Do you want to be a military anesthesiologist? Working in the field of military medicine is an incredibly rewarding career, but it also comes with perks, including a particularly high military anesthesiologist salary. Learn more about what it takes to fill this role, how to join, and the salary breakdown below.

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An Overview of a Military Anesthesiologist Salary

Military anesthesiologists are paid pretty well for their jobs, which is par for the course in military medicine (as well as civilian medicine). On average, a military anesthesiologist salary may range anywhere from $80,000 to $250,000. However, there’s more that goes into military salary than just base pay. Military pay is the same for all job titles across each branch. Regardless of if you’re in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or another branch, a military anesthesiologist will get paid the same, so long as they have the same rank and years of experience. The higher your rank, the more you get paid. The longer you’ve been in service, the more you get paid. Get the gist? However, there’s an important reason that military medical practitioners make more than other job titles in the military. Anesthesiologists in the military must be officers, meaning they have to attend an Officer Training Course. Since officer salaries are higher than those for enlisted troops, anesthesiologists have a higher average pay overall.

Military Anesthesiologist Job Description

A military anesthesiologist will have largely the same duties as their civilian counterpart. Here’s how the Air Force describes the role: “Responsible for administering local and general anesthetics, Anesthesiologists manage the health and well-being of patients before, during, and immediately following a surgery or procedure. Stationed at medical facilities around the world, these specialists are critical members of any healthcare team.” Here’s how the Army describes the role: “As an Anesthesiologist, you’ll administer anesthesia to patients who undergo surgery and other procedures. As an Officer in the U.S. Army healthcare community, you’ll have the opportunity to receive unique training in trauma settings and serve a rotation on the forward surgical team, building a distinguished medical career while making a difference in the lives of Soldiers and their Families.”

How To Become an Anesthesiologist in the Military

Depending on what branch you’re looking to go into, you’ll have to meet different requirements to become a military anesthesiologist and earn the coveted anesthesiologist military salary. Here’s a general overview of what most branches look for:

• An advanced degree (such as a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine).
• Completion of an anesthesiology fellowship or residency.
• Completion of officer training school.
• Age range from 18-40 (though some branches accept recruits up to age 48).

If you meet these requirements, you’ll also have to pass the more general requirements for your branch, including the basic fitness test and aptitude test, as well as basic training.

Enjoy Your Rewarding Military Medical Career

If you decide to go into the world of military medicine, know that the career path is rewarding and worthwhile. Aside from the military anesthesiologist salary, you’ll also get the added benefit of additional supplemental pay, like bonuses, BAH, per diem, incentive pay, and more.

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