Nurse Anesthetists: Salary Overview
Nurse anesthetists are advanced practice registered nurses who are licensed to administer anesthesia and provide care to patients before, during, and after surgeries and other medical procedures.
They may also provide pain management and emergency services.
Their job description also includes discussing with patients and finding out if they are taking any medication or have any other illnesses or allergies.
During the surgery or the procedure, nurse anesthetists monitor the patient’s vital signs and adjust the anesthesia if necessary.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage reported by nurse anesthetists in 2019 was $174,790, higher than the salary reported by nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives.
The median salary shows us that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount while half earned more.
Salaries vary based on experience level, education, and industry of employment, among other factors.
The lowest 10 percent reportedly earned less than $127,480 while the highest 10 percent made more than $203,730 per year.
The 25 percentile for this profession was $148,110 which means that 75 percent of all nurse anesthetists earned more than this amount.
In conclusion, this profession is well remunerated and as a nurse anesthetist, you may earn more than nurses with other specialties.
However, salaries vary widely depending on the industry of employment but also depending on the region and the local economy.
Nurse Anesthetist Salary by Industry
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics nurse anesthetists held around 45,000 jobs in the United States in 2018, most of them being employed in physician’s offices or by hospitals.
Nurse anesthetists who worked for offices of physicians reportedly earned $171,220 a year, on average while those who worked for general medical and surgical hospitals earned $193,380 on average.
Higher average annual salaries were reported by nurse anesthetists in outpatient care centers- a field where the mean annual wage for this profession was $224,630.
The average annual wage was $169,140 for nurse anesthetists in offices of other health practitioners and $184,090 for those who worked for colleges, universities, and professional schools.
According to the report, the top-paying industries for this occupation were outpatient care centers, general medical and surgical hospitals, and the field of home health care services.
Nurse anesthetists who worked in the field of home health care services reportedly earned $192,300 per year.
There are many other factors that determine a nurse anesthetist’s salary, including education, experience level, and region of employment.
Although a master’s degree is enough for entry-level employment, earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Ph.D. may help you get a better-paying job.
According to the BLS report, the top-paying states for nurse anesthetists were Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, Wisconsin, and California- states where the reported average annual wage for this profession was over $220,000.
Nurse anesthetists in Arizona and Utah, on the other hand, reported average annual wages that were in the $140,000-$150,000 range.
Job Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for nurse anesthetists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2018 to 2028.
They will be needed particularly in hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities that provide ambulatory care.
As baby boomers age, they will need more surgeries and other healthcare services that require the presence of a nurse anesthetist.
In conclusion, this profession is well remunerated, especially for those who have a few years of experience but this occupation requires many years of training, a special set of skills, and a high level of resistance to stressful and emotionally demanding situations.
As a nurse anesthetist, you may work in shifts, especially if you’re employed by a hospital or other healthcare facility that provides round-the-clock care.
* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Nurse Anesthetists. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.