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Anesthesiologists

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Administer anesthetics and analgesics for pain management prior to, during, or after surgery.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

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 $391,490 Median per year · $188.22/hr Most earn $101,460–$557,130

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications.
  • Coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons during operation.
  • Provide and maintain life support and airway management and help prepare patients for emergency surgery.
  • Conduct medical research to aid in controlling and curing disease, to investigate new medications, and to develop and test new medical techniques.
  • Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures.
  • Provide medical care and consultation in many settings, prescribing medication and treatment and referring patients for surgery.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 1,100 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 physicians70.8%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals19.5%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools4.0%
  • Self-employed (their own business)3.9%

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

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Career path

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

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Anesthesiology is not an entry-level job. People usually spend about 12 years or more after high school earning a bachelor's degree, a medical degree, and a multi-year residency before they practice on their own. The path is long, but students who enjoy science, medicine, and staying calm under pressure often find it rewarding.

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

    4 years

    Most future doctors major in a science while completing the courses medical schools require, such as biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. This builds the foundation for the medical school entrance exam.

  2. Medical school (MD or DO)

    4 years

    You earn a doctoral degree in medicine, learning anatomy, pharmacology, and patient care, then rotating through hospital settings that include surgery and anesthesia. This degree is what lets you apply for residency.

  3. Anesthesiology residency

    4 years

    You train in a hospital under experienced anesthesiologists, learning to give anesthesia for many types of surgery and to manage pain and emergencies. Finishing residency and passing certification exams qualifies you to practice on your own.

  4. Anesthesiologist

    Ongoing

    You work in hospitals, surgery centers, or clinics, giving anesthetics and managing patients' pain before, during, and after surgery. Many anesthesiologists keep learning through continuing medical education to renew their certification.

Where it can lead

  1. Pain Medicine Physician (after a pain medicine fellowship)

    1-2 years of fellowship training after residency of experience first

    Anesthesiologists who want to focus on chronic pain can complete an extra fellowship year or two and work mainly in pain clinics, managing long-term pain for patients.

  2. Department Chair or Medical Director

    5-10 years in practice of experience first

    Experienced anesthesiologists can take on leadership roles that handle scheduling, staffing, quality programs, and training of residents, which usually comes after years of hands-on experience and strong teamwork.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and math as far as your school offersStrong science and math classes build the base you'll need for a pre-med college major and the medical school entrance exam.
  • Volunteer at a hospital, clinic, or nursing homeHands-on time around patients shows you what healthcare work is really like and looks good on future applications.
  • Join a science club, health occupations class, or first aid or CPR trainingThese activities build practical skills and show your interest in medicine.
  • Look for a summer job or volunteer role in healthcare, such as a hospital gift shop or front deskWorking in a medical setting, even in a non-clinical role, helps you learn how hospitals run and how to work well with a team.

In college

  • Major in biology, chemistry, or another science, and take organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistryThese are the courses most medical schools require, and they prepare you for the entrance exam.
  • Get paid clinical experience as a medical scribe, EMT, or certified nursing assistantHands-on patient care work shows medical schools you understand the job and are ready for hospital environments.
  • Join a pre-med or health professions clubThese groups often host speakers, shadowing opportunities, and study sessions that help you plan your path.
  • Work in a research lab with a science professorResearch experience builds critical thinking skills and is valued in medical school applications.
  • Start preparing for the medical school entrance exam in your second or third yearPlanning early gives you time to study, take practice tests, and schedule the exam without rushing.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a doctor, nurse, or anesthesia team if you can shadow them for a day. Seeing the job up close will tell you whether the daily work fits you.
  • Keep your grades strong in math and science, since medical schools look closely at your science coursework and overall GPA.

Related jobs that often lead here

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

  • Medicine Professional degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $65,192 a year · typical debt $207,472

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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