CRNA Salaries Across the US
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who provide anesthesia care for patients before, during, and after surgery. They administer medications to keep patients asleep or pain-free while monitoring the function of the patient’s body. CRNAs are highly trained health care professionals, typically spending 6-8 years in higher education, and tend to have the highest salaries among nurses.
CRNAs tend to be the highest paid nurses. The average CRNA salary in the United States is $210,640 as of August 2023, with the range of salaries typically falling between $195,857 and $227,405, according to a survey 1. According to the 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, the average nurse anesthetist salary is $195,610 2.
Salaries can vary widely depending on many key factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years spent as a CRNA 1.
Type of employer
Nurse anesthetists can provide their services in a number of different private and public employment settings, ranging from physicians’ offices and outpatient care facilities to hospitals and surgery centers. As such a CRNA’s salary can vary widely depending on where they work 3.
Location
The geographical location of a CRNA also heavily influences their salary. As a general rule, larger cities and areas with a significant need for nurse anesthetists tend to pay higher salaries than regions without a lot of demand. For example, in the United States, Montana is the top-paying state for nurse anesthetists, with an average annual CRNA wage of $242,140 3.
Experience and degree level
The minimum amount of education for a nurse anesthetist is a master’s degree, but some CRNAs may obtain a doctoral degree in the field. Irrespective of a CRNA’s education pathway, the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists offers official certification in both CRNA and Nonsurgical Pain Management 3.
In terms of salaries by education level, doctoral CRNA graduates may earn more than their counterparts who just have a master’s degree. In general, the more certifications and credentials a nurse anesthetist holds, the higher their salary tends to be.
Regardless of their educational achievement, CRNA are the highest paid nursing job for a number of reasons. While all nurses are expected to provide compassionate care to their patients, being a nurse anesthetist and managing patients’ anesthesia needs requires a high degree of skill, experience, and judgement 4.
With additional training and experience, a nurse anesthetist may also eventually move into a managerial or administrative role or go into education 5.
Career opportunities for nurse anesthetists are currently outstanding. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment of nurse anesthetists to grow much faster than average 2. This is a result of a general increase in demand for health care services, especially to address the needs of the large, aging baby-boomer population of Americans 5.
CRNAs are critical to providing smooth and efficient anesthesia for surgery and pain relief, and they are rewarded accordingly, with career prospects and salaries continuing to grow across the U.S.
References
1. Certified Nurse Anesthetist Salary | Salary.com. Available at: https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/certified-nurse-anesthetist-crna-salary. (Accessed: 14th September 2023)
2. Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm#tab-5. (Accessed: 14th September 2023)
3. Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Salary. Available at: https://www.registerednursing.org/nurse-anesthetist/salary/. (Accessed: 14th September 2023)
4. Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Salary 2023 | Nurse.org. Available at: https://nurse.org/resources/nurse-anesthetist-salary/. (Accessed: 14th September 2023)
5. Nurse Anesthetist – Explore Health Care Careers – Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science. Available at: https://college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/nurse-anesthetist/. (Accessed: 14th September 2023)