Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologists are physicians who specialize in perioperative care, pain management, and critical care medicine.
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Getting Started
How to Become a Anesthesiologist
At 12 years to get started, this takes longer than the 10.8 years average for Doctoral Degree-level careers.
Complete Education
Earn your Doctoral Degree (typically 12 years) at an estimated cost of $250k–$375k.
Get Licensed or Certified
Complete any state-required licensing or certification exams for anesthesiologist practice.
Begin Working
Anesthesiologist earn a median salary of $239k/yr, with entry-level positions starting somewhat lower.
Education costs from College Scorecard. Training timelines from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Pathway quick answers
- How do you become a Anesthesiologist?Complete required education, licensing, and supervised training for Anesthesiologist.
- How long does it take?Typical path to first paid role: 12 years.
- How much does it cost?Estimated education and training cost range: $250k-$375k (living expenses excluded).
Estimates use College Scorecard tuition data plus cited pathway and licensing requirements.
Overview
What Does a Anesthesiologist Do?
Anesthesiologists are physicians who specialize in perioperative care, pain management, and critical care medicine. They administer anesthesia to patients during surgical, therapeutic, and diagnostic procedures, ensuring patient safety by monitoring vital life functions. Anesthesiology is one of the highest-paid medical specialties.
On the Job
Compensation
How Much Does a Anesthesiologist Make?
At $239k/yr, anesthesiologist earn more than most Doctoral Degree-level careers, where the average is $207k/yr.
$239k/yr
median annual salary
How It Compares
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $239k/yr |
| Physician Assistant | $133k/yr |
| Internal Medicine Physician | $239k/yr |
| Cardiologist | $239k/yr |
| Family Medicine Physician | $239k/yr |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
After investing roughly $313k in education, anesthesiologist typically begin earning within 12 years. Based on entry-level salaries of $179k/yr growing toward a $239k/yr median. The average education cost for Doctoral Degree-level careers is $289k.
Anesthesiologist ROI
Net earnings over 20 years
$1.9M
Pre-tax 20-year estimate after required education and training costs; taxes and living expenses excluded.
How the 20-year estimate is calculated
Anesthesiologist Career ROI (20-year net earnings)
Track how education costs and earnings typically accumulate from enrollment through year 20.
Cumulative net earnings (USD)
The full chart keeps 20-year context. The detail chart below zooms in on early pathway years.
Sources: Accreditor, Accreditor, AccreditorSee Sources and methods.
Early-years detail
Years 0-14
Years 0-14. Scaled to early-year values. Black markers show key checkpoints.
Quick answers
- Is becoming a Anesthesiologist financially worth it?Typical 20-year net estimate: $1.9M (pre-tax, living expenses excluded).
- How much does training cost for a Anesthesiologist?Estimated required education and licensing cost to become a Anesthesiologist: $337k (range used: $247k-$428k). Breakdown: Bachelor's Degree with Pre-Med Coursework: $80k; MCAT Examination: $348; Medical School Years 1-2 (Preclinical): $125k; USMLE Step 1 Examination: $680. Plus 6 additional cost stages.
- How long does it take to become a Anesthesiologist?Typical time to first paycheck is about 8 years. Typical time to enter the target Anesthesiologist role is about 12 years.
- How do you become a Anesthesiologist?See How to Become for pathway steps, timing, and credential requirements.
Detailed math
How 20-year net is built from each training and career phase.
| Phase | Time window | Gross earnings | Education/training cost | Net contribution | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bachelor's Degree with Pre-Med Coursework Education | Years 0-3 (m0-m47) | $0 | -$80,000 | -$80,000 | |
MCAT Examination Education | Year 3 (m36-m36) | $0 | -$348 | -$348 | |
Medical School Years 1-2 (Preclinical) Education | Years 4-5 (m48-m71) | $0 | -$125,000 | -$125,000 | |
USMLE Step 1 Examination Education | Year 6 (m72-m72) | $0 | -$680 | -$680 | |
Medical School Years 3-4 (Clinical Clerkships) Education | Years 6-7 (m72-m95) | $0 | -$125,000 | -$125,000 | |
USMLE Step 2 CK Examination Education | Year 7 (m90-m90) | $0 | -$680 | -$680 | |
Anesthesiology Residency Year 1 (CA-1) Training/Licensing | Year 8 (m96-m107) | $65,004 | $0 | $65,004 | |
USMLE Step 3 Examination Training/Licensing | Year 8 (m102-m102) | $0 | -$875 | -$875 | |
Anesthesiology Residency Years 2-4 (CA-2 to CA-4) Training/Licensing | Years 9-11 (m108-m143) | $209,988 | $0 | $209,988 | |
ABA BASIC Examination Training/Licensing | Year 9 (m114-m114) | $0 | -$1,200 | -$1,200 | |
ABA Advanced Examination Training/Licensing | Year 12 (m144-m144) | $0 | -$2,400 | -$2,400 | |
Full Unrestricted State Medical License Training/Licensing | Year 12 (m144-m144) | $0 | -$1,000 | -$1,000 | |
Independent Practice as Attending Anesthesiologist Career | Years 12-19 (m144-m239) | $1,913,568 | $0 | $1,913,568 | |
ABA Applied Examination Career | Year 13 (m156-m167) | $239,196 | $0 | $239,196 | |
Model reconciliation Reconciliation | Years 0-20 (m0-m239) | -$239,156 | $0 | -$239,156 | None |
| 20-year totals | $2,188,600 | -$337,183 | $1,851,417 | Matches 20-year ROI formula | |
Sources and methods
Sources
- Accreditor: American Society of Anesthesiologists
- Accreditor: Association of American Medical Colleges
- Accreditor: American Society of Anesthesiologists
- Accreditor: United States Medical Licensing Examination
- Accreditor: American Society of Anesthesiologists
- Accreditor: National Resident Matching Program
- Accreditor: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
- Accreditor: United States Medical Licensing Examination
- Accreditor: American Board of Anesthesiology
- Accreditor: American Board of Anesthesiology
- Accreditor: Federation of State Medical Boards
- BLS: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Accreditor: American Board of Anesthesiology
- Accreditor: American Board of Anesthesiology
- Accreditor: American Board of Anesthesiology
- BLS: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Assumptions
- Pathway sequence and timing follow the cited training and licensing pathway for this role.BLSBLS
- Earnings benchmarks come from cited occupation wage references.BLSBLS
- Education and training cost uses College Scorecard tuition and cited pathway fees when needed.Source unavailable
- Cost allocation follows a model rule: short completed steps post in completion year; longer tuition steps are spread across phase years.Model ruleBLSBLS
- Taxes and living expenses are excluded from this estimate.Model rule
Future-Proofing
Anesthesiologist Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Employment Growth
The BLS projects 3% growth over the next decade, roughly in line with the 4.8% average for Doctoral Degree-level careers.
10-Year Growth
3%
About as fast as average
Current Employment
32k
jobs nationwide
AI Impact
High AI Impact
Anesthesiologist roles face significant AI impact — higher AI exposure than most Doctoral Degree-level careers. AI independently handles one or more major task components in this field. Core responsibilities like state licensing requirements require human presence and judgment that AI cannot replicate.
Why It's Safe
- +Assisting and caring for others
- +Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
- +Handling and moving objects
- +Coaching and developing others
- +Developing and building teams
What Could Be Automated
- −Making decisions and solving problems
- −Getting information
- −Monitoring processes, materials, or surroundings
- −Evaluating information to determine compliance with standards
- −Analyzing data or information
Based on evidence-based AI impact methodology and Bureau of Labor Statistics projections
Explore More
Similar Careers to Compare
Physician Assistant
Internal Medicine Physician
Cardiologist
Family Medicine Physician
Emergency Medicine Physician
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Sources
These references are used to build salary, training-path, and job-outlook estimates shown on this page.
Advanced Methodology
Education cost source id: pathway_sum_2026
Source update dates: BLS OEWS: 2024-05 · BLS Projections: 2024-09 · O*NET: 2024-12