Here are eight things to know about anesthesiologist compensation this year, based on the Medscape Anesthesiologist Compensation Report 2017.
1. Anesthesiologists made $364,000 on average last year, the ninth highest paid specialty. Orthopedists topped the list as the highest paid specialists, reporting $489,000 in average annual compensation.
2. Anesthesiologists trained in the U.S. reported slightly higher average compensation — at $368,000 — than foreign-trained anesthesiologists, who reported receiving $348,000 on average last year.
3. The North Central region of the United States was the most highly compensating region for anesthesiologists, where the average compensation was reported at $405,000; the Northeast was the lowest compensating region, where anesthesiologists reported making $334,000 per year.
4. Self-employed anesthesiologists received $408,000 average compensation last year, compared with employed anesthesiologists who received $338,000.
5. Male anesthesiologists earned more than female anesthesiologists: $382,000 compared to $308,000.
6. More than half — 57 percent — of anesthesiologists feel they are fairly compensated. However, most also felt they should earn more in annual income; 44 percent thought they should earn 11 percent to 25 percent more and another 32 percent felt they should earn 26 percent to 50 percent more than their current income.
7. Thirty-nine percent of anesthesiologists are participating in ACOs; 5 percent are in cash-only practices. Thirty-three percent are participating in health insurance exchanges.
8. Fifty-three percent of anesthesiologists expect to participate in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act.