How Much Does an Anesthesiologist Make? Salary Data for 2026

According to the 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for anesthesiologists (SOC 29-1211), BLS data indicates median wages for this occupation exceed $239,200 per year — the level at which BLS caps wage reporting for high-earning occupations.

This means the true national median is higher than that figure, and BLS data should be understood as confirming wages in the top tier of U.S. earners rather than providing a precise median.

Independent physician compensation surveys — including those published by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and specialty professional societies — consistently report median total compensation for anesthesiologists in the range of $330,000–$400,000 per year or higher, depending on practice model and geography.

These figures reflect both employed physician arrangements and independent or group practice models.

Anesthesiology remains one of the highest-compensated medical specialties in the United States, reflecting the complexity and risk of anesthesia care, the extensive training required, and the central role anesthesiologists play in surgical and procedural safety.

The anesthesia tech salary represents the allied role within the same specialty.

For a complete breakdown of how any hourly wage in these ranges translates to annual, monthly, weekly, and after-tax take-home, see our hourly-to-annual salary conversion guides.

Anesthesiologist compensation increases substantially with years of post-residency experience, fellowship training, and advancement into leadership or partnership roles within a practice. The following ranges reflect typical industry estimates across practice settings:

These estimates are derived from physician compensation surveys and represent approximate ranges. Actual compensation depends significantly on practice setting, geographic market, call burden, and partnership or ownership structure within a group practice.

Geographic variation in anesthesiologist pay reflects differences in cost of living, local healthcare market conditions, competition for physicians, and state-level scope-of-practice regulations that affect the ratio of anesthesiologists to Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) in a given market.

States with limited CRNA independent practice authority tend to maintain stronger demand for physician anesthesiologists.

Generally, rural and underserved markets — particularly in the South and Mountain West — offer higher compensation to attract anesthesiologists to areas with limited physician supply.

For anesthesiologists evaluating geographic moves, the cost of living in California and the cost of living in Texas represent two contrasting high-demand markets with very different cost profiles.

Major metropolitan markets may offer competitive salaries but with higher cost of living.

The cost of living in California and the cost of living in New York are essential context for evaluating whether high nominal salaries in those coastal markets actually represent stronger financial outcomes.

Academic medical center positions typically pay less than private practice or locum tenens arrangements, with the offset of academic benefits, research opportunities, and more predictable schedules.

Several factors meaningfully influence what an anesthesiologist may earn:

• Practice setting — hospital employed vs. private group vs. locum tenens: Hospital-employed anesthesiologists receive a guaranteed salary with benefits and predictable hours, but typically earn less than partners in independent anesthesiology groups who share in the revenue generated by the practice. Locum tenens anesthesiologists — traveling physicians who fill temporary coverage needs — often command premium daily or hourly rates, though without the stability of permanent employment or employer-sponsored benefits.
• Board certification: The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) offers initial board certification as well as subspecialty certification in areas including pediatric anesthesiology, critical care medicine, hospice and palliative medicine, and pain medicine. Board-certified and subspecialty-certified anesthesiologists are generally more competitive in the employment market and may command higher compensation.
• Fellowship training and subspecialization: Anesthesiologists who complete optional one-year fellowship training in subspecialties such as cardiac anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, neuroanesthesia, or regional anesthesia and pain medicine can position themselves for higher-paying specialized roles in academic medical centers and tertiary care hospitals.
• Call burden and overnight coverage: Anesthesiology practices with heavy overnight and weekend emergency call burdens typically pay higher total compensation to account for the demanding schedule, while positions with limited or no call may pay less in exchange for lifestyle benefits.
• Medical school debt context: Anesthesiologists complete 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years of medical school, and a 4-year anesthesiology residency — with an optional 1-year fellowship — for a total of 12–13 years of post-high school training. Average medical school debt approaches $200,000, making the path to anesthesiology one of the most financially intensive in any profession.

Despite the high income, anesthesiologists carry significant student loan obligations and often have delayed wealth accumulation compared to other high earners who enter the workforce earlier.

Understanding how much to contribute to your 401(k) upon completing residency, establishing a Roth IRA during fellowship years when income is lower, and tracking net worth by age benchmarks are all critical financial planning steps for physicians entering private practice.

According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for physicians and surgeons, employment of physicians and surgeons overall is projected to grow 3% from 2023 to 2033 — roughly in line with the average for all occupations.

For anesthesiologists specifically, demand is driven by the overall growth in surgical and procedural care, an aging population requiring more procedures, and the continued expansion of outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers where anesthesiology services are essential.

The relationship between anesthesiologists and CRNAs — who can administer anesthesia independently in some states — is an ongoing workforce and regulatory issue that varies significantly by state.

State scope-of-practice law and hospital credentialing policy shape the competitive landscape in each market.

Given the high earning potential of this specialty, anesthesiologists should maximize their 401(k) contribution rate and explore a Roth IRA during residency years when income is lower and tax rates are more favorable.

The student loan interest deduction applies to the approximately $200,000 in medical school debt that most anesthesiologists carry, and reviewing average net worth by age benchmarks can help physicians gauge whether their wealth accumulation is on track given their late earning start.