State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Anesthesiologist Assistant Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Anesthesiologist Assistants earn a median of $135,880 per year ($65.33/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 20.4% through 2034, with about 12,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
SOC 29-1071Healthcare Practitioners and TechnicalLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $135,880
- Projected growth
- +20.4%
- Openings a year
- 12,000
- Typical education
- Master's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Anesthesia Assistant, Anesthesia Technician, Anesthesiologist Assistant, Anesthesiologists' Assistant, Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Technician, Certified Anesthesia Technician.
How much do Anesthesiologist Assistants make?
10th percentile$99,380
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$120,670
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$135,880
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$163,980
Upper quartile
90th percentile$190,280
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $135,880 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $65.33/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $141,280 |
| People employed | 162,150 |
Versus all US occupations
At $135,880, Anesthesiologist Assistants earn 167% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $84,900 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $97,870, this is 39% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $190,280 or more while the bottom 10% earn $99,380, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 93% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
New Jersey posts the highest raw median ($165,690), but once local prices are taken into account Oklahoma leads at $155,448 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Anesthesiologist Assistants the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 | $152,282 | 4,790 |
| California | $165,650 | $149,612 | 13,600 |
| Washington | $164,360 | $153,589 | 3,540 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 | $149,203 | 530 |
| New York | $160,880 | $149,072 | 19,140 |
| Oregon | $155,780 | $150,714 | 2,250 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 | $144,924 | 1,060 |
| Alaska | $150,700 | $147,227 | 700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 | $153,627 | 410 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 | $134,658 | 4,470 |
Is Anesthesiologist Assistant a growing career?
Anesthesiologist Assistants20.4%
All US occupations3.1%
+20.4% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Anesthesiologist Assistants to change 20.4% over 2024–2034, roughly 6.6× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 33,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 12,000 openings are projected each year, 7.4% of the 162,700 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
A rise in the number of older people, who are more likely than young people to require medical care, and of patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, will increase healthcare demand. These increases, in turn, drive the need for healthcare providers such as physician assistants (PAs), who can provide many of the same services as physicians.
PAs are expected to continue to expand their role in providing healthcare services. This is largely because they can be trained more quickly than physicians, and team-based healthcare provision models will continue to evolve and become more common.
How to become an Anesthesiologist Assistant
A Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant is not a nurse anesthetist and not a physician assistant, and the difference is structural rather than cosmetic. CAAs work exclusively within the anesthesia care team, trained and working under the supervision of a physician anesthesiologist who retains responsibility for the immediate care of the patient. CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses licensed through boards of nursing, and 25 states plus Guam have opted out of the federal physician supervision requirement for them. The other thing to settle before committing is geography: CAAs may practise in 22 states plus the District of Columbia and Guam, not nationwide.
The credential path, step by step
- Check whether your state authorises CAA practice at all
This is the first gate, not the last. The American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants states that CAAs can currently practise in 22 states, Washington DC and the territory of Guam, and publishes a practice authorization map (dated July 2025) naming them. Authorisation comes in more than one form: ASA notes that both delegatory authority and licensure implement CAAs within the anesthesia care team and both require supervision by a physician anesthesiologist, and AAAA's map carries a further category for a state that also requires physician assistant licensure.
- Complete a premedical bachelor's degree4 years
AAAA states that all CAAs hold a premedical background and a baccalaureate degree. Programmes set the coursework: Saint Louis University, for example, requires two semesters each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics with laboratory, plus one semester of calculus.
- Sit the MCAT or the GRE
Accredited programmes require one or the other, taken recently. Saint Louis University requires MCAT or GRE scores within 3 years of matriculation and reports competitive figures of MCAT 501 or GRE 152 verbal and 155 quantitative; Emory pre-screens on GRE or MCAT as well.
- Complete a CAAHEP-accredited master's programme27 to 29 months
CAAHEP is the only nationally recognised accreditor for anesthesiologist assistant education, and the Accreditation Review Committee for Anesthesiologist Assistant Education is the only body CAAHEP recognises to provide those accreditation services. As of 23 August 2026 there were 25 accredited programme locations, all at master's level, run by 15 parent institutions across Alabama, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Programmes run 27 to 29 months, and ASA states that graduating requires a minimum of 2,000 anesthesia hours or 600 cases.
- Pass the NCCAA Certifying Examination
180 multiple-choice items delivered in two blocks of 90 over 235 minutes, of which 30 are unscored pretest items, at Pearson VUE. NCCAA also collects and reviews a self-reported clinical experience record from student AAs as part of eligibility. Eligibility runs for 2 years from graduation with a maximum of 6 attempts, and the registration fee is $1,400.
- Apply for the state credential and keep the certification current
Where the state licenses CAAs you apply to the relevant board; where it operates on delegatory authority the supervising anesthesiologist's delegation is the mechanism. Certification is then maintained with continuing medical education every two years and the Continued Demonstration of Qualifications examination on NCCAA's schedule.
Exams you have to pass
NCCAA Certifying Examination for Anesthesiologist Assistants
180 multiple-choice items in two blocks of 90, 235 minutes of testing time plus an optional 15-minute break, with 30 unscored pretest items. Eligibility requires graduation from an anesthesiologist assistant programme at a USDE- or CHEA-recognised institution covering basic medical sciences, medical biophysics, patient monitoring, laboratory instrumentation, data analysis, patient assessment, clinical anesthesia practice, quality assurance conferences and emergency preparedness. Registration $1,400. The content outline was validated by a job analysis last performed in 2021.
Administered by National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants, delivered at Pearson VUE.
Continued Demonstration of Qualifications examination (CDQ)
135 items in two blocks of 68 and 67 over 165 minutes, required for maintenance of certification in specified years of the credential (NCCAA's current handbook describes them as year 4, 10, 20 and so on) with three consecutive offerings, in February and June, to pass. Registration $1,300.
Administered by National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants.
- Program accreditation
CAAHEP · Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Graduation from a CAAHEP-accredited anesthesiologist assistant programme is the route to the NCCAA examination, and CAAHEP is the only nationally recognised accreditor for this education. The Accreditation Review Committee for Anesthesiologist Assistant Education carries out the accreditation. There were 25 accredited programme locations across 15 institutions as of 23 August 2026, which is why programme choice is geographically constrained.
- How long the training takes
27 to 29 months of graduate study
A premedical bachelor's degree, then a CAAHEP-accredited master's programme running 27 to 29 months at the programmes we checked. ASA describes the training as approximately 2 years of specialised science and clinical education in anesthesia, with a minimum of 2,000 anesthesia hours or 600 cases to graduate.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
NCCAA requires 50 hours of eligible continuing medical education every two years, including the year in which the CDQ examination is taken, and 40 of the 50 must be CAA Category I anesthesia CME. The remaining 10 may be general medicine or professional development. Category I means ACCME- or AAPA-accredited anesthesia CME, or an ABA subspecialty such as critical care medicine, neurocritical care, pain medicine or pediatric anesthesia, with ACLS and PALS capped at 4 hours. Carry-over is not permitted, the deadline is 1 June of the registration year, the registration fee is $295, and failing to register leads to expiry and then decertification on 1 September.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
Practice authority is the defining state variable for this occupation, more than for almost any other. AAAA states that CAAs can practise in 22 states, Washington DC and Guam, and its practice authorization map, dated July 2025, distinguishes states that license CAAs from states that authorise them through physician-delegatory authority, and carries a further category for a state that requires physician assistant licensure in addition. Because that map is the only published list and is more than a year old, check the current position with the state board before relying on it. In every category the supervision requirement holds: ASA states that both delegatory authority and licensure require supervision by a physician anesthesiologist, and Medicare requires the supervising anesthesiologist to be immediately available. That is the structural difference from the CRNA, who is licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse and for whom 25 states plus Guam have opted out of the federal physician supervision requirement.
Who governs the credential
- National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) — Awards the Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant credential, administers the certifying and CDQ examinations, and runs the CME registration that keeps certification current.
- American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA) — The professional association. It publishes the practice authorization map that is the only consolidated list of where CAAs may work and under what legal mechanism.
- Accreditation Review Committee for Anesthesiologist Assistant Education (ARC-AA) — The only body CAAHEP recognises to provide accreditation services for anesthesiologist assistant education programmes.
- National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) — Administers the National Certification Examination for nurse anesthetists. Named here because it marks the separate path: the CRNA credential runs through nursing regulation, not through NCCAA.
Credential detail for anesthesiologist assistants is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- ASA: Statement on Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants, description and practice · checked August 23, 2026
- AAAA: Certification and practice authorization map · checked August 23, 2026
- AAAA: Frequently asked questions · checked August 23, 2026
- ARC-AA: For students and the public (CAAHEP as sole recognised accreditor) · checked August 23, 2026
- CAAHEP: Find an accredited program · checked August 23, 2026
- NCCAA: Certifying Examination Handbook · checked August 23, 2026
- NCCAA: CDQ Examination Handbook · checked August 23, 2026
- NCCAA: CME Handbook · checked August 23, 2026
- NCCAA: Certification eligibility · checked August 23, 2026
- AANA: About CRNAs · checked August 23, 2026
- NBCRNA: Certification · checked August 23, 2026
- Saint Louis University: Anesthesiology MMS program prerequisites and length · checked August 23, 2026
- Emory University School of Medicine: Anesthesiologist assistant master's program · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Physician assistants typically need a master’s degree from an accredited educational program. Applicants to these programs typically have a bachelor's degree and experience caring directly for patients. All states require physician assistants to be licensed.
| Typical entry-level education | Master's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Considerable preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as anesthesiologist assistants.
- Master's Degree41.7%
- High School Diploma21.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate16.8%
- First Professional Degree14.5%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)4.1%
What does an Anesthesiologist Assistant do?
Assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.
Physician assistants, also known as PAs, examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the supervision of a physician.
Day-to-day tasks
- Verify availability of operating room supplies, medications, and gases.
- 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).
- Provide airway management interventions including tracheal intubation, fiber optics, or ventilary support.
- Participate in seminars, workshops, or other professional activities to keep abreast of developments in anesthesiology.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most physician assistants work full time. Work schedules vary and may include nights, weekends, or holidays. Physician assistants also may be on call, meaning that they must be ready to respond to a work request with little notice.
Where the work happens
- Indoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Working with people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where anesthesiologist assistants work
| Offices of physicians | 52% |
|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 26% |
| Outpatient care centers | 8% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 3% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 3% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Monitoring3.8/5
- Speaking3.6/5
- Critical Thinking3.6/5
- Active Learning3.5/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Science3.0/5
Transferable skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6/5
- Operations Monitoring3.4/5
- Time Management3.4/5
- Service Orientation3.3/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Operation and Control3.0/5
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Inventory management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits an Anesthesiologist Assistant?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic4.4
Investigativeprimary4.6
Artistic1.0
Socialprimary4.9
Enterprising1.9
Conventionalprimary5.1
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Anesthesiologist Assistant: frequently asked questions
How much do Anesthesiologist Assistants make?
Anesthesiologist Assistants earn a median of $135,880 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 167% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $65.33/hr. The middle half earn between $120,670 and $163,980. The top 10% earn $190,280 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Anesthesiologist Assistant?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Anesthesiologist Assistants, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 41.7% hold master's degree.
Is Anesthesiologist Assistant a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 20.4% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 12,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Anesthesiologist Assistant do?
Physician assistants, also known as PAs, examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the supervision of a physician. A core O*NET task: verify availability of operating room supplies, medications, and gases. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Medical software.
Which states pay Anesthesiologist Assistants the most?
The highest state medians for Anesthesiologist Assistants are New Jersey ($165,690), California ($165,650), Washington ($164,360) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Oklahoma moves to the top at $155,448.
What personality type suits an Anesthesiologist Assistant?
O*NET scores Anesthesiologist Assistants highest on the Conventional, Social and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become an Anesthesiologist Assistant?
27 to 29 months of graduate study. A premedical bachelor's degree, then a CAAHEP-accredited master's programme running 27 to 29 months at the programmes we checked. ASA describes the training as approximately 2 years of specialised science and clinical education in anesthesia, with a minimum of 2,000 anesthesia hours or 600 cases to graduate.
Do you need a license to work as an Anesthesiologist Assistant?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. Practice authority is the defining state variable for this occupation, more than for almost any other. AAAA states that CAAs can practise in 22 states, Washington DC and Guam, and its practice authorization map, dated July 2025, distinguishes states that license CAAs from states that authorise them through physician-delegatory authority, and carries a further category for a state that requires physician assistant licensure in addition. Because that map is the only published list and is more than a year old, check the current position with the state board before relying on it. In every category the supervision requirement holds: ASA states that both delegatory authority and licensure require supervision by a physician anesthesiologist, and Medicare requires the supervising anesthesiologist to be immediately available. That is the structural difference from the CRNA, who is licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse and for whom 25 states plus Guam have opted out of the federal physician supervision requirement.
What exams do you have to pass to become an Anesthesiologist Assistant?
The NCCAA Certifying Examination for Anesthesiologist Assistants and the CDQ (Continued Demonstration of Qualifications examination). 180 multiple-choice items in two blocks of 90, 235 minutes of testing time plus an optional 15-minute break, with 30 unscored pretest items. Eligibility requires graduation from an anesthesiologist assistant programme at a USDE- or CHEA-recognised institution covering basic medical sciences, medical biophysics, patient monitoring, laboratory instrumentation, data analysis, patient assessment, clinical anesthesia practice, quality assurance conferences and emergency preparedness. Registration $1,400. The content outline was validated by a job analysis last performed in 2021.