In order to be able to work as an anesthesia technician, it essential that you complete a two-year program that includes courses in anatomy, biology, etc. After successfully completing the program and getting some training, you can apply for a job. In case you are looking for higher salaries at the entry level jobs, then it is recommended that you enroll for a four-year degree program offered by a college or a university. As such, the entry level anesthesia technician salary will depend to some degree on the program attended and the skills acquired.
It is possible to enhance anesthesia technician salary by getting the required certifications from the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians. To get the anesthesia technician certification, the criteria to be satisfied are as follows:
- You must have completed a two-year academic program or have two years of work experience.
- You must have a high school diploma or GED.
- You must have the basic computer skills and proficiency in English language.
If you satisfy these conditions, you can apply online and pay fees at the society’s office is Oak Creek, Wisconsin. If you are already a member of the organization, you can avail some fee concessions.
Anesthesia Technician Salary Depends on Experience
As an anesthesia technician, you will be an integral part of any anesthesia medical team operating in any kind of health care setting. Your primary duty is to assist licensed anesthesiologists. You will help them with the application and preparation for anesthesia administering procedures. You will have to calibrate and maintain equipment, operate cardiopulmonary and neurology monitoring equipment, intravenous pumps and anesthesia machines that are used to manage patients before, during and after anesthesia delivery; and carry out routine and emergency procedures in the operating room, emergency section, intensive care units and catheterizing laboratory. Therefore, your area of specialization presents an opportunity to aspire for higher anesthesia technician salary. For example, you can become certified in basic cardiac life support, advanced cardiac life support and intra-aortic balloon pump. As a certified technician in this critical area, you may earn more salary.
The anesthesia technician salary is also impacted by the workplace or the employer that you choose to work with. You may work in a variety of places including hospitals, outpatient facilities and physician’s offices. You may also have to move with the anesthesiologist wherever he/she goes for a particular assignment.
Another aspect that you have to remember is that anesthesia technician salary varies from state to state. While some states offer higher salaries, others pay a little less. It is a good idea to check with your friends in other states to find out as to how much you will be paid as an anesthesia technician in those states. This will help you finally make a decision as to in which state you should apply for a job.
How Much Will my Anesthesia Technician Salary be?
Thus, it can be seen that a number of factors influence the anesthesia technician salary. In general terms, the median anesthesia technician salary is $34,100 per year. This works out to an hourly rate of $16.40. It is very difficult to compute average salaries as the technicians are usually paid by the hour. Therefore, the number of hours of work put in will decide your salary. Typically, the top 10% of the technicians make around $43,000 per year and higher, while the middle 50% earn approximately $30,000 to $39,000 in a year and the bottom 10% earn less than $26,000 a year.
Most anesthesia technologists work overtime due to the increase in the number of surgeries being done because of the aging population and a shortage of qualified technicians. This increases their hourly rate from $20 to $ 30 for each hour of overtime work they do.
The median values annual anesthesia technician salary variations based on geographic locations are as follows:
- Oklahoma City – $31,366
- Tampa, Florida – $32,014
- St. Louis, Missouri – $33,889
- Albany, New York – $34,843
- Detroit, Michigan – $35,321
- Baltimore, Maryland – $36,037
- Chicago, Illinois – $36,173
- San Jose, California – $40,912
If you go by the pay rates posted by job websites that list openings for anesthesia technicians at general hospitals, medical centers, children’s hospitals, cancer treatment centers, etc., it is in the range of about $15.90 to $21.70 per hour. This translates to anesthesia technician salary of approximately $33,000 – $45,000 a year.
Anesthesia technician salary in a variety of settings in the health care field does not vary to a great extent. The technicians employed in the health care industry, including dentist and physicians offices, earn an average hourly rate of $12.22 to $16.47 and those working in hospitals earn in the range of $12.44 – $16.81 per hour.
Generally, the salaries of anesthesia technicians increase as they gain more experience in a particular area of operation. Apart from the salary, some employers provide benefits including performance rewards, annual incentive bonus, 401(k) company-matched savings plan, and insurance coverage for medical, dental and vision treatments.
Anesthesia technicians can advance in their careers by becoming surgical technologists with the help of education and experience. According to some reputed job websites, the salary of a surgical technologist is in the range of $32,052 to $45,431.
A job as an anesthesia technician is very challenging and you must learn to effectively work under pressure and a stressful environment. You also need to develop interpersonal skills to enjoy a good working relationship throughout your career. It is important that you respond appropriately always and especially in life threatening situations. So, it is important for you to work not only on your technical skills, but also on soft skills. Ultimately, your effectiveness as a technician and your ability to handle situations will greatly decide your salary.
Another important aspect that you must keep in mind is that you should not focus on salary when you are searching for entry level jobs in the field. You should focus more on gaining the right kind of experience, the healthcare setting that you would like to work in, etc. As you gain experience, other things will fall in place. So, be focused on your goal of becoming an anesthesia technician and not just your anesthesia technician salary. It is worth the effort that you put in, especially in terms of the satisfaction that you will experience when you do a job well.
