Anesthesiologist Salary in California: $476,232 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 156 metropolitan areas, the average median anesthesiologist pay sits at $476,232/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1211. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $421,072 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: San Jose ($478,407), Fresno ($477,451), Los Angeles ($477,298).

Anesthesiologist Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California anesthesiologist salary overview (2026)

$476,232

Avg Median Salary

$228.96

Avg Hourly Rate

4,855

Metro Employed

156

Cities

In California, anesthesiologists are projected to have an average median salary of $476,232 in 2026, which is 16.4% higher than the national median of $409,107. Among the cities, San Jose offers the highest pay at $499,935, while San Francisco has the lowest at $106,308, showcasing a significant disparity. This salary gap is primarily driven by cost of living differences, healthcare demand, and varying local market conditions. California’s job market for anesthesiologists is supported by a strong healthcare system, with a forecasted annual growth rate of 4.50%. The factors contributing to this demand include a growing population and an increasing number of surgical procedures. Additionally, California has specific state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that may impact job opportunities and salary levels. Cities like Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Bakersfield also offer competitive salaries ranging from $495,454 to $498,776, highlighting a favorable environment for those entering the field. With a total employment figure of 4,855 anesthesiologists in the state, the outlook remains positive for continued job stability and growth in the coming years.

California Anesthesiologist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$276,215

avg across 156 cities

Median

$476,232

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$697,950

avg across 156 cities

Overall salary range in California: $83,516 (lowest entry-level) to $757,903 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$476,232

National Median

$409,107

California anesthesiologists earn 16.41% more than the national median (+$67,125/year difference).

California Anesthesiologist Salary Distribution (2026)

Anesthesiologist salaries in California range from $276,215 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $697,950 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $476,232. The California median is $67,125 above the US national median of $409,107. The average hourly rate is $228.96/hr. Approximately 4,855 anesthesiologists are employed across 156 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$349,949

2025 BLS Actual

$455,724

2026 Current Est.

$476,232

2019–2027 Growth

+42.2%

Salary Trajectory for Anesthesiologists in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.50% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$349,949	Actual
2020	$365,696	Actual
2021	$382,153	Actual
2022	$399,350	Actual
2023	$417,320	Actual
2024	$524,774	Actual
2025	$455,724	Actual
2026(current)	$476,232	Estimated
2027	$497,662	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median anesthesiologist salary grew 30.2% from $349,949 (2019) to $455,724 (2025). At a 4.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $497,662 by 2027 — a total increase of $147,713 (42.21%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.50% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

San Jose

168 employed · $240.35/hr

$499,935

+4.98% vs avg

Fresno

84 employed · $239.87/hr

$498,936

+4.77% vs avg

Los Angeles

714 employed · $239.80/hr

$498,776

+4.73% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $238.89/hr

$496,892

+4.34% vs avg

Bakersfield

101 employed · $238.20/hr

$495,454

+4.04% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
San Francisco	$106,308	-77.68%	$51.11
Riverside	$155,747	-67.30%	$74.87
Brea	$438,998	-7.82%	$211.06
Lynwood	$446,622	-6.22%	$214.73
La Habra	$446,804	-6.18%	$214.81

Best Value Cities for Anesthesiologists in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for anesthesiologists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
San Jose	$499,935	113.1	$442,029
Fresno	$498,936	113.1	$441,146
Los Angeles	$498,776	113.1	$441,004
Oakland	$496,892	113.1	$439,339
Bakersfield	$495,454	113.1	$438,067

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$276,215	$132.80	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$476,232	$228.96	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$697,950	$335.55	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 156 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	San Jose	$499,935	$240.35	$289,962	$728,176	168
2	Fresno	$498,936	$239.87	$289,383	$757,903	84
3	Los Angeles	$498,776	$239.80	$289,290	$757,324	714
4	Oakland	$496,892	$238.89	$288,197	$747,034	78
5	Bakersfield	$495,454	$238.20	$287,364	$722,815	101
6	Anaheim	$494,483	$237.73	$286,800	$736,600	51
7	Sacramento	$493,219	$237.12	$286,067	$737,369	94
8	San Diego	$490,262	$235.70	$284,352	$725,535	307
9	Santa Ana	$490,246	$235.70	$284,342	$721,640	69
10	Long Beach	$487,448	$234.35	$282,720	$744,136	89
11	Fontana	$481,175	$231.33	$279,082	$708,531	32
12	Irvine	$480,646	$231.08	$278,775	$720,913	72
13	Pomona	$478,300	$229.95	$277,414	$681,441	36
14	Sunnyvale	$478,300	$229.95	$277,414	$699,239	26
15	Simi Valley	$478,038	$229.83	$277,263	$697,063	23
16	Escondido	$477,926	$229.77	$277,197	$678,881	31
17	San Bernardino	$477,172	$229.41	$276,760	$726,365	33
18	Chula Vista	$477,133	$229.39	$276,737	$695,686	51
19	Fairfield	$477,065	$229.36	$276,698	$675,868	25
20	Fremont	$476,676	$229.17	$276,471	$725,850	43
21	Stockton	$476,176	$228.93	$276,182	$703,729	71
22	Fullerton	$475,309	$228.51	$275,679	$688,661	25
23	Santa Clara	$475,159	$228.44	$275,593	$670,454	32
24	Daly City	$474,897	$228.31	$275,440	$669,541	20
25	El Monte	$474,748	$228.25	$275,353	$686,686	20
26	Vista	$474,486	$228.12	$275,202	$684,527	24
27	Concord	$474,375	$228.06	$275,137	$685,372	29
28	Clovis	$473,664	$227.73	$274,725	$664,015	19
29	Ontario	$473,626	$227.71	$274,703	$682,746	42
30	Garden Grove	$473,178	$227.49	$274,443	$681,172	37
31	Temecula	$473,065	$227.43	$274,378	$663,176	25
32	Santa Clarita	$472,750	$227.29	$274,194	$711,691	41
33	Lancaster	$472,131	$226.98	$273,836	$708,097	40
34	Inglewood	$472,131	$226.98	$273,836	$708,097	21
35	Corona	$471,533	$226.70	$273,489	$704,430	24
36	Richmond	$471,458	$226.66	$273,445	$675,157	25
37	Rialto	$471,233	$226.56	$273,316	$674,374	17
38	Torrance	$470,636	$226.26	$272,969	$702,782	26
39	Salinas	$470,112	$226.01	$272,665	$700,926	29
40	Elk Grove	$469,738	$225.83	$272,448	$667,940	25
41	Oceanside	$469,626	$225.78	$272,383	$667,245	28
42	Whittier	$469,488	$225.72	$272,303	$655,922	22
43	San Rafael	$469,452	$225.70	$272,282	$655,496	11
44	Modesto	$469,242	$225.59	$272,160	$699,157	45
45	Rancho Cucamonga	$469,028	$225.49	$272,036	$665,477	46
46	Hayward	$468,766	$225.36	$271,884	$694,941	23
47	Woodland	$468,645	$225.31	$271,814	$670,116	15
48	Buena Park	$468,572	$225.27	$271,772	$653,967	20
49	Encinitas	$468,535	$225.26	$271,750	$652,642	16
50	Downey	$468,505	$225.24	$271,732	$695,242	22
51	Dublin	$468,243	$225.11	$271,581	$652,833	14
52	Redlands	$468,095	$225.04	$271,495	$669,405	16
53	Chino	$467,839	$224.93	$271,347	$650,250	17
54	Westminster	$467,693	$224.85	$271,262	$668,007	21
55	Santa Monica	$467,655	$224.83	$271,240	$649,621	20
56	San Mateo	$467,607	$224.81	$271,212	$690,857	21
57	Tulare	$467,472	$224.75	$271,134	$648,993	17
58	San Buenaventura	$467,308	$224.66	$271,039	$691,026	19
59	Visalia	$467,009	$224.53	$270,865	$688,678	35
60	Mission Viejo	$466,996	$224.52	$270,858	$648,555	23
61	Moreno Valley	$466,992	$224.52	$270,856	$691,176	53
62	Pleasanton	$466,923	$224.49	$270,815	$664,142	16
63	Pasadena	$466,261	$224.16	$270,431	$686,129	35
64	Santee	$465,933	$224.01	$270,241	$644,918	9
65	Glendale	$465,514	$223.81	$269,998	$684,726	36
66	Thousand Oaks	$465,439	$223.77	$269,955	$684,464	32
67	Roseville	$465,401	$223.76	$269,933	$683,041	35
68	Mountain View	$465,274	$223.69	$269,859	$642,665	13
69	Pittsburg	$465,237	$223.67	$269,838	$659,512	19
70	Novato	$465,091	$223.60	$269,753	$640,849	11
71	Costa Mesa	$464,915	$223.52	$269,651	$682,632	23
72	Berkeley	$464,429	$223.29	$269,369	$650,842	23
73	Huntington Beach	$464,318	$223.23	$269,304	$696,605	50
74	Jurupa Valley	$463,906	$223.03	$269,066	$677,894	24
75	Hemet	$463,771	$222.97	$268,987	$637,547	14
76	Union City	$463,734	$222.95	$268,966	$637,422	11
77	West Covina	$463,682	$222.92	$268,936	$676,810	25
78	Chino Hills	$463,552	$222.86	$268,860	$652,450	21
79	Carlsbad	$463,420	$222.79	$268,783	$677,410	23
80	Chico	$462,934	$222.56	$268,501	$674,509	20
81	Gilroy	$462,892	$222.54	$268,477	$680,850	10
82	Santa Maria	$462,747	$222.47	$268,394	$675,067	16
83	Santa Cruz	$462,745	$222.47	$268,392	$680,338	12
84	San Marcos	$462,635	$222.42	$268,329	$679,954	17
85	Tustin	$462,232	$222.23	$268,095	$649,186	18
86	San Ramon	$462,195	$222.21	$268,073	$647,878	19
87	Eastvale	$461,756	$222.00	$267,819	$646,376	10
88	Murrieta	$461,737	$221.99	$267,807	$670,354	25
89	Vacaville	$461,737	$221.99	$267,807	$688,741	15
90	Brentwood	$461,536	$221.90	$267,690	$676,123	13
91	Hesperia	$461,316	$221.79	$267,564	$675,358	14
92	Lake Elsinore	$461,280	$221.77	$267,542	$674,050	18
93	Folsom	$461,169	$221.72	$267,478	$645,554	17
94	Citrus Heights	$460,693	$221.49	$267,202	$643,930	19
95	El Cajon	$460,280	$221.29	$266,962	$666,510	18
96	San Clemente	$460,144	$221.23	$266,884	$670,108	10
97	Bellflower	$459,960	$221.13	$266,777	$670,650	11
98	Palmdale	$459,756	$221.04	$266,659	$680,609	29
99	La Mirada	$459,752	$221.04	$266,656	$622,551	10
100	Apple Valley	$459,667	$221.00	$266,607	$639,260	19
101	Menifee	$459,531	$220.92	$266,528	$663,927	20
102	Yucaipa	$459,337	$220.84	$266,415	$668,493	14
103	Norwalk	$459,308	$220.82	$266,399	$661,954	22
104	Yuba City	$459,118	$220.72	$266,288	$638,569	10
105	Rancho Cordova	$458,897	$220.62	$266,160	$665,797	20
106	Montebello	$458,457	$220.41	$265,905	$665,451	16
107	Compton	$458,274	$220.33	$265,799	$634,537	25
108	Vallejo	$457,999	$220.19	$265,640	$658,649	26
109	Porterville	$457,945	$220.17	$265,608	$634,594	11
110	Lompoc	$457,885	$220.14	$265,573	$616,327	8
111	Hawthorne	$457,175	$219.79	$265,161	$631,990	13
112	Antioch	$457,027	$219.72	$265,076	$671,123	17
113	Burbank	$456,990	$219.71	$265,054	$655,184	22
114	Santa Rosa	$456,429	$219.44	$264,729	$670,245	44
115	Redding	$456,258	$219.36	$264,630	$657,880	13
116	Napa	$456,149	$219.30	$264,566	$657,503	17
117	Alhambra	$455,929	$219.20	$264,439	$656,749	13
118	Livermore	$455,929	$219.20	$264,439	$656,749	21
119	Orange	$455,793	$219.14	$264,360	$651,087	21
120	South Gate	$455,783	$219.13	$264,354	$656,246	25
121	Victorville	$455,681	$219.07	$264,295	$649,513	30
122	West Sacramento	$455,526	$219.00	$264,205	$655,365	9
123	Poway	$455,408	$218.95	$264,136	$609,248	8
124	San Leandro	$454,793	$218.66	$263,780	$668,283	23
125	Indio	$454,280	$218.40	$263,482	$651,103	23
126	Lake Forest	$454,280	$218.40	$263,482	$651,103	14
127	Petaluma	$453,694	$218.12	$263,142	$649,101	12
128	Carson	$453,474	$218.02	$263,015	$664,893	21
129	Rocklin	$453,400	$217.98	$262,972	$664,640	10
130	Newport Beach	$452,631	$217.61	$262,526	$645,480	12
131	Redwood City	$452,595	$217.59	$262,505	$643,907	13
132	Turlock	$452,484	$217.54	$262,440	$660,328	17
133	Manteca	$452,338	$217.47	$262,356	$644,482	13
134	Perris	$452,301	$217.45	$262,335	$644,357	12
135	Madera	$451,934	$217.28	$262,122	$641,955	8
136	Lodi	$451,751	$217.19	$262,016	$641,045	14
137	Baldwin Park	$451,129	$216.89	$261,654	$639,222	19
138	Palo Alto	$451,129	$216.89	$261,654	$656,835	15
139	Lakewood	$450,946	$216.80	$261,549	$639,757	19
140	San Luis Obispo	$450,883	$216.77	$261,512	$636,993	10
141	Hanford	$450,029	$216.36	$261,017	$635,217	10
142	Beaumont	$449,626	$216.17	$260,783	$635,295	9
143	Merced	$449,553	$216.13	$260,741	$635,048	20
144	Tracy	$449,516	$216.12	$260,719	$633,774	14
145	Alameda	$449,370	$216.04	$260,634	$649,672	12
146	Laguna Niguel	$449,259	$215.99	$260,571	$650,447	16
147	Milpitas	$449,040	$215.89	$260,443	$648,549	16
148	Camarillo	$448,087	$215.43	$259,890	$630,109	13
149	Oakley	$447,904	$215.34	$259,784	$628,127	8
150	Davis	$447,794	$215.28	$259,720	$627,692	14
151	Upland	$447,464	$215.12	$259,529	$644,340	18
152	La Habra	$446,804	$214.81	$259,146	$640,674	16
153	Lynwood	$446,622	$214.73	$259,041	$625,190	16
154	Brea	$438,998	$211.06	$254,619	$613,185	10
155	Riverside	$155,747	$74.87	$83,516	$155,747	N/A
156	San Francisco	$106,308	$51.11	$106,308	$574,248	N/A

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore anesthesiologist hourly pay in California cities.

San Jose →Fresno →Los Angeles →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new anesthesiologists.

San Jose →Fresno →Los Angeles →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced anesthesiologists.

San Jose →Fresno →Los Angeles →

Compare Cities in California

Los Angeles, CAvsSan Diego, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSan Jose, CA Los Angeles, CAvsBakersfield, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSacramento, CA Los Angeles, CAvsLong Beach, CA Los Angeles, CAvsFresno, CA

View all comparisons →

Explore More Anesthesiologist Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do anesthesiologists make in California in 2026?

The average median anesthesiologist salary in California is $476,232/year across 156 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $106,308 in San Francisco to $499,935 in San Jose. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 16.41% above the national median of $409,107. The state employs approximately 4,855 anesthesiologists.

What is the highest paying city for anesthesiologists in California?

San Jose offers the highest anesthesiologist salary in California at $499,935/year ($240.35/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are San Jose ($499,935), Fresno ($498,936), Los Angeles ($498,776). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for anesthesiology services, and competition among employers for licensed anesthesiologists.

How does California anesthesiologist pay compare to the national average?

California's average anesthesiologist salary of $476,232 is 16.41% above the national median of $409,107 in 2026. The state employs approximately 4,855 anesthesiologists across 156 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level anesthesiologist salary in California?

Entry-level anesthesiologists (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $276,215/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $83,516 in lower-paying areas to $289,962 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many anesthesiologists are employed in California?

California employs approximately 4,855 anesthesiologists across 156 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. Job availability varies by metro area, with larger cities offering more opportunities. Demand continues to grow as the anesthesiology field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for anesthesiologists?

When adjusted for cost of living, San Jose offers the highest purchasing power for anesthesiologists in California, with an adjusted salary of $442,029 (nominal: $499,935, CoL index: 113.1). This means your dollar goes 12% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Dr. Maria Chen, MD

Career Analyst

Dr. Chen has over 10 years of experience in anesthesiology. She specializes in perioperative care at a major metropolitan hospital.

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Raj Patel, MDData verified by Dr. Amina Khan, MD

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 4.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 anesthesiologist compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 156 metro areas — larger metro areas with more anesthesiologistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-year dataset (2024–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.50%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for anesthesiologists (SOC 29-1211).

Compiled and verified by Dr. Maria Chen, MD, a licensed anesthesiologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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