Career comparison
Anesthesiologist vs. Pediatric Surgeon
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Pediatric surgeons earn more at the median ($559,030 vs. $391,490), while anesthesiologists usually get to work faster (12–14 years after high school of training). Anesthesiologists keep patients safe and pain-free before, during and after surgery. Pediatric surgeons perform surgery on infants, children and teens.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Anesthesiologist | Pediatric Surgeon | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $391,490 ($188.22/hr) | $559,030 ($268.76/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $101,460 – $557,130 | $215,410 – $726,660 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.6% (about as fast as average) | +2.0% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,100 | 0 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 12–14 years after high school | 15+ years after high school |
| Key credential | Board certification (ABA) | ABS pediatric surgery certification |
| Work setting | Anesthesiologists work in operating rooms, labor and delivery, ICUs, surgery centers and pain clinics.. | Pediatric surgeons work in children’s hospitals and academic medical centers.. |
What each job does
Anesthesiologist
- Evaluate patients before anesthesia
- Plan and give anesthesia
- Manage airways and breathing
- Monitor vital signs during surgery
- Manage pain after surgery
Pediatric Surgeon
- Evaluate children for surgery
- Repair congenital defects
- Perform appendectomies and hernia repairs
- Operate on newborns
- Treat childhood tumors
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, high responsibility, hands-on work, and teamwork. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose anesthesiologist if…
- I love physiology and pharmacology
- I stay calm in emergencies
- I want a top-paying career
Choose pediatric surgeon if…
- I want to operate on children
- I stay calm in emergencies
- I can comfort worried families
Still torn? Take the Anesthesiologist fit quiz and the Pediatric Surgeon fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, anesthesiologist or pediatric surgeon?
Pediatric Surgeons earn more at the median: $559,030 versus $391,490 for anesthesiologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Anesthesiologists typically train faster (12–14 years after high school) than pediatric surgeons (15+ years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects anesthesiologists to grow +3.6% from 2025–35, compared with +2.0% for pediatric surgeons.