Anaesthetic Technicians
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Anaesthetic Technicians prepare and maintain anaesthetic equipment for operating theatres or clinics, and assist Anaesthetists during anaesthetic procedures.
Tasks
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Operates equipment used in diagnosing and monitoring disorders of the heart, kidneys, nervous system and in anaesthesia.
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Undertakes and assists with medical analytical procedures and assists anaesthetists and surgical teams.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Practical
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Analytical
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Helping
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Light
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Medical Technicians, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 74% of people employed as Anaesthetic Technicians work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 8 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 42 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Anaesthetic Technicians work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Anaesthetic Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 11.7 | 31.6 |
VIC | 10.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 34.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 0.5 | 7.0 |
WA | 43.0 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.0 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.0 | 1.9 |
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Around 71% of Anaesthetic Technicians live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Western Australia and Queensland have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Anaesthetic Technicians is 45 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.
Females make up 53% of the workforce. This is 5 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Anaesthetic Technicians | All Jobs Average |
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15-19 | 0.5 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 4.9 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 18.1 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 26.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 26.9 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 14.3 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.6 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 45 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
A diploma in anaesthetic technology or paramedical science is usually needed to work as an Anaesthetic Technician. Some workers have a university qualification.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Health Industry and Laboratory Operations VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Anaesthetic Technicians | All Jobs Average |
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Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 20.8 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 17.2 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 48.6 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 10.8 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 2.2 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.5 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Medical Technicians who have good people skills, a high attention to detail and are accurate.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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61%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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55%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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54%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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54%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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52%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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52%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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52%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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50%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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50%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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50%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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50%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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48%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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48%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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46%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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46%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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45%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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41%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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41%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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41%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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67%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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61%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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60%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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55%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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53%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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50%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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49%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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48%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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44%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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41%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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40%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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37%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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35%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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34%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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29%
Philosophy and theologyPhilosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.
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28%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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27%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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26%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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26%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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23%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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63%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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59%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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59%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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59%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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55%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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55%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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54%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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54%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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54%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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52%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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52%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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52%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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50%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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50%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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48%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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48%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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46%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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46%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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45%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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84%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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81%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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76%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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76%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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73%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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71%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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69%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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68%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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67%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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66%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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65%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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65%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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64%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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63%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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61%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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60%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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58%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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56%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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49%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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48%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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76%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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71%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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67%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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38%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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38%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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76%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
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71%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
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62%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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60%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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57%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
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57%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
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98%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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97%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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97%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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96%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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94%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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91%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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90%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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89%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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89%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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88%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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87%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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85%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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83%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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80%
Wear specialized protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection.
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79%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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79%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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78%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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78%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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78%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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78%
RadiationBe exposed to radiation.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 29-1071.01 - Anesthesiologist Assistants.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.