If you want to play a key role in patients’ critical care and pain management during and after surgery, then you should learn how to become an anesthesiologist. To succeed in this career, you must be good at school, have excellent communication skills, and have the ability to work well under pressure.

The journey to becoming an anesthesiologist is long and demanding, so read on to find out if it’s the right career for you. We’ll look at the required education and training, essential skills, salary, and job outlook.

An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who administers anesthesia and cares for patients undergoing surgery. They may also work in other areas, such as helping patients who live with long-term pain.

As an anesthesiologist, you will work with patients to design safe, personalized pain relief plans. This includes choosing the appropriate type of anesthesia to administer, whether that be local, regional, or general.

You may also specialize in different medical subfields. These include cardiac anesthesia, neuroanesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, chronic pain, critical care medicine, and obstetrics.

If you’re unsure whether anesthesiology is worth the financial and time commitment, the salary may entice you. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, anesthesiologists are among the 20 highest-paying jobs in the country. The average anesthesiologist makes a whopping $303,587 per year, according to PayScale.

Your actual salary will depend on your specialization, experience, state, and place of employment.

Despite the high salaries, the anesthesiologist profession is not expected to grow much over the next decade. According to BLS, the number of anesthesiologist jobs is projected to increase from 33,800 to 34,000 between 2019 and 2029.

To get an entry-level anesthesiologist job you’ll need a combination of academic qualifications and practical medical experience. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to complete another eight years of anesthesiologist schooling. This includes four years of medical school and a four-year anesthesiology residency. Most anesthesiologists sit the American Board of Anesthesiology exam at the end of their training.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of an entry-level anesthesiologist is $81,576 per year. Keep in mind that this number is the mean, not the median. Most entry-level anesthesiologists earn between $33,500 and $51,500, albeit with plenty of room to grow.

The key to acing your anesthesiologist job interview lies in being able to demonstrate all the skills and knowledge gained during your residency, as well as requisite soft skills such as the ability to make decisions under pressure.

Below are some of the most common anesthesiologist job interview questions.

The role of an anesthesiologist revolves around administering pain relief to patients undergoing surgical and medical procedures. However, the job duties extend beyond just administering anesthesia.

Read on to find out the different job responsibilities of an anesthesiologist.

To be a good anesthesiologist, you must be detail-oriented, calm during high-stress situations, and have good decision-making skills. As well as medical expertise, you’ll need excellent interpersonal skills to be able to communicate effectively with patients and families. You’ll also need to develop the following essential skills.

It will take you anywhere between 12 to 14 years to become an anesthesiologist. This includes your bachelor’s degree, medical degree, and residency program. The time can differ depending on your academic and rotation performance. If you plan on specializing, then it will take you an extra year or more to complete this training.

Yes, if you are interested in the field of anesthesiology and want a highly rewarding career, then anesthesiology could be the career for you. Despite the long training, the career is definitely worth it for those who love working with patients, are looking for job security, and want a high salary.