What is the Employment Outlook for Anesthesiologists?

<h2 id="section---AnesthesiologistCareerInformation">Anesthesiologist Career Information</h2> <p>Anesthesiologists are physicians who are responsible for making all anesthesia-related decisions before, during, and after operations. These professionals must have a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Are_the_Different_Types_of_Medical_Degrees.html">medical degree</a> and specialize in anesthesiology. Anesthesiologists work in hospital and out-patient settings. Find out more information about pursuing a career as an anesthesiologist in the chart below. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Required Education </td><td> <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Bachelors_Degrees_in_Anesthesiology_Your_Questions_Answered.html">Bachelor's degree</a><br />Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)</td></tr> <tr><td> Licensure and Certification </td><td> U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam (COMLEX-USA)<br />American Board of Anesthesiology certification</td></tr> <tr><td> Anesthesiologist Job Growth (2018-2028) </td><td> 4%*</td></tr> <tr><td> Average Annual Salary (May 2018) </td><td> $267,020*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) </i></p> <h2 id="section---AnesthesiologistJobOutlook">Anesthesiologist Job Outlook</h2> <p>According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), anesthesiologists are classified under the larger category of physicians and surgeons. The BLS projects that job growth for physicians and surgeons will grow at a faster-than-average rate of 7% between 2018-2028. Aspiring anesthesiologists should note that job prospects for physicians will be dependent upon healthcare policies, as patients may be more or less likely to seek out medical care depending upon how much they will have to pay out of pocket. </p> <p>The BLS also separates anesthesiologists out specifically, and predicts jobs will grow by 4% between 2018 and 2028, which is about average for all jobs. According to the American Board of Anesthesiologists, the demand for anesthesiologists is dependent upon the demand for surgeries, and this demand, both in hospital and in outpatient settings, has been on the rise. </p> <h2 id="section---AnesthesiologistEmploymentRateByIndustry">Anesthesiologist Employment Rate By Industry</h2> <p>The BLS reported, in May 2018, that the employment rate for anesthesiologists was highest in the offices of physicians. In May 2018, there were roughly 25,800 positions, and the annual mean wage for these anesthesiologists was $276,990. The second highest employment rate was in hospitals, with anesthesiologists earning an annual mean wage of $209,260. There were about 3,830 anesthesiologists in this area. The third highest employment figures were in outpatient care centers, with about 730 professionals making an annual mean wage of $273,080. </p> <h2 id="section---AnesthesiologistJobMarketByLocation">Anesthesiologist Job Market By Location</h2> <p>States with the highest numbers of anesthesiologists in 2018 were Texas, California, and New York, as per the BLS. The metropolitan areas with the highest employment rates in the same year were: </p> <ul><li>Los-Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim, CA </li><li>Houston, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, TX </li><li>Chicago, IL; Naperville, IN; Elgin, WI </li></ul><p>The nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment rates were: </p> <ul><li>West Central, Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area </li><li>Kansas nonmetropolitan area </li></ul><h2 id="section---TopPayingIndustriesForAnesthesiologists">Top Paying Industries for Anesthesiologists</h2> <p>The BLS reports that the top-paying industry for anesthesiologists in May 2018 was in specialty hospitals (not including psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals). The annual mean wage was $280,400. The second highest paying industry was in the offices of physicians, with an annual mean wage of $276,990. The third highest industry was in outpatient care centers, with professionals making an annual mean wage of $273,080. Those in dentist offices and home health care services followed as anesthesiologists earned an average of $254,850 and $250,950 respectively in 2018.</p>