Anesthesiologist Assistants
Machines can already do 19% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 47%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Anesthesiologist Assistants in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 19% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2036, and 47% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 162,150 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $135,880 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 90% for contact with people.
- Also called: Anesthesia Assistant, Anesthesia Orderly, Anesthesia Technician (Anesthesia Tech), Anesthesiology Assistant.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control anesthesia levels during procedures | 27% | 27% to 64% | |
| Assist anesthesiologists in monitoring of patients, including electrocardiogram (EKG), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine measurement of temperature, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate | 18% | 3% to 25% | |
| Provide airway management interventions including tracheal intubation, fiber optics, or ventilary support | 9% | 3% to 25% | |
| Administer anesthetic, adjuvant, or accessory drugs under the direction of an anesthesiologist | 9% | 18% to 51% | |
| Collect and document patients' pre-anesthetic health histories | 7% | 56% to 76% | |
| Monitor and document patients' progress during post-anesthesia period | 7% | 50% to 74% | |
| Administer blood, blood products, or supportive fluids | 5% | 3% to 25% | |
| Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and monitors | 3% | 3% to 25% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills anesthesiologist assistants use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Critical Care Nurses45% of tasks by 2035 · US median $97,550
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians39% of tasks by 2035 · US median $47,380
- Registered Nurses45% of tasks by 2035 · US median $97,550
- Emergency Medical Technicians42% of tasks by 2035 · US median $44,470
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Anesthesiologist Assistants?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2036. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of anesthesiologist assistants?
Machines can do 19% of the tasks of anesthesiologist assistants today and 47% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 29-1071.01 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Anesthesiologist Assistants: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/anesthesiologist-assistants/