Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salary Guide
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- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salary Insights
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With a few years of rigorous training, a registered nurse can advance from an RN to a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) career. This path puts exciting and lucrative jobs within reach.
CRNA Certification and Licensing
RNs wanting to pursue graduate-level training and become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) can increase their earnings by training as a CRNA. Becoming a CRNA requires completing graduate-level training in an accredited program and passing the National Certification Exam for Nurse Anesthetists. Including the preparation to become an RN, it takes a minimum of 7 to 8.5 years to earn CRNA certification.
Most programs require a minimum of 1 year of experience in a critical or intensive care unit, but RNs entering a nurse anesthesia program typically have 4.5 years of experience. The average nurse anesthetist is 32 years old at the start of their career, according to the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
The required education level of CRNAs is also increasing to better prepare nurses for this demanding role. Previously, you could choose to do a master’s level program, but all accredited programs have transitioned into a Doctor of Nursing (DNP). New students starting a nurse anesthesia program as of 2022 must enroll in a DNP, and students graduating as of 2025 must be awarded a DNP upon graduation.
Licensing Requirements for CRNAs
After passing the national certification exam, CRNAs must obtain a state license to practice as nurse anesthetists. If you wish to work in another state, you must fulfill the requirements of that state to become state licensed. Because CRNAs are advanced practice nurses, they don’t qualify for a multi-state RN license. However, your national certification still applies in each state, making it easier to earn licensure by endorsement.
Specialty Credentials
The NBCRNA offers subspecialty certification in Nonsurgical Pain Management (NSPM). This credential designed specifically for nurse anesthetists who focus on managing acute and chronic pain outside of operating rooms, was introduced in 2014. As of December 31, 2021, 130 CRNAs have demonstrated their competencies and successfully passed the NSPM certification exam.
Depending on your interests, you can also concentrate your work in a certain area, such as pediatric, obstetric, cardiovascular, plastic or dental anesthesia. While the NSPM is the only subspecialty certification offered at this time, you can focus on gaining experience in the area you’re passionate about and stay up to date on developments in the field. For example, if you’re interested in working as a pediatric CRNA, you could work in various pediatric settings as a travel nurse anesthetist. This experience can help set you apart when applying for positions within this field.
Average Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salary
$124.22/hour
The average salary for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist is $124.22 per hour.
Last updated on November 20, 2024. Based on active jobs on Vivian.com.
Where do Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists get paid the most?
| State | Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| California | $127 | $145 |
| New York | $123 | $125 |
What are the highest paying Employers and Agencies for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist jobs?
| Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | $127 | $138 |
| Montefiore Medical Center | $123 | $125 |
| North Mississippi Health Services | $92 | $92 |
| Atrium Health Charlotte | $29 | $29 |
Last updated on November 20, 2024. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com and pay data from BLS and around the web.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Career Guide
Use our exclusive Career Guides to research the education, qualifications, skills and responsibilities for a variety of healthcare disciplines and specialties employers are hiring now.
Go to the guideTop Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Jobs
CRNA - Anesthesia
- Kaiser Permanente
- Roseville, CA
- 5x8 hrs, Days
- Sign-On Bonus
CRNA - Anesthesia
- North Mississippi Health Services
- Tupelo, MS
CRNA - Anesthesia
- North Mississippi Health Services
- Tupelo, MS
CRNA - Anesthesia
- North Mississippi Health Services
- Tupelo, MS
CRNA - Anesthesia
- Kaiser Permanente
- Woodland Hills, CA
- 0x8 hrs, Flexible
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Comparing Average CRNA Salaries
As with any nursing position, salary variations occur based on your skills, the type of role and geographic location:
You’ll earn more as you acquire experience or seniority or hone your expertise within an area of specialization.
Nurse anesthetists also earn more working in certain states or cities.
Working in High-Paying States and Metropolitan Areas
According to BLS data from May 2021, some of the highest-paying CRNA jobs, based on average annual salary, are along the west coast in Washington, Oregon and California. Nurse anesthetist salaries are also higher than the national average in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Wyoming and Nebraska.
Geographic differences in salary are due to local demand and how difficult it is to recruit skilled CRNAs. Affordability is also a big consideration, as workers must be able to cover their living expenses to consider employment. California is one of the most expensive states to live in, so nurse anesthetist salaries tend to be higher than average to compensate for living costs. By comparison, CRNAs in states such as Oklahoma and Florida typically earn less than the national average but benefit from lower housing, transportation and grocery costs.
There are also salary differences within states, with some cities offering higher pay than others in the region. For example, the average CRNA salary in Texas is lower than the U.S. average, but employers in the Houston metropolitan area, including The Woodlands and Sugar Land, offer wages above the national average. Other top-paying metropolitan areas are New York-Newark-Jersey City and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, according to the BLS.
CRNA Salary by Workplace Setting
Salaries can also vary by type of healthcare provider. Outpatient care centers, for example, employ only 5% of CRNAs but pay the highest average wage, according to May 2021 BLS data. Specialty hospitals paid the next highest mean wage, followed by general medical-surgical hospitals and colleges and universities. Physician offices employed the most CRNAs but paid the lowest average salary among these settings.
The average certified nurse anesthetist salary in a doctor’s office is about 9% lower than that of medical-surgical hospitals. This discrepancy may be due to the limited number of patients a doctor’s office can accommodate, resulting in lower overall earnings and budgets. However, this environment can appeal to CRNAs who don’t want to work in a busy hospital setting.
Featured Blog Posts
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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist FAQs
Can earning a degree improve my salary as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist?
Yes, advanced education often opens new career paths that usually lead to higher salaries. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists may benefit financially from pursuing a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).