Anesthesiologist Salary in USA

In the USA, anesthesiologists are physicians who complete an accredited residency program in anesthesiology. Residency in Anesthesiology is very tough to get in (not only for IMG, but for American graduates also) due to the fact that anesthesiologist salary in USA is very high. Big money make big competition.

Average Anesthesiologist salary in USA:

Houston, TX: $300,000/-
Los Angeles, CA: $328,000/-
New York, NY: $340,000/-
Seattle, WA: $330,000/-
National Average = $310,000/-

And what's more - anesthesiologist nurse salary in USA also cross the $100,000/- annual salary mark.

A 2010 Salary survey conducted by Locum Tenens, a physician recruiting firm, revealed the following average earnings figures for Anesthesiologists in USA:

Rural: $345,000 / year

Metropolitan: $340,000 / year

Pays will, of course, depend on the setting of the job - Recently I read this news article about a patient death at a VA hospital in Florida, which discussed low pays for Anesthesiologists in VA hospitals ( Nationwide range $90,000 to $255,000) whereas the private sector salary package offers range from $282,212 to $453,000 nationwide.

How to become an Anesthesiologist in the USA ?

Anesthesiologists in the USA must have completed an undergraduate college degree, including pre-medical requirements. Physician training programs in the United States, without exception, require four years of residency training for board certification eligibility in the specialty of anesthesiology. An anesthesiology residency requires a one year medical or surgical internship followed by three years of anesthesiology training.

After residency, many anesthesiologists choose an additional fellowship in pain management, cardiothoracic anesthesiology, pediatric anesthesiology, neuro anesthesiology, obstetric anesthesiology or critical care medicine.

There are about 160 Anesthesiology residency programs in the USA, with an average intake capacity of 8 residents per year.

Anesthesiologists in USA enjoy a controlled work schedule with work hours averaging to 60-65 hours per week, extremely high salaries, are not swamped with too many calls and are always working with technology - all of which make it an attractive lifestyle.

For those inclined to specialize further, here are some of the 1 or two year Fellowship programs options available:

- Pediatric Anesthesiology - e.g. the Children's Hosp. of Philadelphia Program
- Pain Medicine
- Critical Care Medicine
- Neuroanesthesia
- Regional Anesthesia

All the sub-specialists enjoy great incomes.


According to November 2010 article for the American Society of Anesthesiologists, there is a projected shortage of Anesthesiologists at least for the coming decade, the gap being filled up by Nurse anesthetists, who too enjoy 6-figure incomes.

NOTE: Salaries here are the 50th Percentile Salaries and may apply to mid-career levels - the lower percentile salaries (for fresh physicians) may actually be lower by 30,000- 40,000 $.

Useful books:
1. Basics of Anesthesia: Expert Consult
2. Clinical Anesthesiology, 4th Edition
3. First Aid for the Anesthesiology Boards
4. Core Clinical Competencies in Anesthesiology
5. McGraw-Hill Specialty Board Review: Anesthesiology Examination & Board Review