How much does an anesthesiologist make?
a year · about $188 an hour
A typical anesthesiologist in the United States makes $391,490 a year, about $188 an hour, about 7.7× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check patients and plan anesthesia before surgery. In the operating room, they watch breathing and heartbeat, manage pain and alertness, then check recovery afterward.
Did you know? A rare surprise: in about 1 or 2 out of every 1,000 general-anesthesia cases, a patient becomes conscious during surgery.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $101,460 and $557,130How do you become one?
In the U.S., future anesthesiologists complete 4 years each of college and medical school, then a 4-year anesthesia residency. After national exams and a state license, they can take the ABA exam; a straight-through path often ends around age 30.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like figuring things out and helping and teaching
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, board certification or extra fellowship training, the employer, and location. More on-call, night, or overtime shifts may also change total pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($499,990), lowest in District of Columbia ($202,570).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $101,460 | $391,490 | $557,130 | about 39,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $499,990 | about 2,000 |
| Minnesota | $496,510 | about 870 |
| Ohio | $490,530 | about 780 |
| Virginia | $488,310 | — |
| Connecticut | $481,820 | — |
Official definition: Administer anesthetics and analgesics for pain management prior to, during, or after surgery.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm
- www.asahq.org/education-and-career/career-resources/anesthesia-as-a-career
- www.asahq.org/education-and-career/career-resources/anesthesia-as-a-career/anest
- www.medschool.umaryland.edu/anesthesiology/patient-information/role-of-the-anest
- my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/anesthesia-awareness
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY