by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Anesthesiologist Assistant explores 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. Read on to learn the important information every anesthesiologist assistant student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering anesthesiologist assistant programs.
Nationwide, anesthesiologist assistant is a popular field of study, with 423 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Anesthesiologist Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 21 schools to determine the best overall colleges for anesthesiologist assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of anesthesiologist assistant programs later in this article.
Studies in Anesthesiologist Assistant emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations anesthesiologist assistant graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a anesthesiologist assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a anesthesiologist assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several anesthesiologist assistant degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 38 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 381 |
People currently working in careers related to anesthesiologist assistant tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 44.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 20.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.5% |
| Some college courses | 17.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in anesthesiologist assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in anesthesiologist assistant can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to anesthesiologist assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to anesthesiologist assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | 1,226,184 | -2.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of anesthesiologist assistant graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,434 |
| 4 years | $29,082 |
| 5 years | $32,352 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for anesthesiologist assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers anesthesiologist assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | $32,137 |
With 21 different anesthesiologist assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased anesthesiologist assistant school rankings to help you.
Students interested in anesthesiologist assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 52,819 |
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 7,541 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 5,633 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other | 4,065 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 3,923 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 3,178 |
| Radiologist Assistant | 1,513 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant | 614 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant | 431 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | 363 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
