Function

• Anesthesiologists are, first and foremost, physicians. These medical specialists are responsible for administering medications, known as general anesthetics, which render their patients unconscious. They are responsible for maintaining this state of controlled unconsciousness throughout the surgical procedure, and for bringing the patient back to consciousness once the procedure is complete. They are also involved with managing acute and chronic pain associated with post-operative care, blood transfusions, coronary resuscitation and other medical conditions.
  
  

Time Frame

• The BLS estimates the mean average wages for anesthesiologists in the United States to be $211,750 as of May 2009. This figure can be affected by the number of years of experience the anesthesiologist has, according to PayScale.com. An anesthesiologist in her first year of practice may expect to earn between approximately $80,000 and $285,000 per year. Anesthesiologists with more than five years' experience average earning at least $191,000 per year, and those with more than 10 years on the job can top out at more than $310,000.
  
  

Geography

• Anesthesiologists can earn an excellent salary in any part of the country, but those who practice in some regions tend to average more than those in other regions. Anesthesiologists in Illinois have the country's lowest average income, earning between approximately $122,000 and $249,000 per year, according to PayScale.com. Ohio provided the highest average income for anesthesiologists, with a pay range from $198,000 to nearly $310,000 per year, as of October 2010.
  
  

Employer Types

• The type of employer an anesthesiologist works for can have a significant impact on the salary he earns, according to the BLS. Those employed by private physicians' offices earned the highest average salary at more than $221,000 per year, while anesthesiologists who worked for colleges and universities averaged less than $140,000 per year.
  
  

Benefits

• An anesthesiologist's base salary represents approximately 79 percent of her total compensation, according to Salary.com. Paid time off accounts for an additional 10 percent of compensation. The remainder of an anesthesiologist's total income is typically made up from employer contributions to health and disability insurance, and private and government retirement programs.