Similar to other healthcare professionals, anesthesiologists are also considered instrumental in achieving a successful medical operation. They are part of the medical team working side-by-side with surgeons, nurses, and hospital equipment technicians. Anesthesiologists specialize in pain management of patients who will undergo surgery. They are also responsible for the proper treatment and procedure before, during, and after medical operations. These medical professionals' core responsibilities include maintenance of the patient's vital signs (pulse and heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, breathing), consistent monitoring, and assessment during and after the surgery. Most of the time anesthesiologists work outside the operating room. They are most commonly found in the ICU preparing pain relief medications and during birth delivery, among others.

As the year passes by, more and more people are suffering from various health problems. As an expert in pain management, the demand for anesthesiologists in various workplaces has been increasing. According to Anesthesiology Medical Expert Witness US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job demand for anesthesiologists is projected to grow at a faster rate in the next decade. The most recent reports also show that the existing shortages of all types of medical professionals will continue to drive growth in anesthesiology industry since a lot of aging physicians are about to retire. With that, the field of anesthesiology is expected to continue to evolve with theanesthesiologist salary continuing to increase at a faster rate.

Among medical specialists, anesthesiologists are one of the highest-paid physicians in the medical community. Anesthesiologist salary may vary depending on the geographic location, type of facility, experience, education, and specialization. The average anesthesiologist salary is around $300,000 per annum. In addition, anesthesiologist salary can also increase up to $450,000 based on experience. In most cases, employers provide a lot of benefits that can be added to the anesthesiologist salary, and anesthesiologist who work in specific areas, including pediatric ward, cardiology, and in a physician's office.

Additionally, according to the 2009 MGMA salary survey, the average anesthesiologist salary is about $410,311. For anesthesiologists who specialize in pain management, the average anesthesiologist salary is $460,243. On the other hand, anesthesiologists who work in pediatric wards get an average salary of $472,068. The survey also shows that the number of annual surgery cases for these medical professionals is around 915 per year.

Since there has been a shortage of qualified anesthesiologists, physicians began accepting on-call anesthesiologists. Although the pay rates may vary by assignment, the average anesthesiologist salary for this group is around $1,200 per day. It can also increase up to $1,350 for cardiac cases or pediatrics.