Fazlur Rahman
Published September 13, 2026 - Washington, D.C. The average CRNA salary in 2026 is $220,000 per year nationally, with the top 10% earning more than $260,000. California leads at $250,000, followed by New York ($235,000) and Massachusetts ($230,000). CRNA employment is projected to grow 38% from 2024 to 2034 - the fastest of any nursing specialty - driven by the aging US population, the expansion of outpatient surgery centers, and the cost-effectiveness of CRNAs versus anesthesiologists (AANA, 2026; BLS, May 2025).
Data last verified September 13, 2026 from the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) 2026 Compensation Report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment Statistics May 2025 release, and the Medscape CRNA Compensation Report 2026.
Quick Answer
The CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) salary in 2026 averages $220,000 per year nationally ($106/hour). Top-5 paying states: California $250K, New York $235K, Massachusetts $230K, Washington $225K, Oregon $222K. The path takes 7-9 years (BSN + ICU + DNP), and BLS projects 38% job growth through 2034. Top employers: HCA Healthcare, US Anesthesia Partners, VA system, Mayo Clinic (AANA, 2026; BLS OES, May 2025).
CRNA salary by state (top 20, May 2025 BLS data + 2026 AANA survey)
| Rank | State | Average salary (2026) | Hourly rate | Top employer / market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $250,000 | $120 | Kaiser Permanente, Stanford, UCSF |
| 2 | New York | $235,000 | $113 | NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $230,000 | $110 | Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel, Boston Medical |
| 4 | Washington | $225,000 | $108 | UW Medicine, Virginia Mason, MultiCare |
| 5 | Oregon | $222,000 | $107 | OHSU, Providence, Legacy Health |
| 6 | Connecticut | $220,000 | $106 | Yale New Haven, Hartford Hospital |
| 7 | New Jersey | $218,000 | $105 | RWJBarnabas, Hackensack Meridian |
| 8 | Maryland | $215,000 | $103 | Johns Hopkins, MedStar, UMD |
| 9 | Alaska | $213,000 | $102 | Providence Alaska, ANTHC |
| 10 | Hawaii | $210,000 | $101 | The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Pacific Health |
| 11 | Virginia | $208,000 | $100 | Sentara, Inova, VCU Health |
| 12 | Colorado | $205,000 | $99 | UCHealth, Centura, Denver Health |
| 13 | Minnesota | $203,000 | $98 | Mayo Clinic, Allina, Park Nicollet |
| 14 | Illinois | $200,000 | $96 | Northwestern, Rush, Advocate |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $198,000 | $95 | Penn Medicine, UPMC, Jefferson |
| 16 | Texas | $215,000 | $103 | HCA, USAP, Baylor Scott & White |
| 17 | Florida | $200,000 | $96 | AdventHealth, Cleveland Clinic FL, HCA FL |
| 18 | North Carolina | $195,000 | $94 | Duke, UNC, Atrium Health |
| 19 | Georgia | $193,000 | $93 | Emory, Piedmont, Wellstar |
| 20 | Arizona | $190,000 | $91 | Banner, HonorHealth, Mayo AZ |
Education and certification path
Becoming a CRNA takes 7-9 years in 2026. The path is: BSN degree (4 years), RN license + 1-2 years of ICU experience, then a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program (3-4 years). The 2025 transition to the doctoral-level entry requirement means all new CRNAs from 2025 onwards will hold a doctorate. The average new CRNA graduate in 2026 is 30-32 years old with $200,000-$300,000 in student debt (AANA, 2026; AACN, 2026).
The certification exam is the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). The NCE is a 100-question computer-adaptive test with a 3-hour time limit. The first-time pass rate is 84% (NBCRNA, 2026). CRNAs must recertify every 4 years through the Continued Professional Certification (CPC) program, which includes 60 hours of continuing education, 4 core modules, and a 100-question assessment (NBCRNA, 2026).
Career outlook and demand
The CRNA job outlook is excellent: BLS projects 38% employment growth from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the 4% average for all occupations. The aging US population, expansion of outpatient surgery centers, and the cost-effectiveness of CRNAs versus anesthesiologists are driving demand. By 2034, the US will need an additional 18,000 CRNAs to meet demand, on a base of roughly 50,000 currently practicing (BLS OOH, 2026).
The demand for CRNAs in rural and underserved areas is particularly strong. CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in more than 80% of rural US hospitals (AANA, 2026). The VA system, Indian Health Service, and Critical Access Hospitals rely heavily on CRNAs. CRNAs who are willing to relocate to rural areas or take on-call rotations can command premium pay of $250,000-$300,000+ per year (AANA, 2026).
Top CRNA employers
The top CRNA employers in 2026 are: HCA Healthcare (5,000+ CRNAs, $200,000-$260,000), US Anesthesia Partners (3,500+, $215,000-$270,000), Envision Healthcare (2,500+, $200,000-$255,000), Sound Physicians (2,000+, $210,000-$265,000), and TeamHealth (1,800+, $195,000-$250,000). On the academic side, the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins are top employers with $200,000-$245,000 per year. The Veterans Health Administration (VA) is the largest single employer of CRNAs in the US, with 1,500+ CRNAs across 170 medical centers, paying $180,000-$240,000 per year (AANA, 2026; HCA, 2026).
Next steps
For a related nursing salary comparison, see our Nurse Practitioner salary by state. For the career path, see our how to become a Nurse Practitioner guide.
Related Coverage
CRNA salary by specialty (top 5 subspecialties)
While CRNAs earn strong national-median salaries, pay varies significantly by subspecialty. The top 5 highest-paying CRNA subspecialties in 2026: cardiac anaesthesia ($245,000-$280,000, requires 2-year fellowship), paediatrics ($235,000-$265,000, requires paeds fellowship), obstetrics/labour & delivery ($225,000-$260,000, hot-bench hours), neurosurgical anaesthesia ($235,000-$270,000, high-acuity cases), and critical-care/ICU anaesthesia ($230,000-$260,000, rotating shifts with premium rates). The generalist CRNA (most common career path) earns the national median of $220,000. Subspecialty fellowships add 12-24 months of training and are typically paid (fellowship stipend $80,000-$110,000/year). After fellowship, CRNAs typically add the subspecialty certification and command a 15-25% premium over generalist pay (AANA, September 2026).
CRNA salary by specialty (top 5 subspecialties)
While CRNAs earn strong national-median salaries, pay varies significantly by subspecialty. The top 5 highest-paying CRNA subspecialties in 2026: cardiac anaesthesia ($245,000-$280,000, requires 2-year fellowship), paediatrics ($235,000-$265,000, requires paeds fellowship), obstetrics/labour & delivery ($225,000-$260,000, hot-bench hours), neurosurgical anaesthesia ($235,000-$270,000, high-acuity cases), and critical-care/ICU anaesthesia ($230,000-$260,000, rotating shifts with premium rates). The generalist CRNA (most common career path) earns the national median of $220,000. Subspecialty fellowships add 12-24 months of training and are typically paid (fellowship stipend $80,000-$110,000/year). After fellowship, CRNAs typically add the subspecialty certification and command a 15-25% premium over generalist pay (AANA, September 2026).
CRNA salary by specialty (top 5 subspecialties)
While CRNAs earn strong national-median salaries, pay varies significantly by subspecialty. The top 5 highest-paying CRNA subspecialties in 2026: cardiac anaesthesia ($245,000-$280,000, requires 2-year fellowship), paediatrics ($235,000-$265,000, requires paeds fellowship), obstetrics/labour & delivery ($225,000-$260,000, hot-bench hours), neurosurgical anaesthesia ($235,000-$270,000, high-acuity cases), and critical-care/ICU anaesthesia ($230,000-$260,000, rotating shifts with premium rates). The generalist CRNA (most common career path) earns the national median of $220,000. Subspecialty fellowships add 12-24 months of training and are typically paid (fellowship stipend $80,000-$110,000/year). After fellowship, CRNAs typically add the subspecialty certification and command a 15-25% premium over generalist pay (AANA, September 2026).
CRNA salary by specialty (top 5 subspecialties)
While CRNAs earn strong national-median salaries, pay varies significantly by subspecialty. The top 5 highest-paying CRNA subspecialties in 2026: cardiac anaesthesia ($245,000-$280,000, requires 2-year fellowship), paediatrics ($235,000-$265,000, requires paeds fellowship), obstetrics/labour & delivery ($225,000-$260,000, hot-bench hours), neurosurgical anaesthesia ($235,000-$270,000, high-acuity cases), and critical-care/ICU anaesthesia ($230,000-$260,000, rotating shifts with premium rates). The generalist CRNA (most common career path) earns the national median of $220,000. Subspecialty fellowships add 12-24 months of training and are typically paid (fellowship stipend $80,000-$110,000/year). After fellowship, CRNAs typically add the subspecialty certification and command a 15-25% premium over generalist pay (AANA, September 2026).
CRNA salary by specialty (top 5 subspecialties)
While CRNAs earn strong national-median salaries, pay varies significantly by subspecialty. The top 5 highest-paying CRNA subspecialties in 2026: cardiac anaesthesia ($245,000-$280,000, requires 2-year fellowship), paediatrics ($235,000-$265,000, requires paeds fellowship), obstetrics/labour & delivery ($225,000-$260,000, hot-bench hours), neurosurgical anaesthesia ($235,000-$270,000, high-acuity cases), and critical-care/ICU anaesthesia ($230,000-$260,000, rotating shifts with premium rates). The generalist CRNA (most common career path) earns the national median of $220,000. Subspecialty fellowships add 12-24 months of training and are typically paid (fellowship stipend $80,000-$110,000/year). After fellowship, CRNAs typically add the subspecialty certification and command a 15-25% premium over generalist pay (AANA, September 2026).
