Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Salary by State | 2026
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salary
CRNAs are the highest-paid nursing professionals, and for good reason. Though all nurses provide compassionate care to their patients, being a nurse anesthetist and managing patients’ anesthesia needs requires a high level of judgment, skill, experience, and knowledge. The mean average nurse anesthetist's salary is $223,210 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook as of their latest report from May 2024.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salary by State
Different locations throughout the country offer significantly different average salaries for certified registered nurse anesthetists. Though you may think the difference has to do with the cost of living or the number of professionals available in a remote region, the real differential is based on the scope of practice law within a state.
CRNA Salary by State
| Area Name | Hourly median wage | Annual median wage |
| Alabama | $86.14 | $179,160 |
| Alaska | - | - |
| Arizona | $109.95 | $228,690 |
| Arkansas | $64.53 | $134,230 |
| California | - | - |
| Colorado | $99.58 | $207,120 |
| Connecticut | $109.58 | $227,930 |
| Delaware | $113.85 | $236,800 |
| Florida | $95.16 | $197,940 |
| Georgia | $106.34 | $221,190 |
| Illinois | - | - |
| Indiana | $112.12 | $233,200 |
| Iowa | $110.56 | $229,950 |
| Kansas | $87.87 | $182,770 |
| Kentucky | $102.13 | $212,430 |
| Louisiana | $108.39 | $225,440 |
| Maine | $110.53 | $229,900 |
| Maryland | $80.65 | $167,740 |
| Massachusetts | - | - |
| Michigan | $112.75 | $234,520 |
| Minnesota | - | - |
| Mississippi | $94.95 | $197,490 |
| Missouri | $106.51 | $221,550 |
| Montana | - | - |
| Nebraska | $111.07 | $231,020 |
| New Hampshire | - | - |
| New Jersey | - | - |
| New Mexico | $103.27 | $214,810 |
| New York | - | - |
| North Carolina | $108.87 | $226,460 |
| North Dakota | $111.74 | $232,420 |
| Ohio | $104.02 | $216,350 |
| Oklahoma | $72.82 | $151,470 |
| Oregon | - | - |
| Pennsylvania | $104.65 | $217,670 |
| Puerto Rico | $29.41 | $61,170 |
| Rhode Island | $63.17 | $131,390 |
| South Carolina | $108.56 | $225,800 |
| South Dakota | $107.52 | $223,650 |
| Tennessee | $97.79 | $203,400 |
| Texas | $109.41 | $227,580 |
| Utah | $58.68 | $122,040 |
| Vermont | - | - |
| Virginia | $96.14 | $199,960 |
| Washington | - | - |
| West Virginia | - | - |
| Wisconsin | - | - |
| Wyoming | $87.25 | $181,470 |
Source BLS, Date extracted: 2/26/2026
CRNA Salary by Years of Experience
Not only do they have the highest-paid nursing job, but CRNAs also see plenty of salary growth as their careers advance. There is a nearly $100,000 range between an entry-level nurse anesthetist’s salary and the salary of a nurse anesthetist who has been working in the position for eight or more years.
According to the website Salaryexpert.com, an entry-level nurse anesthetist will command an annual salary of $136,336, while a senior CRNA will earn $224,179.
Nurse Anesthetist Salary by Work Setting
Anesthesia is offered in different ways and in many different settings to relieve or avoid pain. Certified registered nurse anesthetists are often responsible for providing anesthesia services independently or working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, and the setting in which they work is a major driver of the salary they can be paid.
Top Paying Work Settings for CRNAs
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - $234,250
- Offices of Physicians - $214,890
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools - $211,540
- Offices of Dentists - $208,000
- Home Health Care Services - $203,800
Source: BLS, May 2024 annual mean salaries by industry
CRNA Salary by Scope of Work
While the cities offering the highest salaries for CRNAs reflect the areas where there is a heavy concentration of teaching and acute care facilities and greater competition for skilled professionals, the states that offer the highest salaries are also those in which CRNAs are likely to have extensive responsibilities due to the dearth of available healthcare facilities and/or anesthesiologists.
How to Increase Your Nurse Anesthetist Salary
Nurse anesthetists who want to increase their salary can explore all the options we mentioned above, as well as by becoming a chief nurse anesthetist.
Chief nurse anesthetists will take on the additional responsibilities of managing, scheduling, and training staff anesthetists and can increase their salary by between $10,000 and $20,000 annually.
>> Related: Top CRNA Schools
Is Becoming a CRNA Worth It?
There is no question that certified registered nurse anesthetists have the potential to earn a great living. However, it’s also true that pursuing the education required to become a nurse anesthetist adds up quickly, leading to a question well worth exploring: Is the high salary worth the time and cost required to earn the degree?
CRNA School Costs
- BSN: $35,000 - $95,000
- CRNA Program: $50,000 - $200,000
- Certification Exam: $1,285
There are approximately 60,000 CRNAs in the country, and a big reason for that is the cost and commitment required to become one.
CRNA Education Requirements and Tuition Costs
- The minimum education required to become a CRNA is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which will cost between $35,000 and $95,000.
- After earning your BSN, you will need to attend an accredited CRNA program, which can cost as little as $50,000 to upwards of $200,000, depending on various factors, including state residency, transfer credits, and whether you attend a private or public university. While the minimum requirement to become a CRNA used to be a Master of Science in Nursing, as of 2025, it requires a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, which can take between three and four years to complete.
- Lastly, you’ll also need to pass the certification exam administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification. The cost is $1,285. You'll also need a minimum of one year of full-time clinical experience as a registered nurse in a critical care setting.
Nurse Anesthetist Salary vs Education Costs
Education Costs
The total cost of your BSN degree will typically be less than $100,000. While the cheapest CRNA schools can cost less, most will require an additional $100,000 or more.
Student loans with interest can easily increase the total amount you pay over the loan period. Students with a 20-year loan can end up paying double their tuition costs.
Adding the BSN, CRNA program, and interest together, your total education costs could exceed $300,000.
RN Salary vs CRNA Salary
On average, registered nurses earn $93,600 per year, $45.00 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2024. Comparatively, CRNAs earn $223,210 per year.
Is Becoming a CRNA Worth the Cost?
At over double the average salary of an RN, the ROI on becoming a CRNA is high. Even subtracting monthly student loan payments, CRNAs take home significantly more money than RNs on average. Additionally, CRNAs enjoy a high degree of job satisfaction, making the investment well worth it.
Should You Become a CRNA?
Becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist offers both tangible and intangible benefits. You have the potential to earn a very high salary as well as the ability to work either independently or collaboratively with physicians.
Nurse anesthetists are responsible, highly respected in their field, and enjoy some of the highest levels of job satisfaction of all healthcare positions. But only you can figure out if it's the right path for you.
Learn more with CRNA resources from Nurse.org:
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