Quick answer: Anaesthetists are one of the most stress-exposed occupations in Australia — ranked #15 of 317 by workplace mental health hazard exposure, with a composite stress score of 58.3/100 against a national average of 47.4. The biggest drivers are responsibility burden and physical environment.
Anaesthetists stress profile vs the national average
Each occupation is scored across six categories of workplace mental health hazard, built from 22 stress factors identified in SafeWork Australia's occupational hazards data. Higher scores mean greater exposure.
- Emotional demands44 vs 37.9 avg
- Responsibility burden83 vs 60 avg
- Pace and demands72 vs 56 avg
- Lack of control10.2 vs 24.5 avg
- Precision and monotony82.9 vs 67.7 avg
- Physical environment57.7 vs 38.2 avg
Scores range 0–100; higher = more stress-inducing. Source: SafeWork Australia Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset.
What drives the score for anaesthetists
Compared with the average Australian occupation, anaesthetists score furthest above the norm on responsibility burden (83 vs 60 average), physical environment (57.7 vs 38.2 average) and pace and demands (72 vs 56 average). The single biggest individual stress factor is duration of typical work week at 97.5/100 — against an all-occupation average of 62.1.
The occupation scores below the national average for lack of control (10.2 vs 24.5), which moderates the overall ranking.
See how this compares across all 317 Australian occupations, ranked by stress score.
The biggest stress factors for anaesthetists
- 1Pace and demands
Duration of Typical Work Week
97.5/100
All-occupation average: 62.1
- 2Precision and monotony
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
96.2/100
All-occupation average: 78.6
- 3Physical environment
Physical Proximity
93.5/100
All-occupation average: 61.1
- 4Responsibility burden
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
93.2/100
All-occupation average: 70.4
- 5Pace and demands
Frequency of Decision Making
92.8/100
All-occupation average: 70.7
All 22 stress factors for anaesthetists
The complete scorecard: every stress factor measured for this occupation, grouped into the six categories, with the all-occupation average alongside.
Emotional demands
44 vs 37.9 avg- Deal With Physically Aggressive People26 vs 14
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People50.8 vs 50.4
- Frequency of Conflict Situations55.2 vs 49.3
Responsibility burden
83 vs 60 avg- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results71.2 vs 58.5
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety80.5 vs 57.3
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results93.2 vs 70.4
- Consequence of Error88.2 vs 49
- Coordinate or Lead Others82 vs 64.9
Pace and demands
72 vs 56 avg- Time Pressure75 vs 71.6
- Duration of Typical Work Week97.5 vs 62.1
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment24.8 vs 23.1
- Frequency of Decision Making92.8 vs 70.7
- Level of Competition70.2 vs 52.4
Lack of control
10.2 vs 24.5 avg- Lack of Autonomy to Make Decisions6.8 vs 23.6
- Amount of Highly Structured Work13.8 vs 25.3
Precision and monotony
82.9 vs 67.7 avg- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks69.5 vs 56.9
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate96.2 vs 78.6
Physical environment
57.7 vs 38.2 avg- Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable53.2 vs 52.3
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting40.2 vs 24.9
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures12 vs 32.4
- Exposed to Disease or Infections89.5 vs 20.2
- Physical Proximity93.5 vs 61.1
Understand these hazards
The elevated stress categories for anaesthetists map to recognised psychosocial work factors under ISO 45003 and Australian WHS legislation. Learn what each one is and how it can be controlled:
- Exposure to Violence →Whether workers face the risk of physical or verbal aggression at work.
- Exposure to Trauma →Whether workers encounter traumatic events or material as part of their role.
- Work Interaction →The quality of relationships and interactions within the team and organisation.
- Work Demands →The volume, pace, and complexity of what is asked of workers.
- Role Clarity →Whether workers clearly understand what is expected of them.
- Leadership →The quality and consistency of management behaviour at all levels.
Methodology
Clearhead scored 317 occupations in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) using SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. We kept only the 22 hazard variables relating to mental health — such as conflict exposure, decision-making pressure, and time pressure — and deliberately excluded physical safety risks like working at height.
The 22 variables are grouped into six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment. An occupation's composite score is the equally weighted average of its six category scores. All scores run 0–100, where higher means more stress-inducing.
Two control-related variables are reported by SafeWork with inverted polarity (“freedom to make decisions” and “structured versus unstructured work”). We reverse these and present them as lack of autonomy to make decisions and amount of highly structured work, so that a higher score consistently indicates greater stress exposure.
Hazard exposure describes the average conditions of an occupation, not any individual's experience — everyone has a different tolerance for these challenges, and conditions vary between workplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Anaesthetists: how stressful is the job?
Anaesthetists rank #15 out of 317 Australian occupations for workplace mental health hazards, with a composite stress score of 58.3/100 against a national average of 47.4. That makes the occupation more stress-exposed than 95.3% of Australian jobs.
What are the biggest mental health stress factors for anaesthetists?
The highest-scoring hazards are duration of typical work week (97.5/100), importance of being exact or accurate (96.2/100) and physical proximity (93.5/100). Overall, the occupation scores above the national average in emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, precision and monotony and physical environment.
Which stress factors are lower for anaesthetists?
Anaesthetists score below the national average for lack of control (10.2 vs 24.5 average), which partially offsets the higher-scoring hazards.
Where does this data come from?
Scores are derived from SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. Clearhead filtered the dataset to the 22 mental-health-related hazard variables — excluding physical safety risks — and scored 317 ANZSCO occupations across six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment.
Beyond the average
This is the average hazard exposure for anaesthetists. Your workforce isn't average.
Clearhead's Psychosocial Risk Pulse measures the actual psychosocial risk in your organisation, quarterly — across 18 ISO 45003-aligned work factors.