CRNA Salary – how much do CRNAs make? While income isn’t everything, it’s important to consider when choosing a career, no matter how much you think you’ll love the job. It shouldn’t be the only factor to consider, but it’ is important to know when planning for your future.
Becoming a CRNA is time-consuming and expensive. It takes dedication, planning, and a strong work ethic just to get into CRNA school. With many years of school and thousands of dollars (sometimes hundreds of thousands) spent, it is important to know that you will make a good return on your investment.
What’s an average CRNA Salary; How Much Do CRNAs make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for CRNAs in the United States is $189,190. Hourly, that comes out to $90.96. This is a great salary compared to other careers, and it is the highest-paid position in nursing!
However, this amount can vary per state and experience level. The lowest 10% of earners have an average annual wage of $133,970, while the top 10% of earners earn more than $208,000 per year. As you start as a brand new CRNA, you can expect to make a bit less until you get more experience.
Another factor to consider is the cost of living where you will be working. While states like California and New York may offer high salaries, costs will be higher overall than in places such as Ohio or Mississippi. Keep this in mind while doing your research.
Let’s look at the states with the highest and lowest CRNA salaries:
Top 5 States/Territories with Highest CRNA Salary:
- Oregon
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Nevada
- Connecticut
Top 5 States/Territories with Lowest CRNA Salary:
- Puerto Rico
- Utah
- Idaho
- Louisiana
- Kentucky
These top states were found by collecting the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Below is a list of all 50 states and Puerto Rico. You will see the average salary, average pay per hour, and the rank from 1-50 (1 being the state with the highest salary, 50 being the lowest). Unfortunately, Rhode Island did not have any data to be included in the ranking.
CRNA Salary by State/Territory:
(From Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2020 and May 2018 Data)
Alabama:
Average Salary 2020: $170,560
Average Hourly 2020: $82.00
Overall Rank: 41
Alaska:
Average Salary 2018 (Most Recent): $187,690
Average Hourly 2018 (Most Recent): $90.24
Overall Rank: 26
Arizona:
Average Salary 2020: $173,460
Average Hourly 2020: $83.40
Overall Rank: 39
Arkansas:
Average Salary 2020: $167,030
Average Hourly 2020: $80.30
Overall Rank: 44
California:
Average Salary 2020: $205,360
Average Hourly 2020: $98.73
Overall Rank: 10
Colorado:
Average Salary 2020: $175,760
Average Hourly 2020: $84.50
Overall Rank: 37
Connecticut:
Average Salary 2020: $217,360
Average Hourly 2020: $104.50
Overall Rank: 5
Delaware:
Average Salary 2018 (Most Recent): $187,860
Average Hourly 2020 (Most Recent): $90.32
Overall Rank: 25
Florida:
Average Salary 2020: $176,760
Average Hourly 2020: $84.98
Overall Rank: 36
Georgia:
Average Salary 2020: $179,630
Average Hourly 2020: $86.36
Overall Rank: 32
Hawaii:
Average Salary 2020: $201,930
Average Hourly 2020: $97.08
Overall Rank: 11
Idaho:
Average Salary 2020: $156,250
Average Hourly 2020: $75.12
Overall Rank: 48
Illinois:
Average Salary 2020: $194,950
Average Hourly 2020: $93.73
Overall Rank: 18
Indiana:
Average Salary 2020: $169,620
Average Hourly 2020: $81.55
Overall Rank: 42
Iowa:
Average Salary 2020: $198,480
Average Hourly 2020: $95.43
Overall Rank: 14
Kansas:
Average Salary 2020: $167,700
Average Hourly 2020: $80.63
Overall Rank: 43
Kentucky:
Average Salary 2020: $163,700
Average Hourly 2020: $78.70
Overall Rank: 46
Louisiana:
Average Salary 2020: $161,310
Average Hourly 2020: $77.55
Overall Rank: 47
Maine:
Average Salary 2020: $198,940
Average Hourly 2020: $95.64
Overall Rank: 13
Maryland:
Average Salary 2020: $182,780
Average Hourly 2020: $87.88
Overall Rank: 30
Massachusetts:
Average Salary 2020: $195,900
Average Hourly 2020: $94.18
Overall Rank: 17
Michigan:
Average Salary 2020: $199,870
Average Hourly 2020: $96.09
Overall Rank: 12
Minnesota:
Average Salary 2020: $216,050
Average Hourly 2020: $103.87
Overall Rank: 8
Mississippi:
Average Salary 2020: $174,540
Average Hourly 2020: $83.92
Overall Rank: 38
Missouri:
Average Salary 2020: $189,610
Average Hourly 2020: $91.16
Overall Rank: 24
Montana:
Average Salary 2020: $216,420
Average Hourly 2020: $104.05
Overall Rank: 7
Nebraska:
Average Salary 2020: $176,880
Average Hourly 2020: $85.04
Overall Rank: 35
Nevada:
Average Salary 2020: $223,680
Average Hourly 2020: $107.54
Overall Rank: 4
New Hampshire:
Average Salary 2020: $197,570
Average Hourly 2020: $94.99
Overall Rank: 16
New Jersey:
Average Salary 2020: $207,500
Average Hourly 2020: $99.76
Overall Rank: 9
New Mexico:
Average Salary 2020: $164,980
Average Hourly 2020: $79.32
Overall Rank: 45
New York:
Average Salary 2020: $217,050
Average Hourly 2020: $104.35
Overall Rank: 6
North Carolina:
Average Salary 2020: $192,830
Average Hourly 2020: $92.71
Overall Rank: 19
North Dakota:
Average Salary 2020: $192,050
Average Hourly 2020: $92.33
Overall Rank: 20
Ohio:
Average Salary 2020: $190,120
Average Hourly 2020: $91.40
Overall Rank: 22
Oklahoma:
Average Salary 2020: $179,410
Average Hourly 2020: $86.25
Overall Rank: 33
Oregon:
Average Salary 2020: $236,540
Average Hourly 2020: $113.72
Overall Rank: 1
Pennsylvania:
Average Salary 2020: $185,090
Average Hourly 2020: $88.99
Overall Rank: 29
Rhode Island:
Average Salary: No Data Available
Average Hourly: No Data Available
Overall Rank: N/A
South Carolina:
Average Salary 2020: $185,850
Average Hourly 2020: $89.35
Overall Rank: 28
South Dakota:
Average Salary 2020: $190,660
Average Hourly 2020: $91.66
Overall Rank: 21
Tennessee:
Average Salary 2020: $171,020
Average Hourly 2020: $82.22
Overall Rank: 40
Texas:
Average Salary 2020: $180,380
Average Hourly 2020: $86.72
Overall Rank: 31
Utah:
Average Salary 2020: $127,130
Average Hourly 2020: $61.12
Overall Rank: 49
Vermont:
Average Salary 2020: $189,780
Average Hourly 2020: $91.24
Overall Rank: 23
Virginia:
Average Salary 2020: $179,180
Average Hourly 2020: $86.15
Overall Rank: 34
Washington:
Average Salary 2020: $197,740
Average Hourly 2020: $95.07
Overall Rank: 15
West Virginia:
Average Salary 2020: $187,430
Average Hourly 2020: $90.11
Overall Rank: 27
Wisconsin:
Average Salary 2020: $231,520
Average Hourly 2020: $111.31
Overall Rank: 2
Wyoming:
Average Salary 2020: $231,250
Average Hourly 2020: $111.18
Overall Rank: 3
Puerto Rico:
Average Salary 2020: $55,250
Average Hourly 2020: $26.56
Overall Rank: 50
Now that you have had a chance to look at these salaries, here is a warning:
Do not become a CRNA because of the money!
While CRNAs make a good income, the job can be challenging and stressful. You have to be dedicated and passionate about the field to succeed. CRNAs require good grades, multiple years of experience in an ICU, leadership experience, and much more to even make it into CRNA school. Also, CRNAs will need to have a doctorate level education starting in 2025, which means at least three years of graduate-level classes. While the money looks good, you have to be extremely passionate about anesthesia to make it to graduation and boards!
CRNAs are lucky to have a rewarding and fulfilling job that also pays well. If you are interested in this field, make sure to continue to learn about all aspects of this job. To learn more about whether nurse anesthesia is a good fit for you, check out the article: Is Nurse Anesthesia a Good Job?
References:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291151.htm
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm
https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm
“CRNA Salary: How Much do CRNAs Make?” was written by By Catharine Bledsoe, RN, BSN
Read our other article on CRNA Salaries if you want to see salaries adjusted for the cost of living.