Salary of an Anesthesiologist Tech
Most patients undergoing surgery only become familiar with the anesthesiologist, but there is usually a team involved in the anesthetic procedure, and an important part of the team is the anesthesia technician, who assists the anesthesiologist before, during and after the operation. These professionals' salary is generally influenced by the workplace, the employer and the state he's employed in. As in all health related fields the job outlook is a positive one with projected growth and stability at least through 2018 , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
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Salary
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An anesthesia technologist's salary can vary greatly, and is also dependent on the work experience he has. In general terms, a technician's median income is $35,000 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as 2009. This median income, however, is difficult to arrive at because most anesthesia technologists are paid by the hour at hourly wage ranging from $14 to $20 as noted by PayScale.com, and the tech's salary will depend on the number of hours worked.
Overtime
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As the number of overall surgeries increase in the U.S. due to the growth and aging of the population, there is also an increased need for professionals in this field. Many anesthesia technologists have to work overtime hours and this increases their hourly rate from $20 to $30 for each hour of overtime.
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Education
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The anesthesia tech must complete a short formal education of approximately two years. This can be completed in the community and junior college, vocational school, university, military or hospital. Educational coursework includes supervised clinical experience and classroom education in anatomy, microbiology, pharmacology, physiology and other medical coursework. Certification after college coursework is also needed, and specialized anesthesia related workshops and specialization are also required. Most anesthesiologists prefer to hire certified technologists. To maintain their certification technologists must earn 60 hours of continuing education over each four-year period and retake the certifying exam.
Work
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The anesthesia tech works in a variety of places, in the hospital, at an outpatient facility or a physician's office. He goes wherever the anesthesiologist needs him to be and this may be in several different workplaces throughout the week. His responsibilities include assisting during the surgery, inspecting the equipment, the operating room and monitoring of the patients' vital signs.
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References
- Photo Credit Ready for surgery image by DGGallery from Fotolia.com
