The median CRNA salary in the United States is $223,210 per year, roughly $107 per hour, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (SOC 29-1151, latest available data). Most nurse anesthetists earn between about $137,000 at the 10th percentile and $260,000+ at the top of the range, with travel and locum CRNAs frequently clearing $250,000. The highest-paying states include Delaware, Michigan, North Dakota, Indiana, and Nebraska. CRNAs are the highest-paid nursing role in the country — a registered nurse earns roughly $86,000 by comparison.
If you want the full picture before the numbers: the figure that shows up on a job offer depends heavily on setting, specialty, geography, and whether you work permanent, travel, or locum tenens. Here is how it breaks down.
CRNA salary by state
The table below uses BLS state median annual wages for nurse anesthetists (latest available release). Hourly is calculated at 2,080 working hours per year. The final column shows the difference from the national median of $223,210.
| State | Median annual | Hourly (approx.) | vs. national median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $236,800 | $114 | +$13,590 |
| Michigan | $234,520 | $113 | +$11,310 |
| Indiana | $233,200 | $112 | +$9,990 |
| North Dakota | $232,420 | $112 | +$9,210 |
| Nebraska | $231,020 | $111 | +$7,810 |
| Iowa | $229,950 | $111 | +$6,740 |
| Maine | $229,900 | $111 | +$6,690 |
| Arizona | $228,690 | $110 | +$5,480 |
| Connecticut | $227,930 | $110 | +$4,720 |
| Texas | $227,580 | $109 | +$4,370 |
| North Carolina | $226,460 | $109 | +$3,250 |
| South Carolina | $225,800 | $109 | +$2,590 |
| Louisiana | $225,440 | $108 | +$2,230 |
| South Dakota | $223,650 | $108 | +$440 |
| National median | $223,210 | $107 | — |
| Missouri | $221,550 | $107 | -$1,660 |
| Georgia | $221,190 | $106 | -$2,020 |
| Pennsylvania | $217,670 | $105 | -$5,540 |
| Ohio | $216,350 | $104 | -$6,860 |
| New Mexico | $214,810 | $103 | -$8,400 |
| Kentucky | $212,430 | $102 | -$10,780 |
| Colorado | $207,120 | $100 | -$16,090 |
| Tennessee | $203,400 | $98 | -$19,810 |
| Virginia | $199,960 | $96 | -$23,250 |
| Florida | $197,940 | $95 | -$25,270 |
| Kansas | $182,770 | $88 | -$40,440 |
| Wyoming | $181,470 | $87 | -$41,740 |
| Alabama | $179,160 | $86 | -$44,050 |
| Maryland | $167,740 | $81 | -$55,470 |
| Oklahoma | $151,470 | $73 | -$71,740 |
| Arkansas | $134,230 | $65 | -$88,980 |
| Rhode Island | $131,390 | $63 | -$91,820 |
| Utah | $122,040 | $59 | -$101,170 |
States not listed had insufficient BLS sample size for a reliable median in the latest release. State medians move year to year and reflect cost of living, practice model, and rural premiums — treat them as a guide, not a quote. A low state median often hides high-paying rural and locum roles that pull the average in the opposite direction within the same state.
What affects a CRNA’s salary
Practice setting. Independent CRNA-only practices and physician-led anesthesia care teams pay differently, and a solo CRNA carrying a rural service line often earns more than a team-model CRNA in a metro academic center. Surgery centers, hospitals, and office-based practices each have distinct pay structures.
Specialty area. Subspecialty cases command a premium. Cardiac, pediatric, transplant, and obstetric anesthesia roles, and trauma coverage, typically pay more than routine general anesthesia because of acuity and the smaller pool of providers comfortable taking them.
Geographic region. Rural and shortage-designated areas frequently pay above urban academic centers, because supply is tight and CRNAs may be the sole anesthesia provider. The lowest cost-of-living states sometimes post the strongest take-home once housing is factored in.
Experience. A first-year CRNA typically starts below the median; a provider with 10+ years, subspecialty skills, and call flexibility sits well above it.
Travel and locum tenens. Travel CRNAs and locum tenens providers routinely earn $250,000+ annualized, with stipends, housing, and premium hourly rates, in exchange for mobility and less stability. Many CRNAs blend permanent work with locum shifts to lift total income.
CRNA vs other advanced practice roles
| Role | Median salary | Education after high school | Typical debt | Scope summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRNA | ~$223,000 | 8–10 years (BSN + ICU + doctorate) | $100k–$150k | Administers anesthesia; high autonomy, often independent |
| Nurse practitioner | ~$132,000 | 6–8 years (BSN + MSN/DNP) | $40k–$100k | Diagnoses and manages conditions; prescribes; varies by state |
| Physician assistant | ~$130,000 | 6–7 years (bachelor’s + PA master’s) | $100k–$150k | Diagnoses and treats under collaborative physician practice |
| Physician anesthesiologist (MD/DO) | ~$340,000+ | 12+ years (degree + med school + residency) | $300k+ | Full medical scope in anesthesia; leads care teams |
CRNA pay sits closest to physician territory among nursing roles while requiring far less time and debt than the anesthesiologist route. For the education side of these comparisons, see the DNP guide and the MSN overview, and model the trade-offs with the nursing salary comparison tool.
CRNA salary during school
There is a stretch of this career where the salary is zero. During the doctoral nurse anesthesiology program — the SRNA (Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist) phase — most programs prohibit or strongly discourage outside employment because clinical hours are full-time and demanding. Some students secure stipends, hospital fellowships, scholarships, or service-commitment funding, but the planning baseline should be roughly three years of little to no income, layered on top of tuition. The post-graduation earning power is what makes the gap survivable, but it has to be funded deliberately before you start. The full pathway is in our how to become a CRNA guide.
Return on investment
The arithmetic is the reason people accept the cost. A CRNA earning roughly $223,000 against a registered nurse averaging about $86,000 captures a delta near $137,000 every year. Over a 20-year career that gap is on the order of $2.7 million in additional gross earnings, against school debt commonly in the $100,000–$150,000 range plus the unpaid school years. Even with conservative assumptions and the lost income during training, the lifetime return clears the investment by a wide margin for those who get in and finish. The constraint on this career is admission and completion, not the financial payoff.
Job outlook
The outlook is strong and shortage-driven. BLS projects employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners to grow about 40% over the decade — far faster than average — with nurse anesthetists specifically projected to grow roughly 9% over 2032. The AANA reports a US workforce of approximately 67,700 practicing CRNAs and projects a meaningful anesthesia provider shortage through the early 2030s, with about 12% of CRNAs planning to retire by 2027 and roughly 2,400 new CRNAs graduating per year. CRNAs deliver the majority of anesthetics in rural America, which keeps demand and rural pay durable.
How to maximize your CRNA salary
Negotiate the sign-on bonus. In shortage areas, sign-on and retention bonuses of $20,000–$50,000 are common. Treat it as a negotiable line, not a fixed perk, and weigh it against the contracted commitment period.
Use travel or locum tenens strategically. A block of locum or travel work, even part-time alongside a permanent role, can lift annual income substantially. Premium hourly rates plus stipends are the fastest lever on total pay.
Weigh rural against urban honestly. Rural and shortage-designated roles often pay more and offer broader autonomy, at the cost of call burden and lifestyle. Run the cost-of-living-adjusted number, not the headline.
Understand 1099 vs W2. Locum work is frequently 1099 (independent contractor): higher gross pay, but you cover self-employment tax, your own benefits, and retirement, and you should budget for quarterly estimated taxes. W2 employment trades a lower headline number for benefits and tax simplicity. Model net, not gross, before choosing.
Key takeaways
- The CRNA median is about $223,000/year (~$107/hour) per the latest BLS data — the highest-paid nursing role.
- State medians range widely; rural and shortage areas often beat metro academic centers.
- Travel and locum CRNAs commonly clear $250,000 annualized.
- The lifetime earnings gap over an RN is on the order of $2.7M against ~$100k–$150k of debt.
- Demand is shortage-driven and durable through the early 2030s.