Occupations · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Anesthesiologists

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

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 29-1211.00

41,890people employed, United States

▲ 3.2%projected change, 2024→2034

1,300openings a year, incl. replacements

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$208,680	1,530
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$202,830	1,190
Kansas City, MO-KS	$235,950	450
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$196,100	40
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	$199,430	—
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$206,890	—

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Doctoral or professional degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications.
Record type and amount of anesthesia and patient condition throughout procedure.
Provide and maintain life support and airway management and help prepare patients for emergency surgery.
Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, using local, intravenous, spinal, or caudal methods.
Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures.
Position patient on operating table to maximize patient comfort and surgical accessibility.
Coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons during operation.
Decide when patients have recovered or stabilized enough to be sent to another room or ward or to be sent home following outpatient surgery.
Confer with other medical professionals to determine type and method of anesthetic or sedation to render patient insensible to pain.
Order laboratory tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic procedures.
Inform students and staff of types and methods of anesthesia administration, signs of complications, and emergency methods to counteract reactions.
Provide medical care and consultation in many settings, prescribing medication and treatment and referring patients for surgery.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Critical Thinking4.5

Monitoring4.1

Active Listening4.1

Science4.0

Writing4.0

Reading Comprehension4.0

Speaking3.9

Active Learning3.6

Learning Strategies3.2

Mathematics3.0

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Epic Systems●MEDITECH software●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●AetherPalm InfusiCalcAnesthesia machine softwareAtStaff Physician SchedulerDrug database softwareEDImis Anesthesia ManagerElectronic medical record EMR softwareHealthpac Medical BillingMedical calculator softwareSkyscape 5-Minute Clinical ConsultSkyscape AnesthesiaDrugsWeb browser software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

5 / 5Extensive preparation — graduate school, and often a licence on top.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Exposed to Disease or Infections+2.8 above average

Exposed to Radiation+2.6 above average

Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection+2.3 above average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets+1.7 above average

Exposed to Contaminants+1.5 above average

Consequence of Error+1.5 above average

Physical Proximity+1.3 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2012-07

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Post-Doctoral Training69%

Doctoral Degree25%

First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.5%

Master's Degree1%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2012-07

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Investigative5.7

Social5.2

Realistic5.2

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Place invasive intravascular monitors into patients.
Teach anesthesiology principles to residents.

O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Judgment and Decision Making4.1

Complex Problem Solving4.0

Social Perceptiveness3.8

Time Management3.8

Operations Monitoring3.6

Systems Evaluation3.2

Service Orientation3.2

Coordination3.1

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Medicine and DentistryBiologyEnglish LanguageChemistryCustomer and Personal ServicePsychology

Abilities it leans on

Problem SensitivityOral ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionNear Vision

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

AnesthetistAnesthesiologistStaff AnesthetistAnaesthesiologistMedical Doctor (MD)Staff AnesthesiologistGeneral AnesthesiologistCardiac AnesthesiologistAnesthesiology PhysicianPediatric AnesthesiologistAmbulatory AnesthesiologistObstetrical AnesthesiologistAnesthesiology Pain Management PhysicianDO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician)

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2020

Comparing O*NET release 25.1 (2020-11-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning.

Now listed 1

+Epic Systems

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

AnesthetistAnesthesiologistStaff AnesthetistAnaesthesiologistMedical Doctor (MD)Staff AnesthesiologistGeneral AnesthesiologistAnesthesiology PhysicianCardiac AnesthesiologistPediatric AnesthesiologistPhysician AnesthesiologistAttending Anesthesiologist

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
anaesthetic technician	3259.1	broader
specialised doctor	2212.1	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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