develop and test new medical techniques.
• 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.
• Confer with other medical professionals to determine type and method of anesthetic or sedation to render patient insensible to pain.
• Order laboratory tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic procedures.
• Inform students and staff of types and methods of anesthesia administration, signs of complications, and emergency methods to counteract reactions.
• Provide medical care and consultation in many settings, prescribing medication and treatment and referring patients for surgery.
• Manage anesthesiological services, coordinating them with other medical activities and formulating plans and procedures.

Career Explorer