San Diego Medical Jobs for Anesthesiologists

Anesthesiologists are among some of the most important San Diego medical jobs.

Anesthesiologists are physicians that focus on providing care and pain relief to surgical patients. Their main responsibility is to monitor a patient's vital life functions during surgery, including heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and breathing.

When not working in the operating room, anesthesiologists provide pain relief to patients in the intensive care unit, those suffering from chronic pain, and those in labor. They often work with other physicians and surgeons to determine appropriate treatments and procedures.

Physicians and surgeons typically undergo four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school, and three to eight years of internship and residency. In addition, all states require that these employees obtain the proper license.

In California, anesthesiologists must obtain a general anesthesia permit, which requires a minimum of one year of residency in anesthesia, an approved graduate program in oral and maxillofacial surgery, or a fellowship in anesthesia.

There were about 661,400 physicians and surgeons throughout the nation during 2008, with about 5.5 percent of those positions belonging to anesthesiologists, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall employment is expected to increase by 22 percent by 2018.

Employment of anesthesiologists in San Diego County is anticipated to grow from 330 workers during 2006 to 380 workers by 2016, resulting in 50 additional jobs and an overall increase of 15.2 percent, according to the California Employment Development Department.

During 2010, the average wage for anesthesiologists in the San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos area was $110.70 per hour. Offices of physicians are responsible for employing 72 percent of anesthesiologists in San Diego County.