Jobs Similar to Nurse Anesthetists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to nurse anesthetists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Anesthesiologist Assistants, Respiratory Therapists and Anesthesiologists.
Nurse Anesthetists: $236,590 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Nurse Anesthetists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anesthesiologist AssistantsSame group | 84% | $135,880Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Respiratory TherapistsSame group | 83% | $82,280−65% | Training or associate |
| 3 | AnesthesiologistsSame group | 82% | $391,490+65% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Critical Care NursesSame group | 81% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeonsSame group | 81% | $352,220+49% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Acute Care NursesSame group | 80% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | RadiologistsSame group | 79% | $420,860+78% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Obstetricians and GynecologistsSame group | 79% | $292,910+24% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 79% | $101,370−57% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Radiation TherapistsSame group | 79% | $105,310−55% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Emergency Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 79% | $335,550+42% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Ophthalmologists, Except PediatricSame group | 78% | $300,080+27% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Nurse PractitionersSame group | 78% | $132,300−44% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | UrologistsSame group | 78% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 15 | VeterinariansSame group | 78% | $130,100−45% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Exercise PhysiologistsSame group | 78% | $59,460−75% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 78% | $47,380−80% | Training or associate |
| 18 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 78% | $256,560+8% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Registered NursesSame group | 78% | $97,550−59% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Surgical Assistants | 77% | $66,800−72% | Training or associate |
- 1Anesthesiologist Assistants
84% similar · $135,880 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Respiratory Therapists
83% similar · $82,280 (−65%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Anesthesiologists
82% similar · $391,490 (+65%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Critical Care Nurses
81% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
81% similar · $352,220 (+49%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Acute Care Nurses
80% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Radiologists
79% similar · $420,860 (+78%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Obstetricians and Gynecologists
79% similar · $292,910 (+24%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Nuclear Medicine Technologists
79% similar · $101,370 (−57%) · Training or associate
- 10Radiation Therapists
79% similar · $105,310 (−55%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 11Emergency Medicine Physicians
79% similar · $335,550 (+42%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 12Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
78% similar · $300,080 (+27%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Nurse Practitioners
78% similar · $132,300 (−44%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Urologists
78% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Veterinarians
78% similar · $130,100 (−45%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 16Exercise Physiologists
78% similar · $59,460 (−75%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
78% similar · $47,380 (−80%) · Training or associate
- 18General Internal Medicine Physicians
78% similar · $256,560 (+8%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Registered Nurses
78% similar · $97,550 (−59%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Surgical Assistants
77% similar · $66,800 (−72%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than nurse anesthetists.
- Radiologists79% similar · $420,860 (+78%)
- Anesthesiologists82% similar · $391,490 (+65%)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons81% similar · $352,220 (+49%)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians79% similar · $335,550 (+42%)
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric78% similar · $300,080 (+27%)
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists79% similar · $292,910 (+24%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Respiratory Therapists83% similar · Training or associate
- Critical Care Nurses81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Acute Care Nurses80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists79% similar · Training or associate
- Radiation Therapists79% similar · Training or associate
- Exercise Physiologists78% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for nurse anesthetists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where nurse anesthetists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Midwives (77)
- Orthotists and Prosthetists (77)
- Athletic Trainers (76)
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (71)
- Medical Dosimetrists (70)
- Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary (69)
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary (68)
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (67)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (67)
- Surgical Assistants (66)
Questions about jobs like nurse anesthetists
What jobs are most similar to nurse anesthetists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Anesthesiologist Assistants (84% similar), Respiratory Therapists (83% similar), Anesthesiologists (82% similar), Critical Care Nurses (81% similar) and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (81% similar).
Which jobs like nurse anesthetists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Radiologists ($420,860, +78%; usually a graduate degree), Anesthesiologists ($391,490, +65%; usually a graduate degree) and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons ($352,220, +49%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with nurse anesthetists ($236,590). Without more preparation than nurse anesthetists usually need: Radiologists, Anesthesiologists and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.