Anesthesiologist Assistants

SOC code 29-1071 · O*NET-SOC 29-1071.01 · Extensive preparation needed · Healthcare

Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation

Anesthesiologist Assistants pay

U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number

Median pay

$135,880

a year

Hourly

$65.33

per hour

10th$99,380Median$135,88090th$190,280

The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.

Average pay

$141,280

$67.92 per hour

Middle 50%

$120,670 – $163,980

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$99,380 – $190,280

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

162,150

nationwide

National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.

These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Physician Assistants”, not this job alone.

10th percentile: $99,380; $47.78/hr
25th percentile: $120,670; $58.02/hr
Median percentile: $135,880; $65.33/hr
75th percentile: $163,980; $78.84/hr
90th percentile: $190,280; $91.48/hr

Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34

+20%

Growing much faster than average

162,700

jobs in 2024

195,800

projected for 2034

About 33,100 more jobs

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.

What does an anesthesiologist assistant do?

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

The tasks that matter most day to day

Provide airway management interventions including tracheal intubation, fiber optics, or ventilary support.
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.
Control anesthesia levels during procedures.
Administer anesthetic, adjuvant, or accessory drugs under the direction of an anesthesiologist.
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).
Collect and document patients' pre-anesthetic health histories.
Administer blood, blood products, or supportive fluids.

How to become an anesthesiologist assistant

Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed

Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

See all zone 5 occupations →

The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.

Common questions

How much does an anesthesiologist assistant earn?

The national median is $135,880 a year. The full range runs from $99,380 at the 10th percentile to $190,280 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.

Can you become an anesthesiologist assistant without a degree?

Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.

Is anesthesiologist assistant in demand?

Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 20% between 2024 and 2034 — growing much faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Monitoring4.1/5
Reading Comprehension4.0/5
Active Listening4.0/5
Speaking3.8/5
Active Learning3.8/5
Critical Thinking3.6/5
Writing3.3/5

Knowledge areas

Medicine and Dentistry5.0/5
Biology4.4/5
English Language4.1/5
Mathematics4.0/5
Chemistry3.9/5
Physics3.9/5
Customer and Personal Service3.6/5
Education and Training3.1/5

Transferable strengths: Judgment and Decision Making, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving.