Nurse Anesthetist Career and Degree Guide
Other Advanced Nursing Careers
By: Malia Jacobson
How much does a nurse anesthetist make? (CRNA salary guide)
The amount of time and rigorous training required to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) might seem daunting, but this career is highly rewarding in more ways than one.
Not only do CRNAs fill a crucial role in healthcare, but they also earn a median annual salary of $236,590, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the highest pay among advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
Key Takeaways
- Nurse anesthetists, or CRNAs, earn the highest median salaries among advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
- The median annual salary for CRNAs varies by workplace, with outpatient care centers offering the highest average salaries.
- Location significantly affects CRNA salaries, with top-paying states including Alaska, New York, Massachusetts, and California.
In This Article
Advanced practice registered nurses include CRNAs, certified nurse midwife practitioners, family nurse practitioners and other highly educated nurses. CRNAs are respected healthcare professionals who collaborate with physicians, surgeons and other members of a patient’s care team when anesthesia is needed for medical procedures. Their expertise, experience and responsibility are rewarded with highly competitive salaries.
CRNAs are rewarded with highly competitive salaries for their expertise, experience, and responsibility.
If you’re looking to join the nursing field and earn an excellent living, learn more about what salary you might expect as a CRNA, as well as other benefits of the role.
What is the Median Annual Salary for CRNAs?
CRNA Salaries by Workplace
In general, CRNAs enjoy plentiful job opportunities in an array of healthcare settings. But where you work can be a big influence, according to BLS numbers. This chart ranks CRNA workplaces from highest to lowest in terms of median pay.
Employer
Median Annual Salary
Outpatient care centers
A medical facility, often part of a hospital, that provides care for patients not staying overnight.
Places you may work:
$288,880
General medical and surgical hospitals
Academic or community-based facilities providing short-term care for acute illnesses and injuries.
Places you may work:
$260,990
Specialty hospitals
Healthcare facilities focused on treating specific medical conditions or patient populations.
Places you may work:
$249,590
Colleges and universities
Medical facilities or clinics operated by public, private, teaching, or research institutions.
Places you may work:
$244,810
Physicians’ offices
Private medical practices, clinics, medical groups, or independently practicing physicians’ offices.
Places you may work:
$222,530
Health practitioner offices
Clinics or private practices operated by advanced practice providers such as nurse practitioners or other healthcare professionals.
Places you may work:
$201,370
How Does Location Affect CRNA Salaries?
Where you live also can affect your earning power as a CRNA. Among the states that employ the most CRNAs according to the BLS, take a look at how much CRNAs earn in different metro areas.
Florida
10%$125,680
25%$174,580
50%$210,570Median
75%$286,000
90%$416,000
Median Hourly Wage$101
Job growth8.6%
Total Employment4,600
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | $416,000 | $134,630 | $416,000 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $232,000 | $180,950 | $375,660 |
| Gainesville, FL | $225,280 | $100,320 | $262,560 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $219,990 | $209,680 | $309,120 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $215,990 | $212,240 | $286,000 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $214,690 | $165,720 | $441,400 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $207,470 | $99,630 | $312,000 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $206,270 | $107,810 | $244,990 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $205,330 | $132,010 | $314,010 |
| Ocala, FL | $203,850 | $90,540 | $409,780 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Texas
10%$169,350
25%$209,380
50%$244,990Median
75%$323,140
90%$340,950
Median Hourly Wage$118
Job growth8.6%
Total Employment4,060
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $279,410 | $164,290 | $312,460 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $275,310 | $169,310 | $342,260 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $244,990 | $214,410 | $431,520 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $218,650 | $190,360 | $336,060 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $199,320 | $125,470 | $294,540 |
| Longview, TX | $195,450 | $195,450 | $293,160 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
North Carolina
10%$117,170
25%$167,090
50%$224,610Median
75%$278,040
90%$323,640
Median Hourly Wage$108
Job growth8.6%
Total Employment3,340
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | $331,760 | $117,110 | $331,760 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $297,560 | $157,860 | $322,880 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $277,550 | $222,510 | $334,180 |
| Asheville, NC | $223,630 | $124,100 | $289,380 |
| Wilmington, NC | $218,830 | $120,630 | $266,240 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $216,140 | $72,220 | $301,220 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $213,630 | $71,800 | $331,510 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $155,250 | $72,600 | $319,050 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Pennsylvania
10%$155,250
25%$206,010
50%$221,530Median
75%$262,930
90%$303,640
Median Hourly Wage$107
Job growth8.6%
Total Employment2,500
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $238,540 | $155,250 | $370,880 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $223,570 | $193,220 | $267,940 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $219,980 | $202,900 | $374,150 |
| Erie, PA | $212,120 | $134,110 | $301,270 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $211,130 | $211,130 | $339,040 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $199,800 | $199,800 | $320,850 |
| Reading, PA | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
New York
10%$144,900
25%$279,930
50%$321,030Median
75%$325,210
90%$342,480
Median Hourly Wage$154
Job growth8.6%
Total Employment2,450
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $321,030 | $149,990 | $339,500 |
| Rochester, NY | $286,230 | $128,090 | $343,240 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $282,380 | $175,620 | $332,900 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $247,970 | $104,460 | $306,560 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Syracuse, NY | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
CRNA Salaries Compared to Pay for Other Nurses
APRNs in general are well compensated, but CRNAs are way out in front of their peers with advanced credentials. In their field, only anesthesiologists make more. Here’s a comparison with a sampling of nurse roles.
Other Benefits and Perks
Along with highly competitive salaries, many employers might also pay for:
Another benefit is the potential for being paid to travel. Because CRNAs are needed in nearly every medical setting, you might have the option to work as a travel nurse on short-term assignments that last between two and six months.
Depending on demand due to nurse shortages, unfilled positions, leaves of absence, or emergency situations, travel nurses can often choose their assignments based on their desired location and specialty. And along with above-average pay, travel nurses often receive paid housing and untaxed stipends.