Anesthesia Tech Salary Calculator 2026

This anesthesia tech salary calculator converts 2026 BLS OEWS data for SOC 29-2055 Surgical Technologists into state-adjusted, credential-adjusted, and setting-adjusted numbers for Anesthesia Technicians and Anesthesia Technologists. A Cer-AT certified anesthesia technologist in Houston, Texas earning about $85,000 annually at Houston Methodist Hospital with eight years of post-credential experience supporting complex cardiac and TEE-assisted surgical cases sits between the Surgical Tech 75th percentile ($76,560) and 90th percentile ($90,700), consistent with ASATT survey patterns for senior Cer-AT holders at tertiary academic medical centers in the Texas market.

The BLS does not publish a dedicated SOC series for anesthesia techs, so this calculator uses Surgical Technologist data as the closest procedural-role proxy, with an ASATT credential premium layered on top. Without that transparency, anesthesia tech salary figures on competitor sites are frequently fabricated or orphaned from a cited source. The calculator accounts for Cer-A vs Cer-AT credential level, practice setting (hospital OR, ambulatory surgery center, travel contract), state multiplier, and shift differential for inpatient call rotation.

Quick version: The 2026 anesthesia tech salary ranges from $65,000 (Cer-A mid-career) to $82,000 (Cer-AT mid-career), anchored against the BLS Surgical Technologist proxy median of $62,830 per May 2024 data for SOC 29-2055. ASATT Cer-A certification adds 4 to 8 percent over uncertified baseline, and Cer-AT compounds to 12 to 18 percent total premium. Travel contracts through staffing agencies add 20 to 40 percent over staff pay for 13-week assignments. Connecticut, Alaska, California, Nevada, and Washington lead the state rankings for both roles.

This salary tool produces educational estimates built on BLS proxy data and ASATT credential patterns. It is not personal career or tax advice. For net take-home math with state and federal layers, pair it with the kalkfy paycheck calculator.

How to Use This Anesthesia Tech Salary Calculator

Pick your state from the dropdown and the calculator pulls the BLS OES annual mean wage for SOC 29-2055 Surgical Technologists in that jurisdiction, then applies an anesthesia-tech-specific adjustment on top. Select your credential tier: uncertified, Cer-A Certified Anesthesia Technician from ASATT, or Cer-AT Certified Anesthesia Technologist (advanced ASATT credential). Pick your practice setting: ambulatory surgery center, community hospital OR, academic medical center OR, Level I trauma center with 24/7 call rotation, or travel staffing contract. Enter your years of post-credential experience to apply a mid-career or senior increment, and toggle the inflation layer to subtract the March 2026 Consumer Price Index reading of 3.3 percent for a real-wage view. The tool does not apply hidden multipliers; every output line traces back to the BLS proxy or an ASATT survey figure cited in the Sources section below.

The result panel shows projected gross annual salary, hourly equivalent at 2,080 hours, monthly and biweekly breakdowns, and a real-wage reading after CPI subtraction. A secondary panel compares your projection to the BLS Surgical Tech 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles and flags the five highest-paying states for that specific credential-plus-setting profile.

How Much Does an Anesthesia Tech Make in 2026?

Per BLS OEWS May 2024, the proxy SOC 29-2055 Surgical Technologists occupation shows a national median annual wage of $62,830, translating to $30.21 per hour at a 2,080-hour work year. The 10th percentile sits at $43,290, the 25th near $50,000, the 75th near $76,560, and the 90th at $90,700. National Surgical Tech employment stood at about 115,600 positions in May 2024, providing the denominator against which the much smaller anesthesia tech subset is benchmarked. ASATT estimates separately that the credentialed anesthesia tech workforce in the United States is approximately 12,000 to 15,000 professionals, a specialized subset of the broader operating-room support labor market. BLS projects Surgical Technologist employment to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, which the agency describes as faster than the 3 percent all-occupation national average, driven mainly by an aging population requiring more surgical interventions. Anesthesia tech wages track Surgical Tech movements closely since both roles draw from the same OR labor pool and respond to the same hospital budget cycles.

Entry into anesthesia tech work typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, American Heart Association BLS certification, and either 2,080 supervised clinical hours or graduation from an ASATT-recognized program, followed by the Cer-A exam.

Anesthesia Tech Salary by State

The BLS OES dataset for SOC 29-2055 tracks annual mean wages by state, and anesthesia tech compensation follows the same geographic pattern. Connecticut, Alaska, California, Nevada, and Washington lead the rankings on Surgical Technologist annual mean wages per BLS May 2024 data, with Connecticut near $79,835, Alaska near $78,700, California near $78,645, Nevada at $73,800, and Washington near $74,500. Anesthesia tech Cer-A holders in those markets typically earn roughly 5 percent above the Surgical Tech state mean, pushing the top states into the mid-$80,000 range for credentialed techs. At the low end, Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas sit between $45,000 and $55,000 Surgical Tech mean, pushing anesthesia tech estimates toward the $50,000 range. The Tax Foundation 2026 state tax rates matter for net take-home: a $75,000 gross in Texas (no state income tax) keeps meaningfully more than the same gross in Connecticut after the 6.99 percent state marginal rate applies.

Cer-A vs Cer-AT: The ASATT Credential Premium

The American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians grants two tiered credentials that drive most of the short-term pay variance for this role in hospital hiring. Cer-A (Certified Anesthesia Technician) is the entry ASATT credential, requiring a high school diploma, American Heart Association BLS certification, and either 2,080 supervised clinical hours in an OR setting or completion of an ASATT-recognized educational program, plus a 180-question multiple-choice exam. Cer-AT (Certified Anesthesia Technologist) is the advanced ASATT credential, requiring an active Cer-A plus two additional years of clinical experience and completion of the advanced ASATT curriculum, with a harder 180-question exam covering invasive monitoring setup, complex equipment troubleshooting, and advanced case preparation. Per ASATT hiring survey patterns, Cer-A adds 4 to 8 percent over uncertified anesthesia tech pay, and Cer-AT compounds to 12 to 18 percent total premium over the uncertified baseline.

Both credentials require 30 continuing education unit points every two years for recertification, and both recognize the American Heart Association BLS certificate as a baseline clinical prerequisite.

Note on credential data: ASATT credential premium ranges above reflect industry practice patterns and job posting analysis, not BLS government wage data. BLS OEWS does not publish credential-specific differentials for this role. Treat these as directional guidance rather than government statistics.

Anesthesia Tech vs Surgical Tech: Pay Comparison

A common question surfaced in Google’s related-questions panel is whether surgical tech or anesthesia tech pays more at similar experience levels. The short answer is that anesthesia tech pays slightly more at mid-career, once ASATT credentialing layers on top of the baseline OR tech wage. Per BLS OEWS May 2024 data, SOC 29-2055 Surgical Technologists show a median of $62,830, while Cer-A credentialed anesthesia techs fall in the $65,000 to $72,000 range per ASATT hiring data, and Cer-AT holders reach $72,000 to $82,000 at mid-career. The premium stems from critical-care environment exposure in anesthesia cases, longer shift rotations in many academic OR settings, and the invasive monitoring skillset required by the Cer-AT credential. At entry level before ASATT credentialing applies, wages between the two roles are essentially equivalent or slightly favor surgical tech due to the longer-established CAAHEP-accredited training pathway available for that occupation in every US state.

The practical implication is that an uncertified OR tech considering the ASATT pathway adds a plausible $5,000 to $12,000 annual upside over staying in the surgical tech track at the same employer, assuming Cer-A or Cer-AT completion within two to three years.

Travel Anesthesia Tech vs Staff Positions

Travel anesthesia tech contracts placed through staffing agencies such as Aya Healthcare, Cross Country Healthcare, or AMN Healthcare commonly pay 20 to 40 percent above the equivalent staff rate for 13-week assignments in high-demand metros. A $68,000 staff tech in Houston can realistically see $85,000 to $95,000 in total compensation on a travel contract, bundled as a taxable base wage plus a non-taxable housing and per diem stipend under IRS rules for travelers maintaining a tax home of record. Travel roles require Cer-A minimum plus two to three years of OR experience before agency placement, and contracts often include an overtime clause triggered after 36 or 40 hours depending on the facility’s scheduling model. Demand concentrates in Level I trauma centers and large academic medical centers where staff turnover is higher and 24/7 OR coverage is required year-round.

Travel techs face 1099 tax complications and self-managed benefits that staff techs do not, so the headline premium is smaller net-of-cost than it appears. The take-home gap over staff pay still lands between 8 and 18 percent after adjustments for typical travel-tech expenses.

Scope of Practice and State Variation

Anesthesia tech scope of practice varies significantly by state nursing and medical board regulation, and this scope variance translates directly into wage variance for credentialed techs at equivalent experience levels. California and Oregon allow Cer-AT credentialed techs to assist anesthesiologists with invasive procedure setup such as arterial line kit preparation, central venous catheter assembly, and transesophageal echocardiography probe handling under direct supervision, while Texas and Florida regulations restrict anesthesia techs to equipment, supply, and medication-preparation functions with narrower patient-facing involvement. The actual invasive procedure always remains performed by the anesthesiologist, CRNA, or anesthesiologist assistant in every state; tech scope is assistive throughout, and the expanded-scope states simply allow broader assistive responsibilities. Credentialed-tech wages swing 8 to 12 percent between expanded-scope and restricted-scope states as a direct result, because broader assistive scope reduces the anesthesiologist’s non-clinical workload and frees more billable case time.

The ASATT model policy recommends full Cer-AT scope expansion nationwide, but actual rulemaking progresses slowly on a state-by-state basis.

FAQ

How much does an anesthesia tech make per year in 2026?

The 2026 anesthesia tech salary ranges from approximately $65,000 for mid-career Cer-A credentialed techs to $82,000 for Cer-AT credentialed techs, anchored against the BLS Surgical Technologist proxy median of $62,830 per May 2024 data. Uncertified anesthesia techs earn near surgical tech baseline, and travel anesthesia tech contracts add 20 to 40 percent over staff pay. No dedicated BLS SOC code exists for anesthesia techs, so all salary estimates cascade from the surgical tech proxy plus ASATT survey data.

How much does an anesthesia tech make per hour?

At the BLS Surgical Tech proxy median of $62,830 per year and a 2,080-hour work year, baseline pay is approximately $30.21 per hour. Cer-A credentialed anesthesia techs earn $31 to $35 per hour mid-career, and Cer-AT credentialed techs reach $35 to $40 per hour. Hospital-based anesthesia techs working evening, overnight, or weekend rotations can earn an additional 7 to 20 percent shift differential on the base hourly figure, per typical operating-room collective bargaining agreements.

What state pays anesthesia techs the most in 2026?

Connecticut leads anesthesia tech pay at approximately $79,835 Surgical Tech annual mean per BLS May 2024, with Cer-A credentialed techs earning a few percentage points above that. Alaska follows near $78,700, California near $78,645, Nevada at $73,800, and Washington near $74,500. Connecticut’s premium reflects dense OR labor markets, healthcare union contract protections, and a high cost of living, though the state’s 6.99 percent income tax partly offsets the gross advantage vs. Texas or Florida.

What pays more, surgical tech or anesthesia tech?

Anesthesia tech pays slightly more at mid-career once ASATT credentialing applies. Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055) show a BLS May 2024 median of $62,830, while Cer-A anesthesia techs earn $65,000 to $72,000 and Cer-AT holders reach $72,000 to $82,000 per ASATT hiring data. The premium reflects critical-care environment exposure and the invasive monitoring skillset Cer-AT adds. At entry level before ASATT credentialing, the two roles pay roughly the same or slightly favor surgical tech due to broader CAAHEP-accredited school access.

What is the difference between anesthesia technician and anesthesia technologist?

ASATT grants Cer-A for Anesthesia Technician (entry-level credential, focused on equipment setup, supply management, and medication preparation) and Cer-AT for Anesthesia Technologist (advanced credential, adding invasive monitoring setup and complex equipment troubleshooting). Cer-AT requires an active Cer-A plus two additional years of clinical experience and a harder exam. Pay-wise, Cer-AT commands about 10 to 15 percent more than Cer-A at the same facility. Clinical scope also varies by state regulation, which further amplifies the pay differential in expanded-scope states.

How long does it take to become an anesthesia tech?

The typical path is 12 to 24 months. Candidates can either complete an ASATT-recognized program (usually 12 to 18 months) or accumulate 2,080 supervised clinical hours in an OR setting (about 12 months full-time), then sit for the Cer-A exam. Advancement to Cer-AT requires Cer-A active credential plus two additional years of clinical experience, putting the full ladder from entry to Cer-AT at about four to five years.

Do anesthesia techs get overtime and on-call pay?

Non-exempt anesthesia techs are covered by FLSA overtime rules at time-and-a-half after 40 hours per workweek. Hospital and Level I trauma center settings commonly add shift differentials of 7 to 20 percent for evening and overnight coverage, on-call standby pay of $3 to $8 per hour, and callback minimums of 2 to 4 hours at overtime rates whenever the tech is called in. Callback minimums come from collective bargaining agreements or state rules, not from federal FLSA directly.

How do travel anesthesia tech salaries compare to staff positions?

Travel anesthesia tech contracts pay 20 to 40 percent above the equivalent staff rate for 13-week assignments. A $68,000 Houston staff Cer-A tech can realistically see $85,000 to $95,000 total compensation on a travel contract with tax-free housing stipend for travelers maintaining a tax home. Travel roles require Cer-A minimum plus 2 to 3 years of OR experience. Net-of-cost, the real take-home premium over staff pay lands around 8 to 18 percent after accounting for self-managed benefits and 1099 tax complications.

Is anesthesia tech a good career choice in 2026?

The anesthesia tech role shows solid fundamentals. BLS projects 4 percent growth for the Surgical Tech proxy occupation from 2024 to 2034, faster than the 3 percent all-occupation national average, and ASATT membership continues to grow as more hospitals formalize the credential preference. Entry barriers are lower than for nursing pathways, with 12 to 18 months of training enough for Cer-A. The main friction points are the absence of a dedicated BLS SOC code (which complicates salary benchmarking), and a physical workload that contributes to musculoskeletal injury rates above office-based healthcare roles.

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Sources

Federal data

• BLS OEWS SOC 29-2055 (Surgical Tech proxy): bls.gov OEWS 29-2055
• BLS OOH Surgical Technologists: bls.gov OOH Surgical Tech
• BLS CPI March 2026: bls.gov CPI
• Department of Labor overtime (FLSA): dol.gov overtime
• Texas Comptroller (no state income tax): Texas Comptroller

Credentialing and industry

• ASATT homepage: ASATT homepage
• ASATT certification: ASATT certification page
• Aya Healthcare staffing: Aya Healthcare homepage
• Tax Foundation 2026 state rates: taxfoundation.org 2026 rates

Conclusion

The anesthesia tech salary calculator above converts the BLS Surgical Technologist proxy median of $62,830 into credential-adjusted, setting-adjusted, and state-adjusted figures, plus a real-wage reading against the March 2026 Consumer Price Index at 3.3 percent. A Houston Cer-AT credentialed anesthesia technologist earning about $85,000 at a tertiary academic medical center sits between the BLS Surgical Tech 75th and 90th percentiles, with further upside possible through travel contracts or relocation to expanded-scope states. Connecticut, Alaska, California, Nevada, and Washington anchor the top of the state rankings, while Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia anchor the bottom.

The largest lever on an anesthesia tech salary short of changing states is credential advancement through ASATT, worth 4 to 18 percent on base depending on whether a tech holds Cer-A or Cer-AT. For net-of-tax estimates pair this tool with the kalkfy state paycheck calculator. This anesthesia tech salary calculator provides educational estimates only and is not personal career, legal, medical, or tax advice.

Jordan Wells

Jordan spent four years in payroll processing before joining Kalkfy as a financial research editor. He is not a CPA, career counselor, or credentialed anesthesia tech; this content is educational, not personal financial or career advice.