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Anesthesiologist Assistants

Typical education: Master's degreeHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $135,880 Median per year · $65.33/hr Most earn $99,380–$190,280

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Monitor and document patients' progress during post-anesthesia period.
  • Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and monitors.
  • 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).
  • Administer anesthetic, adjuvant, or accessory drugs under the direction of an anesthesiologist.
  • 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.
  • Administer blood, blood products, or supportive fluids.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
21% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 11,500 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physicians52.7%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals24.3%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools2.8%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service2.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Master's degreeExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

Anesthesiologist Assistant is not an entry-level job. You usually need a master's degree from a specialized program, so the path takes roughly 6 to 7 years after high school. People can start working in this role right after finishing that training, with no prior work experience required.

  1. Bachelor's degree in a science such as biology or chemistry

    4 years

    You build the science foundation (anatomy, chemistry, physiology) that anesthesia programs expect, and strong grades help with graduate admission.

  2. Master's degree in anesthesiologist assistant studies

    2-3 years

    You learn anesthesia techniques, pharmacology, and patient monitoring, with hands-on clinical training under anesthesiologists.

  3. Pass national certification and get your state license

    A few months after graduation

    You pass the certification exam and apply for state licensure, which lets you work as an anesthesiologist assistant.

  4. Anesthesiologist Assistant

    Starts right after training

    You work alongside anesthesiologists to give anesthesia and monitor patients during surgery and other procedures.

Where it can lead

  1. Anesthesiologist

    4-6 years of experience first

    Becoming a physician means going through medical school and residency, which takes much longer but lets you lead anesthesia care and make the medical decisions yourself.

  2. Clinical Instructor in an Anesthesiologist Assistant program

    Several years of practice of experience first

    Experienced assistants can teach and supervise students in training programs, which usually requires strong clinical experience and a willingness to mentor others. I don't have specific data on how common this move is.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and anatomy or physiologyThese classes build the science base you will need for a bachelor's degree and later for an anesthesia master's program.
  • Get CPR and first aid certificationMany schools and community groups offer these courses, and they show you can stay calm and act in a medical emergency.
  • Volunteer at a hospital, nursing home, or clinicVolunteering gives you a first look at healthcare settings and shows colleges you care about patient care.
  • Join a science, health occupations, or HOSA-style clubClubs like these often run projects and competitions that build teamwork and medical knowledge.
  • Ask for a summer job in a healthcare settingA starter job such as a front desk or aide role at a clinic helps you learn how medical teams work together.

In college

  • Major in biology, chemistry, or another scienceA science major covers the core knowledge that anesthesia master's programs look for.
  • Work as an EMT or patient care technicianHands-on patient care experience helps you understand monitoring and emergency response and strengthens your graduate school application.
  • Shadow healthcare professionals, including anesthesia staff if possibleShadowing shows you what the work involves and helps you decide whether this path fits you.
  • Join a pre-health or science clubThese groups often offer speakers, workshops, and networking with people who work in healthcare.
  • Keep your GPA strong and research anesthesiologist assistant programs earlyKnowing the admission requirements for these master's programs early lets you plan the courses and experiences they ask for.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for hospital or clinic volunteer work or a job such as medical scribe or patient care assistant so you can see how a surgical team works and build patient-care experience.
  • Talk with an anesthesiologist assistant or anesthesiologist if you can, through a school career day, a hospital shadowing program, or a family connection, to learn what the job is really like day to day.
  • Keep your grades strong in science classes from now on, since graduate programs look closely at your academic record.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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