How much money does a nurse anesthetist, also known as a CRNA, make per year or per hour? Are CRNAs really known as the highest paid nurses? Let’s examine the latest nurse anesthetist salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. [1,2]
CRNA Salary and Hourly Wage Averages
CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses who have completed a master’s or doctorate degree program and have received specialized training in administering anesthesia. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CRNAs in the United States earned an average salary of $189,190 and an average hourly wage of $90.96 in 2020.[1]
Again, these are only averages, and nurse anesthetists could make more or less depending on their degree level, location, experience, industry, and more. I’ll examine some of those factors in just a moment. You might also be interested in viewing other healthcare salaries.
CRNA Median Salary and Earnings Percentile Estimates
But first, let’s look at the median salary for CRNAs, which was $183,580 or $88.26 per hour in the U.S. in 2020.
Here’s a quick look at the other percentile estimates for CRNAs, which was published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10th percentile was $133,970, which means that roughly 90% of CRNAs earned a higher salary than that in the U.S.
- 10th Percentile: $133,970 / $64.41
- 25th Percentile: $154,540 / $74.30
- 50th Percentile: $183,580 / $88.26
- 75th Percentile: $200,000 / $100.00
- 90th Percentile: $200,000 / $100.00
Interestingly, for the 75th and 90th percentiles, the Bureau of Labor Statistics only provided a footnote indicating that it was “equal to or greater than $100.00 per hour or $208,000 per year.”[1,2]
CRNA Average Salary Growth Rate
Now let’s take a quick look at CRNA salary and hourly wage growth over the past few years, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The largest percentage increases came in 2019 and 2020. May 2020 saw a 4.5% increase in salary from 2019. Again, that was very early in the pandemic, so it’ll be interesting to see the growth rate over the next couple of years.
Highest and Lowest Paying States for Nurse Anesthetists
Now let’s take a look at the highest and lowest paying states for CRNAs. The map below gives you a quick sense of which states paid the highest and lowest. California is often one of the top paying states for most types of nurses, but it wasn’t even in the top five for nurse anesthetists, though the state still offered an impressive salary average.
The highest paying state for CRNAs was Oregon, which paid CRNAs an average salary of $236,540 and an hourly wage of $113.72. Wisconsin was the second highest, paying their CRNAs an average salary of $231,520 and an average hourly wage of $111.31.
| State | Employment | Hourly Wage | Salary |
| Oregon | 260 | $113.72 | $236,540 |
| Wisconsin | 960 | $111.31 | $231,520 |
| Wyoming | 50 | $111.18 | $231,250 |
| Nevada | 70 | $107.54 | $223,680 |
Puerto Rico was the lowest paying territory, but Utah was the lowest paying state for nurse anesthetists, paying their CRNAs an average salary of $127,130 and an hourly wage of $61.12. Idaho was the second lowest paying state, offering CRNAs an average salary of $156,250 and an hourly wage of $75.12.
| State/Territory | Employment | Hourly Wage | Salary |
| Puerto Rico | 290 | $26.56 | $55,250 |
| Utah | 30 | $61.12 | $127,130 |
| Idaho | 210 | $75.12 | $156,250 |
| Louisiana | 820 | $77.55 | $161,310 |
| Kentucky | 600 | $78.70 | $163,700 |
| New Mexico | 210 | $79.32 | $164,980 |
CRNA Salary for All 50 States
Here are the nurse anesthetist salary averages for all reported U.S. states and territories, along with the employment estimate for each state. The states that employed the most CRNAs were Florida, Texas, Ohio, and North Carolina. Unfortunately, some states such as Alaska or Delaware did not have salary data available.
Again, if you are considering moving, you always want to consider the cost of living in each state. A lot of people just look at potential earnings and don’t take into consideration things like housing costs, insurance, taxes, and so on.
| State/Territory | Employment | Hourly wage | Salary |
| Alabama | 1,410 | $82.00 | $170,560 |
| Arizona | 80 | $83.40 | $173,460 |
| Arkansas | unavailable | $80.30 | $167,030 |
| California | 1,710 | $98.73 | $205,360 |
| Colorado | 370 | $84.50 | $175,760 |
| Connecticut | unavailable | $104.50 | $217,360 |
| Delaware | 70 | unavailable | unavailable |
| Florida | 3,660 | $84.98 | $176,760 |
| Georgia | 560 | $86.36 | $179,630 |
| Hawaii | unavailable | $97.08 | $201,930 |
| Idaho | 210 | $75.12 | $156,250 |
| Illinois | 1,460 | $93.73 | $194,950 |
| Indiana | 630 | $81.55 | $169,620 |
| Iowa | 380 | $95.43 | $198,480 |
| Kansas | 740 | $80.63 | $167,700 |
| Kentucky | 600 | $78.70 | $163,700 |
| Louisiana | 820 | $77.55 | $161,310 |
| Maine | 300 | $95.64 | $198,940 |
| Maryland | 460 | $87.88 | $182,780 |
| Massachusetts | 400 | $94.18 | $195,900 |
| Michigan | 2,420 | $96.09 | $199,870 |
| Minnesota | 1,300 | $103.87 | $216,050 |
| Mississippi | 270 | $83.92 | $174,540 |
| Missouri | 770 | $91.16 | $189,610 |
| Montana | 60 | $104.05 | $216,420 |
| Nebraska | 470 | $85.04 | $176,880 |
| Nevada | 70 | $107.54 | $223,680 |
| New Hampshire | 190 | $94.99 | $197,570 |
| New Jersey | 800 | $99.76 | $207,500 |
| New Mexico | 210 | $79.32 | $164,980 |
| New York | 1,920 | $104.35 | $217,050 |
| North Carolina | 2,790 | $92.71 | $192,830 |
| North Dakota | 230 | $92.33 | $192,050 |
| Ohio | 2,880 | $91.40 | $190,120 |
| Oklahoma | 350 | $86.25 | $179,410 |
| Oregon | 260 | $113.72 | $236,540 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,160 | $88.99 | $185,090 |
| Puerto Rico | 290 | $26.56 | $55,250 |
| South Carolina | 1,290 | $89.35 | $185,850 |
| South Dakota | 360 | $91.66 | $190,660 |
| Tennessee | 1,830 | $82.22 | $171,020 |
| Texas | 2,960 | $86.72 | $180,380 |
| Utah | 30 | $61.12 | $127,130 |
| Vermont | 70 | $91.24 | $189,780 |
| Virginia | 1,120 | $86.15 | $179,180 |
| Washington | 660 | $95.07 | $197,740 |
| West Virginia | 670 | $90.11 | $187,430 |
| Wisconsin | 960 | $111.31 | $231,520 |
| Wyoming | 50 | $111.18 | $231,250 |
Highest and Lowest Paying Cities for CRNAs
Now let’s take a look at the highest and lowest paying cities and surrounding metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas for nurse anesthetists. This map can give you a quick sense of the salary averages in different areas. However, all of these white areas did not have data available.
The highest paying city or metropolitan area was the Capital/Northern New York non-metropolitan area, which paid an average salary of $284,660 and an hourly wage of $136.86. Duluth, MN-WI was the second highest paying area, offering CRNAs an average salary of $271,940 and an hourly wage of $130.74.
The lowest paying area for CRNAs was the South Central, Tennessee non-metropolitan area, which paid an average salary of $126,530 and an average hourly wage of $60.83. Chattanooga, TN-GA area was next, offering CRNAs an average salary of $133,190 and hourly wage of $64.03. You can also view our article with the complete list of CRNA city salary data.
Top Paying Industries for Nurse Anesthetists
Which industries paid CRNAs the most money? The highest paying industry was the “Outpatient Care Centers” industry, which paid CRNAs an average salary of $224,810 and an hourly wage of $108.08. The second highest paying industry was the “Home Health Care Services” industry, which paid an average salary of $210,670 and an hourly wage of $101.28.
| Industry | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 2,460 | $ 108.08 | $ 224,810 |
| Home Health Care Services | 80 | $ 101.28 | $ 210,670 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 530 | $ 96.74 | $ 201,220 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 1,290 | $ 95.05 | $ 197,700 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 14,030 | $ 94.49 | $ 196,530 |
Where Do Most CRNAs Work?
Finally, let’s take a look at the industries in which most CRNAs work. The industry with the highest level of employment was the “Offices of Physicians” industry, which employed an estimated 21,560 CRNAs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that there were approximately 41,960 CRNAs employed in the U.S., so this industry employed more than half of the CRNAs, and they earned an average salary of $180,780 and an hourly wage of $86.92 in that industry.
“General Medical and Surgical Hospitals” was the industry with the second highest employment level, employing some 14,030 CRNAs and paying an average salary of $196,530 and hourly wage of $94.49.
| Industry | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Offices of Physicians | 21,560 | $ 86.92 | $ 180,780 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 14,030 | $ 94.49 | $ 196,530 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 2,460 | $ 108.08 | $ 224,810 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 1,670 | $ 86.43 | $ 179,770 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 1,290 | $ 95.05 | $ 197,700 |
Data Sources:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, May 2020 [www.bls.gov/]
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2020 OEWS Maps, Employment of Nurse Anesthetists, by state, May 2020, accessed 08/25/2021, [https://www.bls.gov/]