Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Earns Over $300,000 Working 40-Hour Weeks

Chabely Rodriguez, a certified anesthesiologist assistant, said she earns more than $300,000 a year while working mostly 40-hour weeks. Rodriguez completed a master's degree in anesthesiology and entered the field without attending medical school. She began her career in Florida on a salaried position that paid more than $200,000 annually.

After moving to traveling contract work in 2024, Rodriguez continued taking overtime shifts and 24-hour calls to build savings. She later reduced those extra hours. Rodriguez stated that she could potentially earn closer to $500,000 by returning to the heavier schedule but chose not to. "I want to make more money, but I don't want to burn myself out along the way," she said.

Rodriguez paid off nearly $124,000 in student loans in 2023. She now directs about 40 percent of her pre-tax income into brokerage and retirement accounts. By January of the previous year, her total investments had exceeded $500,000. Rodriguez said the milestone has reduced her focus on a specific retirement target and increased her sense of financial security.