by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 24 U.S. colleges awarded 497 degrees and certificates in Anesthesiologist Assistant. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 90% of graduates. College Factual ranks 13 schools in its 2027 Best Anesthesiologist Assistant Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $27,519 one year after completing, rising to $35,634 after four years.
A 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, anesthesiologist assistant is a popular field of study, with 497 degrees awarded annually. 24 colleges award anesthesiologist assistant degrees, an average of 21 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 152.
By level, the 497 awards include 3 certificates, 48 associate degrees and 446 master’s degrees.
Women earned 61% of anesthesiologist assistant degrees and certificates in the latest year (302 of 497). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (264) and Asian (79), and international students earned 5.
College Factual ranks 13 schools in its 2027 Best Anesthesiologist Assistant Schools ranking, including 4 for associate degrees and 12 for master’s degrees. It also ranks anesthesiologist assistant schools within 8 states. In all, 24 colleges offer anesthesiologist assistant programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Anesthesiologist Assistant Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common anesthesiologist assistant credential is the master’s degree: 446 of the 497 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to anesthesiologist assistant call most for Social Perceptiveness, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Medicine and Dentistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an anesthesiologist assistant degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 48 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 446 |
Postsecondary certificate is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to anesthesiologist assistant, at 44.7%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Anesthesiologist Assistant, with an average median salary of $32,137. Typical job titles include Primary Care Medical Assistant, Ophthalmological Assistant, Medical Assistant (MA) and Clinic Medical Assistant.
The occupation related to anesthesiologist assistant with the most projected jobs is Medical Assistants, at 1,226,184.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | 1,226,184 | -2.1% |
Anesthesiologist Assistant graduates earn a median $27,519 one year after completing their program, $35,634 after four years and $32,689 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,519 |
| 4 years | $35,634 |
| 5 years | $32,689 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to anesthesiologist assistant, with a median salary of $32,137.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | $32,137 |
Anesthesiologist Assistant has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 83,818 degrees a year; the largest are Medical/Clinical Assistant (55,276), Pharmacy Technician/Assistant (8,060) and Physical Therapy Assistant (5,489). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 55,276 |
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 8,060 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 5,489 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other | 4,386 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 4,277 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 3,204 |
| Radiologist Assistant | 1,676 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant | 663 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | 304 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant | 258 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
