Nurse anesthetists
SOC Code: 29-1151
Nurse anesthetists carries a 25% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $223,210 and +8.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 53,800 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 25% AI exposure, Nurse anesthetists sits 12 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 15% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Nurse anesthetists sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Nurse anesthetists has ai exposure of 25%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Nurse anesthetists vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Nurse anesthetists is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Nurse anesthetists (SOC 29-1151) carries an AI exposure score of 25%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 53,800 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +8.6% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $223,210, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Master's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Nurse anesthetists. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Manage patients' airway or pulmonary status, using techniques such as endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, pharmacological support, respiratory therapy, and extubation.
- 2. Respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administering emergency fluids or drugs, or using basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques.
- 3. Monitor patients' responses, including skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, ventilation, or urine output, using invasive and noninvasive techniques.
- 4. Select, order, or administer anesthetics, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids or blood products as necessary.
- 5. Select, prepare, or use equipment, monitors, supplies, or drugs for the administration of anesthetics.
- 6. Assess patients' medical histories to predict anesthesia response.
- 7. Perform or manage regional anesthetic techniques, such as local, spinal, epidural, caudal, nerve blocks and intravenous blocks.
- 8. Develop anesthesia care plans.
- 9. Obtain informed consent from patients for anesthesia procedures.
- 10. Prepare prescribed solutions and administer local, intravenous, spinal, or other anesthetics, following specified methods and procedures.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Science
- Social Perceptiveness
Knowledge Areas
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Psychology
- Physics
- Computers and Electronics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Nurse anesthetists?
Nurse anesthetists has an AI exposure score of 25%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Nurse anesthetists?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Nurse anesthetists is projected to grow by 8.6% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 53,800 workers.
What skills are needed for Nurse anesthetists?
Key skills for Nurse anesthetists include Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and others. Typical entry-level education is Master's degree.
How much do Nurse anesthetists earn?
The median annual wage for Nurse anesthetists is $223,210, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Nurse anesthetists?
The typical entry-level education for Nurse anesthetists is Master's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Nurse anesthetists?
Nurse anesthetists roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).