Abby McCoy, RN, BSN
Updated
Reviewed by NursingEducation Staff
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are known for making the highest salary nursing can offer. A type of advanced practice nurse, CRNAs train extensively to provide anesthesia care for patients undergoing surgery and are experts in pain management.
The exact salary CRNAs can expect varies based on several factors like geographical location, workplace, and experience. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a favorable job outlook for this profession: 38% growth through 2032, which is much higher than average. This guide walks through factors affecting CRNA salary and offers tips on how to maximize earnings.
Just the Highlights: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
Certified registered nurse anesthetists can earn the highest average annual salaries in these locations and work settings:
Illinois
$281,240
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
$294,180
Outpatient Care Centers
$263,960
Sources: BLS
How Much Do Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Make?
The average salary for certified registered nurse anesthetists in the United States is $214,200, which comes out to over $100 an hour. Total compensation depends on several factors, which will be detailed below.
Certified registered nurse anesthetist average annual salary
$214,200
Certified registered nurse anesthetist average hourly wage
$102.98
A CRNA’s salary may be much higher or lower than the average, with ZipRecruiter reporting salaries as low as $139,980 in some areas. However, the higher end can reach $212,650 .
How Education Affects Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
To become a CRNA, candidates must earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) followed by a doctorate. Nurses may choose from a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Doctor of Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) to qualify for practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
These two degrees differ slightly. A DNP can be completed in 3-4 years and requires 1,000 clinical hours, while students can typically graduate with a DNAP in 36 months, although they may have to complete closer to 2,000 clinical hours.
Despite the differences in these two terminal degrees, CRNAs can expect the same compensation with either. Once a CRNA passes the National Certification Exam (NCE) offered by The National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) and obtains their license, employers often don’t care which degree a CRNA chose.
Location and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
CRNA earnings differ based on where they practice, but the highest-paying states diverge from those of many other nursing specialties. California and the East Coast offer the highest pay, but several states in the Midwest and southeast also provide competitive compensation.
| Top Paying States for Nurse Anesthetists | ||
|---|---|---|
| State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Alabama | $83.35 | $173,370 |
| California | $120.63 | $250,920 |
| Colorado | $103.78 | $215,870 |
| Connecticut | $119.11 | $247,740 |
| Delaware | $99.53 | $207,030 |
| Florida | $85.07 | $176,950 |
| Georgia | $98.11 | $204,070 |
| Idaho | $99.61 | $207,180 |
| Illinois | $135.21 | $281,240 |
| Indiana | $99.61 | $207,180 |
| Iowa | $109.48 | $227,710 |
| Kansas | $88.77 | $184,650 |
| Kentucky | $89.25 | $185,630 |
| Louisiana | $105.18 | $218,770 |
| Maine | $109.26 | $227,270 |
| Maryland | $90.11 | $187,420 |
| Massachusetts | $131.01 | $272,510 |
| Michigan | $105.31 | $219,050 |
| Minnesota | $106.56 | $221,650 |
| Mississippi | $96.77 | $201,280 |
| Missouri | $110.80 | $230,470 |
| Montana | $123.30 | $256,460 |
| Nebraska | $102.34 | $212,860 |
| New Hampshire | $115.21 | $239,630 |
| New Jersey | $121.22 | $252,130 |
| New Mexico | $102.38 | $212,950 |
| New York | $123.15 | $256,160 |
| North Carolina | $107.00 | $222,560 |
| North Dakota | $112.96 | $234,950 |
| Ohio | $101.33 | $210,760 |
| Oklahoma | $100.20 | $208,410 |
| Oregon | $103.49 | $215,260 |
| Pennsylvania | $100.91 | $209,890 |
| South Carolina | $112.46 | $233,920 |
| South Dakota | $101.49 | $211,090 |
| Tennessee | $93.65 | $194,790 |
| Texas | $103.98 | $216,280 |
| Utah | $60.52 | $125,890 |
| Vermont | $122.50 | $254,790 |
| Virginia | $111.66 | $232,250 |
| Washington | $118.44 | $246,350 |
| West Virginia | $111.74 | $232,410 |
| Wisconsin | $118.83 | $247,160 |
| Wyoming | $109.99 | $228,780 |
Source: BLS
Top-Paying Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salaries by City
Large hospitals in urban areas have a higher budget and CRNA salaries reflect this. A city’s size often dictates the hospital size and how much a CRNA can make there. A CRNA in a small community hospital may earn less than a peer working in the operating room (OR) of a sprawling city hospital.
| Top-Paying Metropolitan Areas for Nurse Anesthetists | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Bangor, ME | $95.77 | $199,200 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | $76.66 | $159,450 |
| Canton-Massilon, OH | $91.79 | $190,930 |
| Charleston, WV | $109.72 | $228,210 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $94.30 | $196,140 |
| Dothan, AL | $90.34 | $187,900 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $97.34 | $202,470 |
| Knoxville, TN | $99.28 | $206,510 |
| Longview, TX | $87.69 | $182,390 |
| Saginaw, MI | $116.36 | $242,020 |
Source: BLS
Workplace Type and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
Salaries for certified registered nurse anesthetists can also depend largely on workplace settings. Outpatient care centers, like pain management clinics, can offer the highest pay for a CRNA, with substance abuse facilities, ambulatory care, and hospitals following close behind.
No Record Found
Source: BLS
How to Increase Your Earnings as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
CRNAs sit at the top of the salary food chain, but they can still improve their practice and maximize their earning potential.
1
Try a New Work Setting
CRNAs can shift to a new focus to try and boost their earnings, such as moving from the OR to a pain management clinic.
2
Advance to Management
If a CRNA has management and leadership skills in their wheelhouse, advancing through the ranks of administration can offer both a blossoming career and higher pay.
3
Work Extra Shifts
Extra shifts mean extra earnings, and many facilities offer bonuses and overtime for these shifts. Weekends, nights, and holidays also provide an extra pay boost.
4
Consider Moonlighting
Locum tenens opportunities involve taking the odd shift at hospitals and facilities in your area. If one facility doesn’t offer extra shifts or overtime, this option can be a good way to supplement CRNA income.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Salaries FAQs
1. What roles offer the highest pay for certified registered nurse anesthetists?
The CRNA roles that offer the highest compensation are in outpatient care centers, at an annual average of $263,960. General medical and surgical hospitals and ambulatory care services aren’t far behind, with annual salaries of $0 and $0, respectively.
2. What do certified registered nurse anesthetists make per hour?
CRNAs earn about $102.98 an hour on average, which equals $214,200 a year. This estimate can vary depending on a CRNA’s level of experience, location, and workplace.
3. What is the highest a CRNA can get paid?
The top CRNA salary reported by ZipRecruiter is $212,650. Some employers may offer compensation above this amount, but these are outliers.
4. Does a CRNA make more than an NP?
Nurse practitioners (NPs) earn an average of $214,200 annually, quite a bit lower than a CRNA’s annual average of $214,200.
