CRNAs are considered one of the highest-paid nurses these days. Their average salary is at $169,450. That means that they can earn as much as $81.47 per hour. With that rate, it’s not surprising to find more and more nurses and nursing students aspiring to excel in this specialty.
CRNA Salaries Based on State
One factor that can affect the salary you get is your location. So, if you want to earn higher, you need to make sure you are working in one of the highest-paying cities for CRNAs.
Your choices include:
- Montana – $252,460
- Wyoming- $250,610
- California – $217,230
- Oregon- $207,480
- Iowa – $198,140
- Nevada – $196,730
- Hawaii – $196,640
- North Dakota- $194,570
- Washington- $194,080
- Virginia- $193,410
Highest Paying Cities for Nurse Anesthetists
Metropolitan areas and big cities are great for CRNAs because they tend to pay more. If you want to take a look at your options, here are the cities you can start with:
- San Francisco CA- $240,390
- Providence-Warwick RI- $238,030
- San Diego-Carlsbad CA- $230,960
- Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley CA- $230,290
- Spokane Valley WA- $227,700
- Vallejo-Fairfield CA- $223,460
- Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade CA- $217,070
- Wheeling WV- $205,250
- Akron OH- $203,790
The Best Industries to Work in As A CRNA
Nurse anesthetists work in a wide range of industries. They aren’t just limited to hospital work.
If you are looking for the highest-paid industries to work as a nurse anesthetist, your best option includes outpatient care centers. There, you can earn as much as $194,440 in a year.
You can also consider working in government schools and earn about $183,120 per year. There are also specialty hospitals you can look into like Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals. They typically pay CRNAs around $178,920 annually.
The Top Factors That Can Affect Your Salary
While nurse anesthetists tend to have a high salary, there are still some factors that can affect what they actually earn.
The location of their employment is one good example. Nurse anesthetists who work in big cities where the demand for their skills and expertise are high tend to pay more than areas with less population. The type of employer is an important factor, too.
Like other specialties, a nurse anesthetist who is more experienced can earn more than those who are just starting out in the field. With that, work on earning more credentials and certifications if you want to get a higher salary.
What Does A Nurse Anesthetist Do
Nurses who are working in this specialty care for patients before, during, and after undergoing their medical procedures. They evaluate them and determine the right anesthetic plan for their case. They determine the risks, like allergies, to ensure their patients’ safety.
After administering the anesthetic, they will monitor the patient’s vital signs throughout the procedure until the patient completely recovers from the anesthesia.
As a CRNA, you can work in a wide range of settings. You can get a job in hospitals, plastic surgery clinics, dental clinics, and trauma centers. Your job may involve administering anesthesia via oral medication, gas or intravenous liquid to provide twilight sleep to patients undergoing minor procedures or manage chronic pain.
What You Need to Become A Nurse Anesthetist
Becoming a CRNA, however, is not as easy as it sounds. Like most nursing specialties, you need to be a registered and licensed nurse first. In some programs, you’ll need to possess a minimum of 1-year experience in adult care first before you can become a CRNA.
All in all, you’ll need to spend about 2 to 4 years completing an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program. You can choose from the 113 accredited programs in the country.
Nurse anesthesia programs are designed to ensure potential CRNAs can function under pressure. Once hired, nurse anesthetists are responsible for careful monitoring of patients before, during, and even after surgery.
They should also be knowledgeable enough to determine the exact type of anesthesia, its concentration, and the method of administration suitable for a patient.
Needless to say, CRNAs may mean the difference between a patient’s life and death. And that’s more than enough to justify the impressive nurse anesthetist salary they now enjoy.
Career Outlook for CRNAs
CRNAs have an excellent job outlook. With the aging population now seeking medical care and people’s focus on preventive care, you can expect to have a lot more job opportunities in the field.
Between 2014 and 2024, it’s expected that CRNAs projected job growth will be at 31%. That’s about 16% faster than the expected job growth rate of registered nurses.
Source: Nurse Salary Guide
