How to become an Anesthesiologist Assistant

Official title: Anesthesiologist Assistants

Also called: Anesthesia Assistant, Anesthesia Orderly, Anesthesia Technician (Anesthesia Tech), Anesthesiology Assistant, Anesthesiology Technician (Anesthesiology Tech), CAA (Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant), CAA (Certified Anesthesiology Assistant), Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Technician (Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Tech), Cer.AT (Certified Anesthesia Technician), Cer.ATT (Certified Anesthesia Technologist)

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

Main tasks

• 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 one

To enter the occupation, physician assistants typically need a master's degree from an accredited program. All states require physician assistants to be licensed.

Typical education to start: Master's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Anesthesia Technologist.
• College: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 23 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 11 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $135,880 a year The middle half earn $120,670 to $163,980.
• About 168,900 people work in this job now, and about 204,600 are projected by 2035. (+21.1%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Physician Assistants
• Chiropractors
• Dentists, General
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Orthodontists
• Prosthodontists

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Anesthesiologist Assistant?

To enter the occupation, physician assistants typically need a master's degree from an accredited program. All states require physician assistants to be licensed.

How much does an Anesthesiologist Assistant earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $135,880 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $120,670 to $163,980.

Is an Anesthesiologist Assistant a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 21% by 2035, from about 168,900 to about 204,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Anesthesiologist Assistant?

Usually. 94% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Anesthesiologist Assistant?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.