SOC 29-1211.00

    Anesthesiologists

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

    Median pay
    $391,490
    Growth
    +3.6%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    1,100
    Typical education
    Doctoral or professional degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $101,460
    Median
    $391,490
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $557,130
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    38,760 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Anesthesiologists administer pain management drugs and anesthetics before, during, or after surgical procedures. This highly specialized medical career offers a median annual pay of $391,490, making it one of the highest-earning professions in the healthcare field.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What anesthesiologists do

    Job Zone 5: Extensive preparation

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

    Most need a graduate degree, such as a master's, PhD, MD or JD.

    What the work is like

    Anesthesiologists focus on patient safety and comfort during medical procedures. Their daily work involves assisting and caring for others by administering anesthetics and monitoring patient vital signs. These physicians must make critical decisions and solve complex problems under pressure, which requires high stress tolerance, self-control, and cautiousness. They gather information, analyze data, and document medical records accurately.

    Strong communication skills are essential, as these professionals regularly coordinate with surgical teams, speak with supervisors and peers, and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with patients. Their daily tasks require a deep knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics, and medicine, alongside a strong foundation in mathematics, psychology, and customer service. Investigative interests drive their work, which demands exceptional attention to detail, dependability, and intellectual curiosity. They also spend time training and teaching others in clinical settings.

    How to get there

    Entering this profession requires extensive preparation. Candidates must earn a doctoral or professional degree, typically by completing medical school with a major in medicine. Following medical school, graduates must complete a residency program in anesthesiology to gain hands-on clinical training.

    Licensing is managed at the state level, and some states list a license for this work. Professionals in this field can also earn professional credentials to demonstrate their expertise. Available certifications include the Board Certification in Anesthesiology from the American Board of Physician Specialties, the Certification in Anesthesiology from the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology, and the Certification in Anesthesiology - Part 1 from the American Board of Anesthesiology.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for anesthesiologists was $391,490. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience, location, and practice setting. The lowest 10% of earners in this field make less than $101,460, while the highest 10% earn more than $557,130.

    There are 38,760 people employed in this occupation. Employment is projected to grow by 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with routine departures from the field, is expected to result in approximately 1,100 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    70 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    79 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    3 / 100
    Social (S)
    71 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    25 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    45 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code ISR. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Assisting and Caring for Others
    99
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    98
    Documenting/Recording Information
    96
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    95
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    93
    Getting Information
    93
    Analyzing Data or Information
    93
    Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
    90
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    90
    Training and Teaching Others
    90
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Monitoring
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Active Listening
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Science
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Speaking
    • Writing

    Knowledge

    • English Language
    • Biology
    • Psychology
    • Mathematics
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
    • Therapy and Counseling
    • Education and Training
    • Law and Government

    Abilities

    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Written Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Information Ordering
    • Near Vision
    • Written Expression
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Integrity
    • Self-Control
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Cooperation
    • Perseverance
    • Adaptability

    Also called

    Ambulatory Anesthesiologist · Anesthesiologist MD (Anesthesiologist Medical Doctor) · Anesthesiology Pain Management Physician · Anesthesiology Physician · Anesthesiology Resident · Anesthetist · Attending Anesthesiologist · Cardiac Anesthesiologist · Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist · Critical Care Anesthesiologist

    Career pathway

    From your interests to anesthesiologists

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Anesthesiologists$391,490 median pay

    3. Majors

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What anesthesiologists may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Anesthesiology Residency Program
    • Anesthesiology Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other
    • Emergency Medicine/Anesthesiology Combined Specialty Program
    • Internal Medicine/Anesthesiology Combined Specialty Program
    • Medicine
    • Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
    • Pediatrics/Anesthesiology Combined Specialty Program

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    54 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Federal

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about anesthesiologists

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What college majors are recommended for becoming an anesthesiologist?

    Students aiming for this career typically major in medicine during their graduate-level schooling. This major provides the necessary foundation in biology, chemistry, and clinical practice required for anesthesiology.

    How many job openings are expected for this career?

    Projections show about 1,100 job openings each year in this field. This demand is driven by a projected employment growth rate of 3.6% between 2025 and 2035, as well as the need to replace workers who retire or leave the field.

    What certifications are available for anesthesiologists?

    Anesthesiologists can obtain several professional credentials. These include Board Certification in Anesthesiology from the American Board of Physician Specialties, Certification in Anesthesiology from the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology, and Certification in Anesthesiology - Part 1 from the American Board of Anesthesiology.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.