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The differences between nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologist assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an anesthesiologist assistant has an average salary of $218,010, which is higher than the $170,563 average annual salary of a nurse anesthetist.
The top three skills for a nurse anesthetist include patients, CRNA and patient care. The most important skills for an anesthesiologist assistant are patients, OB, and pain management.
| Nurse Anesthetist | Anesthesiologist Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $170,563 | $218,010 |
| Hourly rate | $82.00 | $104.81 |
| Growth rate | 40% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 62,419 | 14,137 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A nurse anesthetist specializes in administering anesthesia to patients while under the supervision of physicians or an anesthesiologist. Their responsibilities mainly revolve around inspecting a patient's medical history to identify any diseases or allergy, assist by preparing them for the surgery, prepare anesthetics, determine the appropriate dosage, and discuss the extent of surgery, including any long or short-term side effects. Moreover, it is crucial to monitor a patient's vital signs while administering anesthetics to ensure that everything will go smoothly.
The anesthesiologist assistant helps in administering anesthesia to patients who will undergo surgical procedures. In surgery, the assistant works primarily under a head anesthesiologist whenever a patient will experience specific operations. The anesthesiologist is a position that is in demand in many healthcare facilities. An anesthesiologist's added responsibilities are determining the required type of anesthesia to use, learning added techniques, and being updated on medical advancements in this field.
Nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologist assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nurse Anesthetist | Anesthesiologist Assistant | |
| Average salary | $170,563 | $218,010 |
| Salary range | Between $89,000 And $325,000 | Between $100,000 And $471,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Atlanta, GA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Georgia |
| Best paying company | Trinity Health | University of Maryland, Baltimore |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Government |
There are a few differences between a nurse anesthetist and an anesthesiologist assistant in terms of educational background:
| Nurse Anesthetist | Anesthesiologist Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between nurse anesthetists' and anesthesiologist assistants' demographics:
| Nurse Anesthetist | Anesthesiologist Assistant | |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9% | Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 4.7% Asian, 7.2% White, 81.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 10.8% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 32% | 12% |