Anesthesiologist Assistant
A program that prepares individuals to assist anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists in developing and implementing patient anesthesia care plans, including preoperative, surgical theater, recovery room, and postoperative/intensive care procedures. Includes instruction in patient data collection, catheter insertion, airway management and drug administration, assisting the administration and monitoring of regional and peripheral nerve blockades, support therapy, adjusting anesthetic levels during surgery, interoperative monitoring, postoperative procedures, pain clinics and patient education, and administrative tasks.
- Schools offering
- 13
- Annual completions
- 38
- Typical degree level
- Associate's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $46k
About this major
A program that prepares individuals to assist anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists in developing and implementing patient anesthesia care plans, including preoperative, surgical theater, recovery room, and postoperative/intensive care procedures. Includes instruction in patient data collection, catheter insertion, airway management and drug administration, assisting the administration and monitoring of regional and peripheral nerve blockades, support therapy, adjusting anesthetic levels during surgery, interoperative monitoring, postoperative procedures, pain clinics and patient education, and administrative tasks.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical assistants | $44k | +12.5% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$46k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$45k
Bachelor's
$66k
Top colleges for Anesthesiologist Assistant
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh, PA | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Oklahoma City Community College | Oklahoma City, OK | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore, MD | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Columbia State Community College | Columbia, TN | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Wayne County Community College District | Detroit, MI | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham, NC | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Renton Technical College | Renton, WA | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Tarrant County College District | Fort Worth, TX | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee, WI | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Chemeketa Community College | Salem, OR | 1 | 0 | 1 |
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Considering this direction?
We've taken a hard look at the debt, earnings trajectory, and degree-level tradeoffs for the Anesthesiologist Assistant field. Read our verdict before you commit.
Is Anesthesiologist Assistant worth it? Read verdict