15 Highest-Paying States For CRNA Graduates – 2024
Written By:
Pattie TrumblePattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. Read Full Bio »» , MPP, MPH
Nurses in the U.S. have been providing anesthesia services since the Civil War. More recently, the utilization of certified registered nurse anesthetists has soared as more studies show that CRNA program graduates consistently deliver safe, high-quality, cost-effective anesthesia care that can significantly lower escalating healthcare costs. What are the highest-paying states for CRNA graduates? Keep reading for an in-depth look at the 15 highest-paying states for CRNA graduates in 2024.
What is the Average Salary for CRNA Graduates in the United States?
The average salary for a CRNA graduate in the U.S. is $98.93 an hour, $3,957 a week, $17,150 a month, or $205,770 a year.
Hourly | $98.93 |
Weekly | $3,957 |
Monthly | $17,150 |
Annual | $205,770 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
What are the Highest-Paying States for CRNA Graduates?
(Based on the latest average salary data from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following are the 15 highest-paying states for CRNA graduates in 2024.)
STATE #1: California
California is the highest-paying state for CRNA graduates for two reasons. First,
the Golden State has the highest number of surgeons in the U.S. and
performs the most outpatient surgical procedures. Surgeries, after all, are one of the most powerful generators of net income for hospitals and healthcare systems, so demand for anesthesiologist services is generally high in the Golden State, and competition for CRNA talent is fierce. Second, California allows certified registered nurse anesthetists to administer anesthesia without physician supervision, which makes CRNAs effective substitutes for more highly paid physician anesthesiologists. As a full-time CRNA in California, you can expect to average $118.52 an hour, $4,841 a week, $20,540 a month, or $246,510 annually, 20 percent higher than the average CRNA salary throughout the U.S.
Hourly | $118.52 |
Weekly | $4,741 |
Monthly | $20,540 |
Annual | $246,510 |
STATE #2: Connecticut
Certified registered nurse anesthetists in Connecticut can anticipate earning $115.66 an hour, $4,627 a week, $20,050 a month, or $240,580 a year on average. The
nationwide shortage of anesthesiologists throughout the U.S. is particularly acute in Connecticut, and CRNAs help take up that slack. CRNA salaries throughout the Nutmeg State vary significantly from location to location. Average certified registered nurse anesthetists’ salaries are so generous throughout the Greater Hartford Metropolitan Area (
one of the best-paying metros for CRNAs in the entire U.S.) and communities in Fairfield County and along the Long Island Sound (considered part of the Greater New York City Metropolitan Area) that they tend to bring state average salaries up.
Hourly | $115.66 |
Weekly | $4,627 |
Monthly | $20,050 |
Annual | $240,580 |
STATE #3: New York
New York is among the highest-paying states for CRNA graduates even though certified registered nurse anesthetists cannot work independently in the Empire State but must practice under a physician’s supervision. CRNAs based in New York State can count on making $114.77 hourly, $4,591 weekly, $19,890 monthly, and $238,710 annually. The Greater New York City Metropolitan Area, where 65 percent of the Empire State’s residents live, has the highest CRNA employment levels in the country. Still,
New York has a 28-percent shortage of CRNAs, which drives up CRNA salaries. Certified registered nurse anesthetist salaries are significantly higher in metro New York City than they are upstate.
Hourly | $114.77 |
Weekly | $4,591 |
Monthly | $19,890 |
Annual | $238,710 |
STATE #4: Illinois
Four of the nation’s highest-paying metropolitan areas for CRNAs are in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois’s anesthesiologist shortage is expected to worsen in the coming years since approximately one-third of its physician anesthesiologists are close to retirement. CRNAs are allowed to operate independently of physician anesthesiologists in the Land of Lincoln and earn comparatively high salaries because they provide access to anesthesia services to patients who might not otherwise have it.
Certified registered nurse anesthetists are the most common providers of anesthesia in 82 percent of the counties in Illinois and the only providers in 25 percent of the counties. CRNAs in the Land of Lincoln make $114.64 an hour, $4,585 a week, $19,870 a month, or $238,440 a year.
Hourly | $114.64 |
Weekly | $4,585 |
Monthly | $19,870 |
Annual | $238,440 |
STATE #5: Kentucky
Kentucky has opted out of the Medicare requirement stipulating that CRNAs administering anesthesia must be supervised by a physician, so certified registered nurse anesthetists in the Bluegrass State can practice to the full extent of their training. Kentucky-based CRNAs earn salaries of $113.10 an hour, $4,524 a week, $19,610 a month, or $235,260 a year. Kentucky CRNAs are compensated highly because the state’s healthcare system relies on them so heavily:
CRNAs presently provide anesthesia services in all 75 counties in Kentucky. Moreover, CRNAs are the sole providers of anesthesia services in nearly half of those counties, including the 17 critical access hospitals located within those counties.
Hourly | $113.10 |
Weekly | $4,524 |
Monthly | $19,610 |
Annual | $235,260 |
STATE #6: New Jersey
The average salary for a certified registered nurse anesthetist in New Jersey is $111.84 an hour, $4,474 a week, $19,390 a month, or $232,630 a year. CRNA earnings vary throughout the state, with the highest salaries going to CRNAs who practice in the northern and central communities counted as part of the Metro New York City region. Practitioners in more rural parts of the Garden State make significantly less. In New Jersey,
CRNAs work under a protocol that only allows them to work under the supervision of a licensed physician anesthesiologist (although the governor temporarily rescinded this stipulation during the COVID-19 pandemic with no ill effects.)
Hourly | $111.84 |
Weekly | $4,474 |
Monthly | $19,390 |
Annual | $232,630 |
STATE #7: Wisconsin
Wisconsin CRNAs earn $110.71 an hour, $4,428 a week, $19,190 a month, or $230,270 annually. Wisconsin is one of the best-paying states for CRNA graduates because
CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care in both rural and urban facilities across the state. Indeed, CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia services in 52 of Wisconsin’s 53 critical access hospitals. Managed care insurance plans across the Badger State like working with certified registered nurse anesthetists because CRNA cost-efficiency helps keep escalating healthcare inflation in check. In 2005, Wisconsin became one of the first states to opt out of the Medicare physician supervision requirement for CRNAs.
Hourly | $110.71 |
Weekly | $4,428 |
Monthly | $19,190 |
Annual | $230,270 |
STATE #8: West Virginia
Certified registered nurse anesthetists in West Virginia make $110.30 an hour, $4,412 a week, $19,120 a month, or $229,430 annually. These salaries reflect the fact that many healthcare facilities, especially in the more rural parts of the Mountain State, depend upon CRNAs as their primary providers of anesthesia services. West Virginia has a transition-to-practice statute, meaning that CRNAs must complete a stipulated number of supervised clinical hours before they can practice independently. However, this requirement was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hourly | $110.30 |
Weekly | $4,412 |
Monthly | $19,120 |
Annual | $229,430 |
STATE #9: Vermont
Vermont’s CRNA workforce averages $109.96 an hour, $4,398 a week, $19,060 a month, or $228,710 yearly. In part, these comparatively high CRNA salaries can be seen as an incentive for attracting certified registered nurse anesthetists to practice in the state since Vermont has no CRNA programs. Certified registered nurse anesthetists can practice independently in the Green Mountain State following a transition period of collaborative practice with a physician anesthesiologist. Still, Vermont has not opted out of the Medicare requirement for physician supervision. CRNAs work in every practice setting across the largely rural Green Mountain State, from traditional hospital operating theaters to ambulatory surgery centers.
Hourly | $109.96 |
Weekly | $4,398 |
Monthly | $19,060 |
Annual | $228,710 |
STATE #10: Nebraska
Northeastern Nebraska is one of the top-paying nonmetropolitan areas for certified registered nurse anesthetists in the U.S., and CRNAs across the Cornhusker State average $108.46 an hour, $4,338 a week, $18,800 a month, or $225,590 a year.
Though an increasing number of healthcare facilities throughout Nebraska are utilizing CRNAs as their sole anesthesia providers, there is a shortage of CRNAs in the state, which is projected to increase within the next few years. These two factors are the top two reasons Nebraska is among the highest-paying states for CRNA graduates. Certified registered nurse anesthetists can practice independently in Nebraska; indeed, in 2002, Nebraska was one of the earliest states to opt out of Medicare physician supervision requirements.
Hourly | $108.46 |
Weekly | $4,338 |
Monthly | $18,800 |
Annual | $225,590 |
STATE #11: South Dakota
Certified registered nurse anesthetists in South Dakota command salaries of $107.31 an hour, $4,292 a week, $18,600 a month, or $223,200 a year.
CRNAs are the sole providers of anesthesia services in 83 percent of the South Dakota counties with access to anesthesia services.
Though most CRNAs in the Mount Rushmore State practice in the Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Sioux City metro regions, CRNAs are also the primary providers of anesthesia services in rural and First Nation reservations across the state. Certified registered nurse anesthetists in South Dakota can practice independently just as soon as they qualify for state licensure.
Hourly | $107.31 |
Weekly | $4,292 |
Monthly | $18,600 |
Annual | $223,200 |
STATE #12: Washington
Washington State is among the best-paying states for CRNA graduates because
88 percent of the Evergreen State’s critical access hospitals rely solely upon certified registered nurse anesthetists for anesthesia services. In fact,
CRNAs are the only anesthesia providers in 72 percent of Washington State’s hospitals. CRNAs practice professionally in 27 of Washington State’s 38 counties, averaging $107.03 hourly, $4,281 weekly, $18,550 monthly, and $222,610 annually. CRNAs in the Evergreen State may provide anesthesia care independently and without supervision under state law. In 2003, Washington became one of the very first states to opt out of the Medicare requirement that stipulates physician supervision.
Hourly | $107.03 |
Weekly | $4,281 |
Monthly | $18,550 |
Annual | $222,610 |
STATE #13: Minnesota
Minnesota has the highest number of employment opportunities per capita for CRNAs of any state in the U.S. Both urban and rural healthcare facilities throughout the Land of Lakes rely heavily upon certified registered nurse anesthetists for anesthesia services. The Greater Metropolitan Minneapolis/St. Paul Area has one of the highest employment levels for certified registered nurse anesthetists of any city in the nation. CRNAs are also the sole providers of anesthesia services in the smaller hospitals that provide healthcare in less densely populated areas throughout the state. Minnesota’s certified registered nurse anesthetists can expect to earn $106.99 an hour, $4,280 per week, $18,550 a month, or $222,540 a year on average.
Hourly | $106.99 |
Weekly | $4,280 |
Monthly | $18,550 |
Annual | $222,540 |
STATE #14: Indiana
CRNA earnings in Indiana average $105.78 an hour, $4,231 a week, $18,340 a month, or $220,020 annually. In the Hoosier State, certified registered nurse anesthetists can only administer anesthesia if they are in the immediate presence of a physician. Nevertheless, CRNAs are widely utilized as valued members of physician practice groups. Since Indiana has no in-state educational programs for certified registered nurse anesthetists, CRNAs must be attracted from out of state—hence their high salaries.
Hourly | $105.78 |
Weekly | $4,231 |
Monthly | $18,340 |
Annual | $220,020 |
STATE #15: New Hampshire
Despite its tiny size,
New Hampshire has the third-highest concentration of CRNA employment opportunities in any of the 50 states. New Hampshire is a full-practice state where certified registered nurse anesthetists can provide anesthesia services without physician oversight, but since the Granite State has no in-state CRNA programs, healthcare employers must attract CRNAs from elsewhere. High salaries are one of the ways employers do that.
New Hampshire offers CRNAs a variety of professional practice models that are not always available elsewhere. In New Hampshire, CRNAs earn $103.83 an hour, $4,153 a week, $18,000 a month, or $215,970 annually, 5 percent higher than CRNA earnings on average throughout the U.S.
Hourly | $103.83 |
Weekly | $4,153 |
Monthly | $18,000 |
Annual | $215,970 |
My Final Thoughts
This article has addressed the question, “What are the highest-paying states for CRNA graduates?” But even if you practice in a state that’s not on this list, as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, you will earn a high salary that’s likely to keep growing in the years to come. If you’re thinking of pursuing a career as a certified registered nurse anesthetist and are looking for a way to optimize your earnings, though, you may want to select a CRNA program that’s in one of the 15 highest-paying states for CRNA graduates in 2024.
Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.