2024 Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Salary

Nurse Salaries / CRNA Salary

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) practice at the highest level of the nursing profession, working in collaboration with surgeons, and other top-tier healthcare professionals. The education and training these advanced practice registered nurses acquire accords them a high degree of respect from others in the caring community, the ability to practice with a high degree of autonomy, and one of the highest average salaries in all of nursing.

As of May 2021, the average salary for a Nurse Anesthetist in the United States is $205,770 – an effective hourly rate of $98.93.

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CRNAs are invaluable members of healthcare teams in a variety of settings. Their ability to provide these high level services have led to them ranking among the highest-earning categories of nurses, far above registered nurses, who earn an average salary of $82,750, and even above the levels of other in-demand advanced nursing positions.

What is a CRNA?

CRNAs are trained to make independent judgments surrounding all aspects of anesthesia care based on their education, licensure, and certification. Whether they work in surgical centers, hospitals, pain management clinics, or dentists’ offices, they are the only anesthesia professionals who begin their formal anesthesia education with the benefit of already having critical care experience. With the added benefit of having been educated in nursing practice and theory, they are among the most trusted professionals in the nation.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) provide high-quality, patient-centered care. They are specially trained to provide anesthesia services to patients before medical operations, as a part of nursing practice, going beyond technical care to reassure and comfort patients before, during, and after medical procedures. In the face of a growing number of practice settings where anesthesia professionals are unavailable, CRNAs will play an increasingly important role in healthcare settings of all kinds, and it is expected that CRNA salaries will continue to rise. 

Factors affecting CRNA salary

Though always well above those of other nursing professionals, CRNA salaries show a significant range based on the location and professional setting where the CRNA works, as well as on their years of experience, educational level, and demonstrated proficiency. While outpatient care centers pay the highest CRNA salaries at an annual mean wage of $246,980 and hospitals pay well above the national average, CRNAs who work in the offices of other health practitioners accept significantly lower compensation. The same is true for those who practice at colleges, universities, and professional schools.

Want to become a CRNA?

Beyond the obvious advantage of earning a stellar salary, a career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist has unmistakable rewards. CRNAs have high levels of job satisfaction, and it’s no wonder: They are responsible for making surgeries and other medical procedures both successful and free of pain. The facilities where they work hold them in high esteem both for their professional skill and for their ability to make healthcare more cost-effective and compassionate. 

To become a CRNA, you will need to complete a master’s degree-level program in nurse anesthesia and pass a national certification exam. CRNAs are responsible for administering anesthesia to patients before surgery as well as during emergency care, to provide pain management solutions in a variety of settings, including labor and delivery. CRNAs go beyond the surgical suite, providing patients with post-operative care and assessing patient wellbeing following procedures.

States where nurse anesthetists earn the highest salaries

There are many reasons why nurses who work in certain regions earn more than those in others. While cost-of-living plays a significant role, other factors include the number of CRNAs in the area and the type of services provided by individual facilities. Competition within hospitals is also a key element that drives CRNA salaries, especially in major metropolitan areas where there are multiple hospitals and healthcare facilities.

For nurse anesthetists, Connecticut tops the list of highest-paying states with an average annual wage of $276,540. New Jersey comes in at second with an average CRNA salary of $263,850, followed by Illinois at $250,280.

Top 10 highest-paying states for nurse anesthetists

Top 10 highest-paying cities for nurse anesthetists

CRNA salaries vs. what other nurses earn

Nurse anesthetists earn more than almost any other type of nurse, and that’s for good reason. Not only does the career require a significant amount of time invested into education, but the work that they do is demanding and requires meticulous attention to detail. The need for nurses with this skill continues to grow, and the profession is projected to grow in demand by 12.7% over the next several years.

If the idea of spending years advancing your education, or of working in an operating room, are not appealing to you, there are many other levels and types of nursing positions that are rewarding, in demand, and which pay excellent compensation.  Below are the average nationwide salaries, according to the BLS, for 5 different nursing categories.

Final note on CRNA salary and career outlook

High-level earnings, professional respect, and job satisfaction make being a CRNA among the most rewarding of nursing careers. CRNAs earn average salaries that nearly triple that of registered nurses and well above those of other advanced practice nurses. CRNA salaries can vary depending on the practice setting and the CRNA’s level of responsibility, as well as based on geography and other factors, but these highly-skilled professionals can expect to earn an average of over $200,000 per year, with many earning significantly more.