CRNA Salary Guide

The average annual CRNA salary is $203,090 per year in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That being said, CRNAs surveyed by Medscape for its 2023 advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) compensation report reported an average annual salary of $234,000.

Locum tenens emergency medicine physicians can make upward of $200 per hour on average, however, there are many factors that impact rates including location, years of experience, and the level of demand.

If you were to extrapolate that rate over a year (at 40 hours per week), the average locum salary comes out to around $416,000.

That means locum tenens CRNAs can make up to 104% more than the average provider. However, making direct salary comparisons can be complicated. While perm CRNAs are more likely to be salaried, locum tenens nurses are independent contractors earning an hourly rate, which can vary based on which assignments they take in a year.

Furthermore, because locum tenens CRNAs are paid by the hour, the hours they work are directly reflected in their pay, while a salaried nurse’s additional hours may not be reflected in their salary.

Finally, paid time off and insurance may be reflected in the perm nurse salary structure, but locum tenens providers do have options when it comes to health insurance.

The most recent state breakdown of CRNA salaries comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, though the BLS was not able to collect enough data for all 50 states. That said, some of the top 5 highest paying states for CRNA salaries are:

• North Dakota
• California
• Connecticut
• New York
• Illinois

How do CRNA Salaries Compare Against Other Nurse Specialties?

CRNAs make a higher average annual salary than nurse practitioners ($127,000), clinical nurse specialists ($120,000), and nurse managers ($126,000) according to Medscape’s compensation report.

CRNA salaries have increased over the last several years, with a 38% increase in reported annual salary since 2015, according to Medscape’s report.  If this continues, CRNAs can expect to earn more in 2024.

Check out and apply to our open locum tenens CRNA jobs today!