The highest paying jobs in Houston belong to anesthesiologists, who are medical doctors responsible for managing patient pain. They are commonly seen as working with surgeon in operating rooms, where they administer anesthetics and monitor the vital signs of the patient. However, they also consult with their charges both before and after procedures. As with all medical doctors, the position requires an undergraduate degree that takes four years plus four years of medical school. They also spend at least one year in an internship and three years in a residency program. Mean wages for the 1,550 anesthesiologists in the state run $106.31 per hour or $221,120 per year.