Question: How Much Salary (Income) Do Anesthesiologists Earn on Average?

Anesthesiologists are physicians who practice in the field of medicine known as anesthesiology. The practice of anesthesiology involves blocking pain via the administration of local or general anesthesia. How much do these physicians earn on average? Learn more about the annual income of anesthesiologists.

Answer:

The income of anesthesiologists varies based on a variety of factors such as case volume (or patient volume), local insurance reimbursements, and more.

Additionally, the type of practice the anesthesiologist has also determines their average salary.

General anesthesiologists are the ones who practice in a surgical setting, whether at a hospital, outpatient surgery center, or dental surgery center, for example. These physicians deaden the site being operated upon, or, in the event of major surgery, administer anesthesia by injection and by gas that will put the patient completely "under" in a state of deep sleep, so he or she won't have any awareness or feel any sensation of the surgery. General anesthesiologists earn $427,956 on average, according to the 2012 salary survey from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).

Some anesthesiologists practice pain management, which is an office based practice helping patients manage chronic pain caused by illness, accident, or other cause. Pain management anesthesiologists administer drugs via oral medication or injection typically. Anesthesiologists who specialize in pain management earn $529,347 on average annually, according to the MGMA.

Pediatric anesthesiologist specialize in treating children who are undergoing surgery, and their average annual income is $464,412.

To learn more about careers as an anesthesiologist, and how to become an anesthesiologist, see the career overview of anesthesiologists.