A new study by RIVANNA® analyzes employment trends in anesthesiology across U.S. states and the rapid growth of the ultrasound market, projected to double in value by 2034. We examine how technological advancements are transforming these medical fields, creating new opportunities and challenges for healthcare professionals.
Key Takeaways
- The number of job posts varies significantly across states. With 139 and 104 anesthesiologist job posts, New York and Florida have the most opportunities.
- Pennsylvania showed the highest growth in both total employment (202.08%) and jobs per 1,000 (197.56%) for anesthesiologists.
- The ultrasound market is projected to grow by $3.5 billion from 2019 to 2024 and more than double from $8.2 billion in 2019 to $20.4 billion in 2034.
States With Demands for Anesthesiology
In addition to technological factors, regional differences impact the number of anesthesiologists employed. California stands out as the leader, employing 5,380 anesthesiologists in 2023, significantly higher than the second-ranking state, Michigan, which employs 2,050 anesthesiologists. The top 10 states collectively employed 25,620 anesthesiologists in 2023. This concentration of employment in certain states highlights the uneven distribution of anesthesiology services across the country.
Looking at total employment growth from 2019 to 2023, we can observe that some states show high growth in both total employment and jobs per 1,000, indicating a robust and growing anesthesiology job market. Pennsylvania showed the highest growth in both total employment (202.08%) and jobs per 1,000 (197.56%). Massachusetts followed closely with 180.6% growth in total employment and 180.43% growth in jobs per 1,000.
Conversely, Missouri experienced the most significant decline, with a 75% decrease in anesthesiologist positions, followed by Alabama (-66.7%), North Carolina (-58.2%) and Texas (-46.3%). These changes highlight the dynamic nature of the anesthesiology job market. Interestingly, there is a weak negative correlation (-0.22) between growth in employment and search interest for “anesthesiologist jobs.”
Anesthesiologists’ Job Posts by State
Our search on Indeed.com shows a wide range of job posts for anesthesiologists across states. New York and Florida stand out with significantly more job posts (139 and 104, respectively) compared to other states; this suggests a higher demand for anesthesiologists in these populous states. California comes third with 68 job posts. Interestingly, despite its size, Texas ranks 24th in terms of job posts for anesthesiologists compared to other states.
“The number of job postings would increase in response to increased demand, but it may also increase if the anesthesiology workforce in a given area is closer to the age of retirement,” said Dr. Brandon Togioka, Vice Chair of Clinical Research for the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at OHSU. “In this manner, regions staffed by an older population of anesthesiologists would be expected to have more job postings.”
State with the most Anesthesiologist Job posts
| State | Anesthesiologist Job posts |
| New York | 139 |
| Florida | 104 |
| California | 68 |
| Virginia | 60 |
| Ohio | 49 |
| Georgia | 44 |
| North Carolina | 41 |
| South Carolina | 40 |
| New Jersey | 32 |
| Tennessee | 31 |
| Wisconsin | 31 |
| Washington | 29 |
| Pennsylvania | 27 |
| Illinois | 25 |
| Minnesota | 25 |
| Maryland | 24 |
| Indiana | 23 |
| Arizona | 20 |
| Michigan | 19 |
| Connecticut | 19 |
| Massachusetts | 18 |
| Louisiana | 17 |
| Missouri | 15 |
| Kentucky | 15 |
| Texas | 15 |
| West Virginia | 15 |
| New Mexico | 14 |
| District of Columbia | 14 |
| Mississippi | 13 |
| Nevada | 13 |
| Oregon | 13 |
| Nebraska | 11 |
| Kansas | 11 |
| Oklahoma | 10 |
| Colorado | 10 |
| Arkansas | 8 |
| Alabama | 8 |
| Maine | 8 |
| Vermont | 8 |
| Iowa | 7 |
| Montana | 6 |
| North Dakota | 6 |
| Delaware | 5 |
| Hawaii | 5 |
| New Hampshire | 5 |
| Rhode Island | 2 |
| Idaho | 2 |
| Utah | 2 |
| Alaska | 1 |
| South Dakota | 0 |
| Wyoming | 0 |
The median number of job posts is approximately 15, with a total number of 1,127. South Dakota and Wyoming are currently reporting no job posts for anesthesiologists.
Fast-Growing Ultrasound Market
Both anesthesiology and diagnostic imaging are experiencing significant transformations driven by technological advancements. While anesthesiologists face varying employment trends across states, the ultrasound market is showing rapid growth, fueled by innovations in imaging technology and the rising need for diagnostic services.
According to Future Market Insights data, the ultrasound market was valued at $8.2 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $11.7 billion in 2024. This is an impressive growth rate of 42.68% over five years, or an average annual growth rate of 7.37%. The projection for 2034 shows a substantial increase to $20.4 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 5.71%.
The ultrasound market shows a steady upward trend throughout the entire period. The average annual growth rate shows a slight decrease from 7.37% (2019-2024) to 5.71% (2024-2034) in the projection. However, this is not unusual as markets mature.
Among the key potential factors driving growth, technological advancements in ultrasound equipment and expanding ultrasound applications in various medical fields may help fasten the adoption of ultrasounds. On the patient side, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases requiring diagnostic imaging, the growing geriatric population, and the rising demand for minimally invasive diagnostic procedures could also influence growth.
Anesthesiologist Dr. Steve Garber explained that “the projected doubling of the ultrasound market by 2034 reflects the increasing reliance on ultrasound-guided procedures in various medical specialties, particularly anesthesiology. For anesthesiologists, ultrasound has become indispensable for performing nerve blocks, vascular access, and even point-of-care diagnostic imaging. The accessibility of real-time imaging during procedures improves accuracy and patient safety, reducing complications associated with blind techniques.”
Dr. Antonio Gonzalez, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Yale School of Medicine, highlights that for some procedures, the evidence supporting ultrasound-guided techniques has far outpaced their adoption. “One example of this is the use of ultrasound-guided neuraxial anesthesia. Close to two decades ago (2008), the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom determined that there was sufficient evidence to support the routine use of ultrasound to facilitate the catheterization of the epidural space. However, this technique is often used as a rescue rather than routinely.”
The slow adoption of such techniques may be attributed to the lack of ultrasound devices or insufficient training in spine sonoanatomy. However, the projected market growth offers a promising solution to these challenges. As Dr. Gonzalez suggests, “It is reasonable to think that the technology will be smaller (e.g., handheld) and accompanied by artificial intelligence that may help guide different procedures. Regardless of how our technology may look, it will be essential to learn this technique.”
The importance of ultrasound proficiency is further underscored by recent changes in medical education requirements. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has added the requirement of performing several ultrasonography procedures (e.g., Neuraxial and abdominal plane blocks) to the Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship. This change reflects the growing recognition of ultrasound’s critical role in improving accuracy and patient satisfaction in anesthesiology and other medical fields. Dr. Gonzalez emphasizes that regardless of how the technology may evolve, it is essential for anesthesiologists to take notice, learn, and routinely utilize ultrasound to improve accuracy and patient satisfaction.
Employment Growth for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
The employment number for diagnostic medical sonographers is following the same trend. From 2020 to 2023, the number of employed sonographers grew by 14%, rising from 72,790 to 82,780. The consistent increase in absolute numbers indicates a steady demand for these skilled professionals. Interestingly, the more rapid growth of the ultrasound market compared to sonographer employment suggests potential increases in efficiency, possibly driven by technological advancements, and may also indicate future opportunities for workforce expansion.
“With regards to the ultrasound market there is an effort at many centers to increase bedside or point-of-care ultrasound to reduce the need for expensive diagnostic tests,” explained Dr. Brandon Togioka. “Whereas the ultrasound technology has improved some, the algorithms being used to identify important body landmarks have greatly improved. This has made bedside ultrasound easier for anesthesiologists to learn and create more certainty with interpretation of images.”
The projected increase in ultrasound usage will require either a rise in the number of sonographers—despite the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals across many fields—or new medtech advancements that simplify the work for current professionals.
Methodology
Data from Indeed job posts for anesthesiologists across different states was analyzed to identify regional variations and trends. Additionally, Bureau of Labor Statistics data on anesthesiologist employment was analyzed to uncover trends from the past four years. Additionally, the study analyzed the growth of the ultrasound market and sonographer employment using data from two primary sources. Market value projections from 2019 to 2034 were obtained from Future Market Insights, while employment data for diagnostic medical sonographers from 2019 to 2023 was sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The analysis involves calculating growth rates and examining trends to understand the relationship between market expansion and workforce dynamics. This approach provides a comprehensive view of the industry’s economic and employment landscape.