Nurse Anesthetist Salary Guide: Discover How Much CRNAs Earn Nationally, in Each State & More Salary Data

A nurse anesthetist is an advanced practice nurse (APRN) who plays a crucial role in the healthcare ecosystem. It’s a career track that invariably comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility, but working as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) certainly has its perks. 

From professional satisfaction to personal fulfillment to increased financial stability, putting in the effort to become an advanced practice nurse is well worth it. APRNs generally earn considerably higher salaries than other nurses, and nurse anesthetists are top earners. However, you may not know the details about the role, and we are here to help. How much do CRNAs make, which states are the best to work in from the perspective of your prospective earnings, and how much demand is there for nurse anesthetists? 

We will answer all your questions about the current standard nurse anesthetist salary:

At a Glance: Nurse Anesthetist Salary vs. Other Nursing Careers

Let’s take a quick look at how the current average nurse anesthetist salary compares to different career tracks for nurses and their corresponding salaries:

To see a complete comparison that includes more nursing roles and accounts for the area you reside in and may work in, read our nurse salary by state report. You can also find out more about the estimated salary for other roles across the US:

• Nurse midwife salaries

• Nurse educator salaries

• Nurse practitioner salaries

• Psychiatric nurse role and estimated salary

The first step in pursuing a career as a certified registered nurse anesthetist is achieving or advancing to a BSN. At Nightingale, you can do so via our BSN Program, which is ideal if you are starting with zero experience and want to reach BSN-level education in the most accessible and flexible way. You will attend online, concept-based theoretical instruction designed to develop the cognitive apprenticeship required for your future practice. Additionally, you will also complete your obligatory supervised on-ground field experiences (SOFE) in the settings that are most accessible to you. You can complete the program in less than 3 years.

Choose the academic program that is best for you and get the nursing career you desire!

How Much Does a Nurse Anesthetist Make?

In the nursing world, it’s no secret that nurse anesthetists are the best-compensated nurses. According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for CRNAs is $236,590 per year or $113.75 per hour. 

Of course, as far as nurse anesthetists’ salaries go, various factors come into play. 

A CRNA's starting salary can be lower than the national median estimate, with 10th- and 25th-percentile estimates ranging from $155,250 per year ($74.64 per hour) to $206,730 per year ($99.39 per hour). Similarly, professional experience affects a CRNA's earning potential. The current 75th percentile of earnings for nurse anesthetists is $294,350 per year ($141.51 per hour), while at the very top of the workforce pool, CRNAs in the 90th wage percentile earn around $339,500 per year or $163.22 per hour.

Additionally, specializing in a particular area of anesthesia, such as neuro-anesthesia, can lead to higher wages. 

Finally, location also has a considerable effect. Below, you can find out how average nurse anesthetist salary differs from the highest- and lowest-paying states.

States with the Highest Nurse Anesthetist Salary

As a nurse anesthetist, you will earn the highest wages in Alaska – an annual mean salary of $341,210. New York comes in second, with CRNAs earning approximately $321,030 per year. In Massachusetts, CRNAs earn an average of $295,550 per year, while in California, nurse anesthetists earn about $292,410 per year. New Jersey is fifth among the top-paying states for CRNAs, with an average salary of $291,350.

Here are the five highest-earning states for nurse anesthetists, according to the data reported by the BLS:

States with the Lowest Nurse Anesthetist Salary

The state where nurse anesthetists earn the least money is Utah, with an average salary of $126,600 per year, followed by New Mexico, with a median salary of $129,370, Oklahoma, where they earn around $156,830, and Alabama and Mississippi, where CRNAs earn $190,300 and $198,410, respectively.

Here are the lowest-paying states for nurse anesthetists:

If your state is neither at the top nor the bottom regarding nurse anesthetist salaries, but you are still curious about your earning potential, we have you covered. Find below a list of all the states for which official BLS data was available and discover both annual and hourly salaries for CRNAs all over the United States: 

Average Nurse Anesthetist Salary by State

 

The salaries shown come from the latest published wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In some states, wage data was not available.

What Is a Nurse Anesthetist?

Nurse anesthetists are APRNs whose duties range from administering anesthesia and monitoring vital signs to providing care before, during, and after medical procedures. As a CRNA, your job starts way before the patient is on the operating table. 

Safely administering anesthesia starts with knowing your patient’s medical history. Therefore, before a procedure begins, the nurse anesthetist must gather crucial information, such as the medications the patient is taking, their allergies, and any other illnesses the patient may have. 

Only after that process can CRNAs administer anesthesia to patients: either general anesthesia, which puts the patient to sleep so they don’t feel any pain during the procedure, or regional (local) anesthesia, which numbs a particular area. The role of nurse anesthetists is equally essential during the operation. They continuously monitor the patient’s vitals to ensure the patient responds appropriately to anesthesia and, if necessary, adjust the anesthesia.  

To successfully fulfill these duties, as an aspiring nurse anesthetist, you must possess a few crucial qualities. First off, one must be highly detail-oriented – every little element plays a role in choosing the proper anesthetic or the correct dosage. CRNAs must also be fast thinkers. They must make decisions on the spot if they sense that patients are not responding well to the anesthesia – there is no time to second-guess themselves.  They need to be motivated, dedicated, and, equally important, empathetic. To a certain extent, people entrust nurse anesthetists with their lives, and that’s an obligation that must be treated with care and responsibility.

How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist?

Becoming a nurse anesthetist is longer and more complex than becoming a registered nurse. It’s relatively easy for an RN to find employment with a BSN, ADN, or even an ASN degree. However, for aspiring nurses who wish to pursue APRN roles, a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) is a requirement, and, in the near future, so will a Doctorate.

Nurses must be licensed in the state where they choose to work and must pass a national certification exam to practice. 

The very first step is earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing, which, depending on your prior education, takes 2 to 4 years to complete. With a BSN and a few years of experience in a medical setting, you can start pursuing your dream of becoming a CRNA.

Typically, Master’s programs take around two years to complete, so, all in all, becoming a nurse anesthetist used to take about six or seven years. However, under a recent change, all new CRNAs need to hold a doctoral degree to practice, and qualifying programs will offer a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree. This can add up to two more years of studying. 

Learn more about how long nursing school is, including how to choose the most efficient route for you. 

At Nightingale College, we firmly believe in advancing your education as the best way to boost your professional performance and elevate the future of healthcare. That’s why we encourage aspiring nurses to pursue their dream careers and offer the most reliable starting point for this journey. Our BSN program is a great way to start climbing the academic and professional ladder to becoming a nurse anesthetist. 

Enroll in our BSN Program, and you’ll be one step closer to your dream job!

How Promising Is the Job Outlook for CRNAs?

Because of the high demand for nurses, the nursing field, in general, has an excellent job outlook. Employment is on the rise, and so are wages. Things are particularly good for advanced practice registered nurses. According to the BLS, employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is expected to increase by 35%. This projected growth is considerably higher than that of other healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners (8%) and the projected increase in employment in all occupations (3%). 

For nurse anesthetists, the estimated change in employment over the next decade is 9%, representing a net increase of 4,600 jobs. 

Where Do Nurse Anesthetists Work?

Most certified registered nurse anesthetists work full-time. They can be employed in different settings, but most, almost 50.68%, work in physicians’ offices. Another 32.06% work in surgical and medical hospitals. Smaller numbers also find employment in the offices of other health practitioners (7.87%), outpatient care centers (3.95%), and academic settings (1.68%).

Here are the current figures for the industries with the highest employment of nurse anesthetists:

Work Settings with the Highest Earning Potential

The industry with the highest national median salary for nurse anesthetists is dentists’ offices, with a median salary of $312,580 per year, followed by outpatient care centers at $288,880 per year. These are followed by general medical and surgical hospitals, where the median pay is $260,990 per year. 

Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing comes next, with an annual salary of $260,400, followed by other professional, scientific, and technical services, with a median annual salary of $250,570.

Below you can find the certified nurse anesthetist salary for the highest-paying industries:

Ready to Become a Nurse Anesthetist?

The path toward a higher paycheck starts with furthering your education. Becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist is a wise career choice: salaries are high, demand is increasing, and the impact you have on your patients’ well-being and the healthcare system, in general, is undeniable. 

The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Are you ready to take yours? 

Your dream of becoming a nurse anesthetist is within your reach. Enroll in our BSN Program and take the first step toward getting the APRN career you dream of!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does a Nurse Anesthetist Make?

Currently, the national average (median) nurse anesthetist salary in the US is $236,590 per year or $113.75 per hour. However, salary estimates vary based on multiple factors, with location and work setting being the primary modifiers.

What is the Starting Salary for a Nurse Anesthetist?

Based on current data for the 10th and 25th percentiles, the estimated starting salary for a certified registered nurse anesthetist ranges from $155,250 per year ($74.64 per hour) to $206,730 per year ($99.39 per hour). As with the national average salary, estimates vary based on location and work setting. 

Which Is the State with the Highest CRNA Salary?

Based on the most recent wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest average salary for nurse anesthetists is in Alaska, amounting to $341,210 per year. Other high-paying states for CRNAs include New York ($321,030), Massachusetts ($295,550), California ($292,410), and New Jersey ($291,350).

How Do I Become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)?

To become a certified registered nurse anesthetist, you typically need to earn a BSN or another qualifying nursing degree, obtain RN licensure, and gain at least one year of full-time experience in a critical care setting. You must then complete an accredited doctoral nurse anesthesia program, such as a DNP or DNAP, pass the NBCRNA National Certification Examination, and meet your state’s requirements for advanced practice nursing licensure or authorization.

You can start your journey by enrolling in the BSN Program at Nightingale College.