Anesthesiologists are experts physicians who focus on pain relief, as well as on patients awaiting surgery. Their responsibilities generally include administering anesthetics, monitoring patients’ vital signs while in surgery, adjusting the anesthetics when needed, monitoring patients during the first stages of their recovery, and administering the appropriate medication during convalescence. However, depending on the chosen career path, the anesthesiologist salary and responsibilities may vary.
How Much Does an Anesthesiologist Make per Year?
In the table below, you can find the yearly and hourly anesthesiologist salary across English-speaking countries:
| US | Canada | UK | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | |
| Hourly Wage | $129.53 | C$92 (US$69) |
£41 (US$50) | AU$72 (US$53) | NZ$72 (US$50) | Rs575 (US$8) | R462 (US$33) |
| Annual Wage | $269,427 | C$ 191,804 (US$ 44,700) |
£ 85,295 (US$ 103,546) |
AU$ 149,516
(US$ 109,410) |
NZ$ 149,000
(US$ 103,800) |
Rs 1,196,920
(US$ 17,548) |
R 960,000
(US$ 69,631) |
Factors that Influence the Anesthesiologist Salary
Global positioning, industry, experience, working hours, and the amount of responsibilities all influence the average salary of an anesthesiologist. If you are interested in anesthesiology as a whole, you can also check out our guide to the anesthesiologist assistant salary.
Geographic Area
Although experience and working hours should weigh the most when calculating the average anesthesiologist salary, location seems to also have an important role in establishing the pay for this profession.
Anesthesiologist Salary in the US
With a median salary estimated at $275,742 per year by payscale.com, anesthesiologists can raise their paychecks to more than $400,000, in time with the right combination of choosing the correct state and industry in which to practice, as well as by gaining enough experience on the job. And that is perfectly natural, seeing as the average salary is given by a combination of these factors.
For example, the pediatric anesthesiologist salary of someone working in Georgia for barely more than a couple of years will definitely be lower than the salaries of most anesthesiologists, be they pediatric, veterinary, or otherwise, working in Wyoming for more than ten years.
As you know, each state has its own anesthesiology needs, as well as its own economy. Therefore, it’s understandable that the physical location of the place of employment influences the salary by so much. Below, you can find a series of tables documenting the places with the highest salaries and levels of employment for this profession. We will go through numbers and statistics on the salary of anesthesiologists across US states and areas, as well as other English-speaking countries.
Highest Rates of Employment for Anesthesiologists in the US
The highest rates of employment for people with the anesthesiologist salary are in the following states:
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Texas | 2,710 | 0.23 | 1.11 | $123.83 | $257,570 |
| California | 2,430 | 0.16 | 0.74 | $126.94 | $264,040 |
| Florida | 1,870 | 0.24 | 1.12 | $120.42 | $250,480 |
| New York | 1,740 | 0.19 | 0.91 | $123.58 | $257,040 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,440 | 0.25 | 1.19 | $124.33 | $258,610 |
The metropolitan areas with the highest levels of employment to go with the anesthesiologist salary are the following:
| Metropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| New York – Jersey City – White Plains, NY – NJ Metropolitan Division | 1,370 | 0.21 | 1.00 | $123.11 | $256,070 |
| Houston – The Woodlands – Sugar Land, TX | 1,210 | 0.41 | 1.95 | $130.42 | $271,280 |
| Los Angeles – Long Beach – Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 720 | 0.17 | 0.83 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Boston – Cambridge – Newton, MA NECTA Division | 620 | 0.35 | 1.67 | $116.88 | $243,100 |
| San Diego – Carlsbad, CA | 590 | 0.44 | 2.07 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Chicago – Naperville – Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 500 | 0.14 | 0.66 | $71.37 | $148,460 |
| Tampa – St. Petersburg – Clearwater, FL | 500 | 0.41 | 1.93 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Nassau County – Suffolk County, NYC Metropolitan Division | 480 | 0.38 | 1.79 | $130.32 | $271,060 |
| Portland – Vancouver – Hillsboro, OR – WA | 400 | 0.36 | 1.71 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Louisville / Jefferson County, KY – IN | 390 | 0.62 | 2.93 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
Meanwhile, the nonmetropolitan area offering the highest levels of employment for people with the anesthesiologist salary are as follows:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Central Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.28 | 1.33 | $121.08 | $251,840 |
Highest Salaries for Anesthesiologists in the US
Meanwhile, the states offering the highest salaries for anesthesiologists are as follows:
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Wyoming | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Wisconsin | 360 | 0.13 | 0.61 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Tennessee | 560 | 0.20 | 0.94 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Oregon | 490 | 0.28 | 1.33 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Oklahoma | 240 | 0.15 | 0.71 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
The metropolitan areas offering the highest salaries for the profession are:
| Metropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Lewiston – Auburn, ME | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Youngstown – Warren – Boardman, OH – PA | 100 | 0.44 | 2.06 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Wilmington, DE – MD – NJ Metropolitan Division | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Wichita, KS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Tulsa, OK | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Tampa – St. Petersburg – Clearwater, FL | 500 | 0.41 | 1.93 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| South Bend – Mishawaka, IN – MI | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Silver Spring – Frederick – Rockville, MD Metropolitan Division | 330 | 0.57 | 2.69 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Seattle – Bellevue – Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| San Diego – Carlsbad, CA | 590 | 0.44 | 2.07 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
Last, but certainly not least, the nonmetropolitan areas with the highest salaries for the profession are the following:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Northeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | Not released | Not released | Not released | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
Anesthesiologist Salary in Canada
The anesthesiologist average salary in Canada revolves around C$191,804, or US$144,700. Entry-level professionals earn around C$107,000 per year, well below the national average. However, the pay steadily increases with experience and can even reach the C$250,000 threshold after about 20 years. In addition, about 90% of the anesthesiologists in Canada enjoy other perks and benefits like medical insurance.
Experienced professionals, particularly mid- and late-career anesthesiologists, seem to have the highest job satisfaction. Nevertheless, few of the anesthesiologists practicing in Canada stay in this field for more than 25 years.
Anesthesiologist Salary in the UK
The average anesthesiologist salary for UK is £85,295, or US$ 103,546, which translates to £41 (US$50) per hour. Even though these amounts are smaller than what an anesthesiologist would earn in the US or Canada, every professional in this country enjoys medical insurance and other perks & benefits with their job.
Anesthesiologist Salary in Australia
The anesthesiologist starting salary in Australia revolves around AU$101,000, or just under US$74,000. The pay steadily increases over time, reaching the average of AU$ 149,516, or US$ 109,410 during the mid-career – much earlier than in other countries. The pay continues to grow as the professional gains more experience.
Some late-career professionals can earn double the national average for this profession if we also count bonuses and extra benefits. 40% of the anesthesiologists in Australia, however, don’t have any type of health benefits.
Anesthesiologist Salary in New Zealand
According to Careers.govt.nz, the anesthesiologist starting salary in New Zealand revolves between NZ$112,000 and NZ$166,000 per year. Although the average salary of an anesthesiologist is set at NZ$149,000, or US$ 103,800, experienced professionals can earn up to NZ$600,000 per year depending on their hours, activity, or location.
Anesthesiologist Salary in India
The average salary of an anesthesiologist in India is Rs 1,196,920, or just US$17,548. The starting salary is just over Rs1,000,000, or US$14,663. Only after 10-20 years in this field can one expect to earn Rs2,342,000 (US$34,340). Furthermore, more than half of the professionals in this field in India don’t have any type of health benefit with their job.
Anesthesiologist Salary in South Africa
South Africa has the second lowest salaries for anesthesiologists R960,000, or US$69,631. According to Payscale, entry-level and experienced anesthesiologists have below-average salaries which makes many medical school graduates go for other fields instead. However, 44% of those in this field have 4 years of experience or less and all of them have some type of health benefit with their job.
Experience
While the anesthesiologist starting salary is very high, the pay can get even higher with experience. And experience is, perhaps, the highest determining factor when it comes to any physician salary. Whether we are talking about a CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist), an RN, a dental or cardiac tech, or any other assistant, nursing, technician, residency, or physician salary, they will be influenced by the level of experience of each employee.
Taking no note of bonuses, overtimes, profit sharing, or any other such extra sources of income, we have compiled the average anesthetist salary path over the course of one’s career. According to payscale.com, the average anesthesiologist starting salary is somewhere around the range of $252,000 per year. This is what we estimated a career of more than twenty years in the field to yield for one’s salary as an anesthesiologist:
- $252,000 – $293,000 after five to ten years on the job;
- $293,000 – $304,000 after ten to twenty years on the job;
- $304,000 – $327,000 after more than twenty years of experience.
Industry
While the majority of anesthesiologists tend to work in hospitals, there are also plenty of other available workplaces. Laboratories, private practices, home care and outpatient centers, as well as military facilities, are all equally viable options.
People hoping to work as anesthesiologists have to be very detail-oriented, thorough, and handle stress very well. The life of a patient lies in the anesthesiologist’s hands every time they go under. Therefore, it’s very important for the doctor to be able to handle the situation without any issues.
The industry of the profession is the last major influencing factor on the salary of an anesthesiologist. Depending on whether they are teaching university classes, providing critical help in hospitals, working from a private clinic, or in dentists’ offices, the pay can vary by more than $125,000 a year.
The industries offering the highest levels of employment for anesthesiologists are:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Offices of Physicians | 25,040 | 1.00 | $128.54 | $267,360 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 2,700 | 0.05 | $95.00 | $197,600 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 500 | 0.07 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 420 | 0.01 | $67.18 | $139,740 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 230 | 0.03 | $105.68 | $219,810 |
And finally, the industries with the highest salaries for the profession are:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 500 | 0.07 | Higher than $90 | Higher than $187,200 |
| Offices of Physicians | 25,040 | 1.00 | $128.54 | $267,360 |
| Offices of Dentists | 30 | Less than .005 | $121.32 | $252,340 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 230 | 0.03 | $105.68 | $219,810 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 220 | 0.09 | $98.47 | $204,820 |
Work Hours
Since the salary has to be motivated by more than the many years spent in formative training and education, the work hours for anesthetists are usually very long and difficult. Most attending anesthesiologists generally work 12-hour shifts, while on-call anesthesiologists are usually on call for 24 hours.
Depending on each place of employment, anesthesiologists are very likely to have to work weekends, nights, and holidays. For example, the typical anesthesiologist workday can last for the regular eight hours in a private clinic. However, an anesthesiologist working in hospitals or universities will put in more hours.
Bonuses and Benefits Packages
The salary of an anesthesiologist is usually pretty high all by itself – certainly one of the highest-paying in healthcare. However, extra sources of income such as bonuses and profit sharing can add more than $100,000 a year.
As for the benefits packages that come with the anesthesiologist salary, they have a decent number of paid and sick leave days, as well as a 401(K) plan. About 84% of all anesthesiologists receive medical insurance, 58% receive dental, and 47% receive vision. Meanwhile, 15% receive no insurance whatsoever.
Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of employment for anesthesiologists is expected to grow with 18% by 2022, much faster than the 8% national average for all occupations. That is owed to a number of factors, such as the very high salary, the many opportunities presented by the healthcare industry, and several other causes.
Since they are qualified medical specialists, the need for anesthesiologists is very high throughout all of the United States. It is increased even further by the constant advances made in medicine, which provide far more opportunities for surgery. And there could be no surgeries without an anesthesiologist.
Having one of the most sought-after occupations in healthcare, anesthesiologists are responsible for pain management and putting patients to sleep before surgeries. The job is very stressful because of the non-stop life and death situations and because of the long, tiring hours. However, the anesthesiologist salary is definitely worth the trouble.
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