6 free templates for hospitals and surgery centers: general, hospital OR, ambulatory surgery center, certified technologist, equipment, and entry-level, with the FLSA non-exempt, pay, and ASATT certification guidance the generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
An anesthesia technician prepares, maintains, and supports the equipment and supplies the anesthesia care team uses during procedures: setting up and testing anesthesia machines and monitors, stocking supplies, assisting the provider, and turning over rooms between cases. It is a hands-on, hourly, safety-critical role on the perioperative team. The work looks different by setting, and it carries one classification point most templates skip: an anesthesia tech is non-exempt and overtime-eligible, even when paid a salary.
These six templates cover the role across settings: a general version, plus hospital OR, ambulatory surgery center, certified technologist, equipment, and entry-level versions. Each is ready to use, with the FLSA non-exempt note, pay guidance, ASATT certification detail, and an equipment list built in. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion, and FirstHR helps run the onboarding once you hire.
TL;DR
An anesthesia tech sets up and maintains anesthesia equipment, stocks supplies, and assists the anesthesia provider. It is an hourly, non-exempt role, overtime-eligible even on a salary, employed by hospitals and growing numbers of surgery centers. Pay runs roughly $48,000 to $63,000 a year. The active certification is the ASATT Cer.A.T.T. (the older Cer.A.T. exam is retired). Download six free templates as DOCX, by setting, with the FLSA, pay, and certification guidance built in.
What an Anesthesia Tech Does
An anesthesia tech prepares and maintains the equipment and supplies an anesthesia care team needs: setting up and testing anesthesia machines and monitors, stocking airway, IV, and anesthesia supplies, assisting the provider during cases, cleaning and turning over equipment, and keeping the workroom ready. The work is hands-on and safety-critical, supporting the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist throughout each procedure.
There is no single federal occupation code for anesthesia techs, so the closest comparator is surgical technologists, who set up the operating room and support surgical teams in similar settings. Certification for the role comes from the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT). Because the role differs by setting and certification level, the templates here come in several versions.
Anesthesia Tech Duties and Responsibilities
Anesthesia tech duties cluster into four areas: equipment setup and testing, supplies and the workroom, case support, and cleaning and safety. A strong job description picks the specific responsibilities from each area that match your setting, rather than listing every possible task.
Equipment setup and testing
Set up and test anesthesia machines and monitors
Calibrate and check equipment before cases
Troubleshoot basic equipment issues
Supplies and the workroom
Prepare airway, IV, and anesthesia supplies
Manage circuits, soda-lime, and disposables
Stock and maintain the anesthesia workroom
Case support
Assist the anesthesia provider during cases
Support advanced airway and line setups
Turn over rooms between procedures
Cleaning and safety
Clean and disinfect equipment between cases
Follow infection control standards
Handle cleaning chemicals safely
The balance shifts by setting: a hospital tech handles complex multi-OR cases and invasive lines, while an ASC tech leans into fast turnover and versatility. For a structured way to scope the role, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by setting. The core structure is the same across all six, but each one emphasizes the duties, schedule, and certification level that fit a specific kind of anesthesia tech role. Use this guide to choose the closest fit, then adjust.
General Anesthesia Tech
Any setting
The flexible baseline: set up and test anesthesia equipment, stock supplies, assist the provider, and turn over rooms. The starting point for most hires.
Hospital OR
Multi-OR hospitals
For a high-volume hospital: multiple ORs, advanced airway and line setups, complex and emergency cases, and on-call coverage.
Ambulatory Surgery Center
Outpatient surgery
The white-space version for an ASC: one or two ORs, fast turnover, a small team, and a many-hats role hired by the administrator. The best fit for a small center.
Anesthesia Technologist
Certified / senior
For a senior, certified role: advanced equipment work, complex-case support, mentoring, and quality, built around the Cer.A.T.T. credential.
Equipment / Supply Tech
Equipment focus
For the equipment side: cleaning, preparing, stocking, and maintaining anesthesia machines, circuits, and supplies.
Entry-Level / Trainee
Training role
For a first hire learning the role: supervised setup, cleaning, and stocking with a path to technician and certification. No experience required.
Match the Template to the Setting
A high-volume hospital: Hospital OR, for multi-OR and complex cases. A surgery center: Ambulatory Surgery Center, the best fit for a small outpatient facility. A senior, certified hire: Anesthesia Technologist, built around the Cer.A.T.T. credential. An equipment-focused role: Equipment / Supply Tech. A first hire learning the role: Entry-Level / Trainee. Any other setting or a standard role: start with the General version and adapt. Whichever you choose, state the non-exempt classification and name your equipment.
6 Free Anesthesia Tech Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: facility and job summary, key responsibilities, qualifications with certifications, and how to apply, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
General, hospital OR, surgery center, technologist, equipment, and entry-level. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Anesthesia Tech (General)
The flexible baseline: set up and test anesthesia equipment, stock supplies, assist the provider, and turn over rooms. The starting point for most hires.
Anesthesia Tech Job Description (General)
ANESTHESIA TECH JOB DESCRIPTION (GENERAL)
Facility: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: __ (Anesthesiologist / OR Manager / Administrator)
Template 3: Anesthesia Tech (Ambulatory Surgery Center)
The white-space version for an ASC: one or two ORs, fast turnover, a small team, and a many-hats role hired by the administrator. The best fit for a small center.
Anesthesia Tech Job Description (Ambulatory Surgery Center)
ANESTHESIA TECH JOB DESCRIPTION (AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER)
Center: __ (ambulatory surgery center / outpatient surgery)
Location: __
Reports to: [Administrator / Clinical Director / Anesthesiologist]
[Facility Name] is hiring an Entry-Level Anesthesia Technician to learn and
support our anesthesia care team. This is a training role with on-the-job
learning. Under supervision, you will help set up and stock anesthesia equipment,
clean and turn over rooms, and learn to assist the anesthesia provider. A reliable,
eager-to-learn person who is comfortable in a clinical setting is ideal.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Help set up and stock anesthesia equipment and supplies
•Clean, disinfect, and turn over equipment between cases
•Learn to assist the anesthesia provider under supervision
•Restock the anesthesia workroom and carts
•Follow infection control and safety procedures
•Build toward independent setup and case support
•Pursue BLS / CPR and, over time, ASATT certification
•Support the team wherever needed
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•High school diploma or equivalent
•No experience required; training provided
•BLS / CPR certification or willingness to obtain
•Interest in anesthesia technology and healthcare
•Reliable, teachable, and detail-oriented
•Available for [shift / weekend] schedule
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
Growth: clear path to anesthesia technician and Cer.A.T.T. technologist roles
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Facility Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
FLSA, Pay, and ASATT Certification
This is the part the generic templates skip, and the part a small surgery center most needs to get right: the non-exempt classification, the hourly pay band, the ASATT certification naming, and the equipment list. Get these right and your posting reads credibly and protects you legally.
FLSA: anesthesia tech is hourly and non-exempt
This is the classification point generic templates skip. An anesthesia technician performs hands-on technical and support work, setting up equipment, stocking supplies, and assisting the anesthesia provider, which does not meet the white-collar exemption tests, so the role is non-exempt and entitled to overtime at one and a half times the regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a week. The role is paid hourly, and paying a salary would not change the classification. Because anesthesia techs often work shifts, call, weekends, and longer-than-eight-hour days in surgical settings, track hours carefully and pay overtime and any shift or call differentials when due. Some states, including California and New York, add stricter overtime rules. This is general information, not legal advice.
Pay: an hourly role, roughly $48,000 to $63,000
An anesthesia tech is an hourly hire that sits below the salary level where exemption questions arise. There is no dedicated federal wage code for anesthesia techs, so the closest comparators set the band: surgical technologists had a median annual wage of $62,830 in May 2024, and medical equipment preparers run lower, near $49,000. National compensation surveys for the anesthesia tech title cluster in the same range, roughly $48,000 to $63,000 a year, about $23 to $30 an hour, with entry-level and equipment-focused roles lower and certified technologists higher. Outpatient surgery centers can pay competitively with hospitals. Set an hourly range anchored to your local market, certification level, and setting, and post it where your state requires a pay range. This is general information, not compensation advice.
Certification: Cer.A.T.T. is the active credential
Certification comes from the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT), and the naming matters when you write the posting. The active credential is the Certified Anesthesia Technologist (Cer.A.T.T.), earned after an accredited anesthesia technology program and a national exam, and renewed every two years with continuing education. The older Certified Anesthesia Technician (Cer.A.T.) exam has been retired: ASATT no longer tests for it, though those who already hold it can keep it current through recertification. There is no state license required to work as an anesthesia tech. For most small employers, the practical approach is to require BLS or CPR and ACLS where relevant, and to treat ASATT certification as preferred rather than mandatory unless your setting demands it. This is general information, not legal advice.
The equipment list belongs in the posting
What sets an anesthesia tech posting apart from a generic surgical-support job is the equipment, and naming it filters for candidates who can start faster. The core list includes the anesthesia machine and its circuits, patient monitors, soda-lime canisters, airway and intubation supplies, IV setups, and the invasive-line equipment for arterial and central lines in higher-acuity settings. A strong posting also names the disinfection and turnover expectations between cases and any specialty equipment your procedures require. Listing the equipment, and whether hands-on experience with it is required or will be trained, sets accurate expectations and shortens the ramp-up. Generic templates leave this out, which is why they attract applicants who do not understand the technical scope of the role. This is general information, not legal advice.
Hourly, Non-Exempt, Roughly $48K to $63K
An anesthesia tech's hands-on technical work does not meet any white-collar exemption, so the role is non-exempt and overtime-eligible, paid hourly. There is no dedicated federal wage code, so the closest comparator, surgical technologists, anchors the band at a median of $62,830 (May 2024), with medical equipment preparers lower near $49,000. The active certification is the ASATT Cer.A.T.T.; the older Cer.A.T. exam is retired.
Requirements for an anesthesia tech center on equipment skill, certifications, and reliability under pressure, scaled to the setting and certification level. Keep the bar realistic and honest about what is required versus trained.
Requirement
What to look for
Education
High school diploma or equivalent; accredited anesthesia tech program preferred
Certification
BLS / CPR required; ACLS where relevant; ASATT Cer.A.T.T. preferred
Experience
Anesthesia, surgical, or equipment experience a plus; training for entry roles
Equipment
Comfort with anesthesia machines, monitors, circuits, and airway supplies
Setting
Hospital, surgery center, or equipment focus; match to your facility
Classification
Non-exempt, hourly; overtime over 40 hours a week
Keep the posting neutral and job-related, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on a protected characteristic, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
Anesthesia Tech Pay
An anesthesia tech is an hourly hire. With no dedicated federal wage code, set your range using the closest BLS comparators and aggregator data as a baseline, then adjust for setting, certification, and local market.
Roughly $48,000 to $63,000 a Year
The closest federal comparator, surgical technologists, had a median annual wage of $62,830 in May 2024 (10th percentile under $43,290, 90th over $90,700), with employment of 115,600 and 5 percent projected growth. Medical equipment preparers run lower, near $49,000. National compensation surveys for the anesthesia tech title cluster between roughly $48,000 and $63,000 a year, about $23 to $30 an hour.
Entry-level and equipment-focused roles pay toward the lower end, certified technologists higher, and higher-acuity or higher-cost markets higher still. Demand is supported by growth in outpatient surgery, with about 8,700 openings a year projected for surgical assistants and technologists, so a competitive, clearly posted hourly range helps a small center attract reliable techs. Benchmark to your setting, certification level, and local market.
Hiring an Anesthesia Tech for a Surgery Center
Ambulatory surgery centers are a growing employer of anesthesia techs, and they hire very differently from large hospitals, usually without an HR department. Here is what actually matters, and where an HR tool helps.
Most templates assume a big hospital OR; you run a surgery center
Nearly every published anesthesia tech template is written for a large hospital with a full anesthesia department and a centralized HR team. An ambulatory surgery center is a different world: it typically runs one or two operating rooms, employs around thirty people, and is owned by physicians, so the hiring decision sits with an administrator or physician-owner, not an HR department. The role itself is broader at an ASC, with faster turnover and more versatility expected. The ASC version of the template above is written for exactly that reality. Use it, describe your actual center, and post, without translating a hospital job description down to your size.
The classification and certification details are easy to get wrong
A small surgery center still owes its anesthesia tech a correct FLSA classification, and this role is non-exempt and overtime-eligible regardless of whether you pay hourly or salary. On certification, the common mistake is asking for the wrong credential: the active ASATT credential is the Certified Anesthesia Technologist (Cer.A.T.T.), while the older Certified Anesthesia Technician (Cer.A.T.) exam has been retired and exists only for renewal. There is no state license for the role. Getting the classification, the certification name, and the BLS or ACLS requirements right in the posting signals that you understand the role and protects you on wage and hour rules. This is general information, not legal advice.
Onboarding a clinical hire is where the details get handled
Once a candidate accepts, a surgery center still has to bring them on: a signed offer letter, the I-9 and W-4, direct-deposit details, and a first-week plan, often for a role that touches patient care and requires verified certifications. FirstHR fits this people side for a small center hiring without an HR team: e-signature for the offer letter, an onboarding wizard and task workflows that collect new-hire paperwork and assign first-week setup the same way every time, training modules and document management for BLS, ACLS, and ASATT records, and a self-service portal so the new hire completes onboarding before day one. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a clinical, credentialing, or surgical-scheduling system, and it does not run payroll, so pair it with those tools. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once a candidate accepts, a surgery center still has to bring them on properly: the offer, new-hire paperwork, verified certifications, and a first week, often for a role that touches patient care. Because the role is non-exempt, planning how hours and call are tracked matters from day one.
Send the offer
Confirm the hourly rate, shift and call expectations, and non-exempt classification in writing. An offer letter with e-signature is fast for a clinical hire.
Collect paperwork and credentials
Gather the I-9, W-4, direct-deposit details, and verified BLS, ACLS, and ASATT records, with a self-service portal the new hire completes early.
Set up time tracking and a first week
Because the role is non-exempt, plan how hours, call, and overtime are tracked, and lay out equipment orientation and a first-week checklist.
Store the records
Keep the signed offer, tax forms, and certification documents organized against the employee profile, ready for surveys and audits.
Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the next step with the hourly rate and classification stated, and an onboarding template gives the new hire a structured start. FirstHR connects the offer, e-signature, I-9 and W-4 collection, certification and document storage, and onboarding workflow in one place, so a surgery center can capture signed paperwork and verified credentials and run a consistent first week without an HR department. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a clinical, credentialing, or surgical-scheduling system, and it does not run payroll, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
An anesthesia tech sets up and maintains anesthesia equipment, stocks supplies, and assists the provider: a hands-on, hourly clinical role.
Use the template that matches the setting: general, hospital OR, ambulatory surgery center, technologist, equipment, or entry-level.
The role is non-exempt and overtime-eligible, even on a salary, because the hands-on technical work fails the white-collar exemption tests.
Pay runs roughly $48,000 to $63,000 a year, benchmarked to surgical technologists and equipment preparers since there is no dedicated wage code.
The active certification is the ASATT Cer.A.T.T.; the older Cer.A.T. technician exam is retired, and there is no state license.
Surgery centers hire these techs directly; name the equipment and bridge from the job description into a consistent onboarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an anesthesia tech do?
An anesthesia technician prepares, maintains, and supports the equipment and supplies the anesthesia care team uses during procedures. Day to day, that means setting up and testing anesthesia machines and monitors, stocking airway, IV, and anesthesia supplies, assisting the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist before, during, and after cases, cleaning and turning over equipment between procedures, managing circuits and soda-lime canisters, troubleshooting basic equipment problems, and keeping the anesthesia workroom stocked. It is a hands-on, safety-critical role on the perioperative team. The work varies by setting: a hospital tech supports multiple ORs and complex cases, while an ambulatory surgery center tech often supports one or two ORs with faster turnover and a broader, more versatile role. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is an anesthesia tech exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
An anesthesia tech is non-exempt and paid hourly. The role performs hands-on technical and support work, setting up equipment, stocking supplies, and assisting the anesthesia provider, which does not meet the white-collar exemption tests under the Fair Labor Standards Act. That means the role is entitled to overtime at one and a half times the regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Paying a salary would not change this, because the job title and pay method never determine exempt status on their own, only the actual duties and salary together do. Because anesthesia techs often work shifts, call, weekends, and longer-than-eight-hour days in surgical settings, employers should track hours carefully and pay overtime and any shift or call differentials when due. Some states, including California and New York, apply stricter overtime rules. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does an anesthesia tech make?
An anesthesia tech is an hourly role that pays roughly $48,000 to $63,000 a year, about $23 to $30 an hour, depending on setting, certification, and region. There is no dedicated federal wage code for anesthesia techs, so the closest comparators set the band: surgical technologists had a median annual wage of $62,830 in May 2024, and medical equipment preparers run lower, near $49,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. National compensation surveys for the anesthesia tech title cluster in the same range. Entry-level and equipment-focused roles pay toward the lower end, while certified technologists and those in higher-acuity or higher-cost markets pay more. Outpatient surgery centers can pay competitively with hospitals. Set an hourly range anchored to your local market, certification level, and setting, and post it where your state requires a pay range. This is general information, not legal or compensation advice.
What is the difference between an anesthesia technician and an anesthesia technologist?
The two titles describe the same field at different levels, and the difference is mostly certification and seniority. An anesthesia technician is the core role, supporting the anesthesia care team with equipment setup, supplies, and case assistance. An anesthesia technologist is the more advanced, certified version, typically holding the ASATT Certified Anesthesia Technologist (Cer.A.T.T.) credential, handling advanced equipment and troubleshooting, supporting complex cases, and often mentoring junior techs. In everyday use the terms are sometimes treated as synonyms, but technologist signals more seniority and formal certification. Note that the older Certified Anesthesia Technician (Cer.A.T.) exam has been retired, so the active credential is the technologist Cer.A.T.T. For hiring, choose the title that matches the experience, certification, and scope you actually need, and set pay accordingly. This is general information, not legal advice.
What certification does an anesthesia tech need?
Certification for anesthesia techs comes from the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT). The active credential is the Certified Anesthesia Technologist (Cer.A.T.T.), which requires completing an accredited anesthesia technology program and passing a national exam, with renewal every two years through continuing education. The older Certified Anesthesia Technician (Cer.A.T.) exam has been retired: ASATT no longer tests for it, although people who already hold it can keep it current through recertification. There is no state license required to work as an anesthesia tech. In addition to ASATT certification, most employers require Basic Life Support or CPR certification, and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support where the setting calls for it. For many small employers, ASATT certification is preferred rather than mandatory, with BLS or CPR as the firm requirement. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do ambulatory surgery centers hire anesthesia techs, and who writes the job description?
Yes. Ambulatory surgery centers, or ASCs, are a meaningful and growing employer of anesthesia techs, alongside hospitals. A typical ASC runs one or two operating rooms, employs around thirty people, and is owned by physicians, which means the hiring decision usually sits with an administrator or physician-owner rather than a dedicated HR department. The role at an ASC is broader than in a large hospital, with faster turnover and more versatility expected, often without overnight call. ASCs are growing as more procedures shift to outpatient settings, which gives this kind of hire durable demand. The practical approach for an ASC is to use the ambulatory-surgery-center version of the template, describe your actual center, state the non-exempt hourly classification and an hourly pay range, name the equipment and ASATT certification preference, and run a consistent onboarding. This is general information, not legal advice.
What equipment should an anesthesia tech job description mention?
Naming the equipment is what separates an anesthesia tech posting from a generic surgical-support job, and it filters for candidates who can start faster. The core equipment includes the anesthesia machine and its breathing circuits, patient monitors, soda-lime canisters, airway and intubation supplies, and IV setups. In higher-acuity hospital settings, add invasive-line equipment for arterial and central lines. A strong posting also states the cleaning, disinfection, and room-turnover expectations between cases, and any specialty equipment your procedures require. Specify whether hands-on experience with this equipment is required or will be trained, since that sets accurate expectations and shortens the ramp-up. Generic templates leave the equipment out, which is one reason they attract applicants who do not understand the technical scope of the role. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should an anesthesia tech job description include?
A strong anesthesia tech job description names the setting up front, whether hospital OR, ambulatory surgery center, or a focused equipment role, since the setting drives the duties and schedule. It should include a short facility summary, a job summary that makes the equipment-and-support focus clear, and responsibilities grouped into equipment setup and testing, supplies and the workroom, case support, and cleaning and safety. The most valuable additions that generic templates skip are the FLSA non-exempt hourly classification, an hourly pay range, the ASATT certification preference with the correct Cer.A.T.T. naming, the BLS or ACLS requirement, and a concrete equipment list. State the schedule honestly, including any call or weekend work, and the physical and clinical-environment demands. Close with an equal opportunity statement and clear apply instructions, then bridge into onboarding once someone accepts. This is general information, not legal advice.
