Explore CRNA salary ranges, hourly rates, and how locum tenens work changes earning potential in 2026.
CRNAs are among the highest-paid advanced practice providers in healthcare. Most earn between $223,000 and $256,000 annually, with incentives, call coverage, and shift premiums regularly pushing real earnings well beyond reported averages. Subspecialty skills, independent practice states, and rural coverage gaps create meaningful variation at the top of the pay band.
| Source | What it Measures | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, May 2024) | Mean annual wage | $231,700 |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, May 2024) | Median annual wage | $223,210 |
| Salary.com (April 2026) | Average annual salary (employer-reported) | $242,877 |
| Medscape 2024 APRN Compensation Report | Average total compensation | $256,000 |
CRNA compensation is often understated because most benchmarks separate base salary from total compensation. Incentives, call coverage, and shift premiums regularly push real earnings well beyond reported averages.
| Compensation Type | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| W-2 employed (BLS national mean) | $111 /hr |
| Locum tenens — lower band | $125 /hr |
| Locum tenens — upper band | $325 /hr |
| Locum tenens — typical midrange | $190–$225 /hr |
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024; Barton Associates market data 2025–2026.
CRNAs operate in one of the widest hourly bands in healthcare. The spread reflects how facilities price risk, coverage gaps, and autonomy — not just clinical skill.
Rural hospitals, independent practice states, and high-acuity settings consistently pay at the top of the CRNA pay band. The rural CRNA median of $251,500 (Stroudwater Associates & NRHA, 2024) sits well above the BLS national median of $223,210 — facilities are not pricing cost of living, they are pricing coverage risk.
Facilities are not pricing cost of living. They are pricing coverage risk. That’s why rural hospitals and independent practice states consistently pay more.
The highest-earning CRNAs tend to combine subspecialty skill with schedule flexibility. A cardiac-trained CRNA who takes locum assignments in underserved markets is operating at the top of the pay band.
CRNA compensation has risen sharply in recent years. SullivanCotter (2025) reports median CRNA total cash compensation has risen 22.9% since 2022 — 9.6% in 2022–23, 6.7% in 2023–24, and 5.2% in 2024–25. The BLS median rose from $212,650 (May 2023) to $223,210 (May 2024).
Locum work shifts CRNAs from a fixed income model to a variable one. Rate is just the starting point — structure determines the outcome. To exceed $500,000 per year, CRNAs typically target cardiac or OB assignments at the top of the rate band, pick up additional call coverage, or combine both.
CRNA compensation is one of the clearest examples in healthcare where clinical autonomy translates directly into earning power. In independent practice environments, CRNAs are not just providers — they are the primary anesthesia workforce.
A $200 hourly rate is not just a raise over $111 W-2 pay. It’s a different financial model. 1099 CRNAs take on health insurance, retirement contributions, self-employment taxes, and unpaid time off — but they also unlock business deductions (travel, licensing, CME), higher retirement contribution limits, Qualified Business Income deductions, and S-corp tax optimization at higher income levels.
Locum work shifts CRNAs from a fixed income model to a variable one. Rate is just the starting point. Structure determines the outcome.
The highest earners are not defined by hours worked. They are defined by how they structure their work.
Barton coordinates your job search from start to finish!
We’ll schedule a phone consultation to discuss your interests, goals, and work history to find the right opportunities.
Your Barton rep will submit your information to the facility you want to take an assignment at and work on next steps.
Barton handles licensing, credentialing, and travel arrangements before you arrive so you’re ready on day one.
Most CRNAs earn between $223,000 and $256,000, with higher earnings depending on incentives, call coverage, and work structure.
W-2 roles average about $111 per hour. Locum rates range from $125 to $325 per hour, with most assignments falling between $190 and $225.
Yes. Higher hourly rates combined with flexible scheduling often result in higher total income.
Rural hospitals, independent practice states, and high-demand specialties like cardiac and OB anesthesia.
Yes, but uneven. Shortages are most pronounced in rural and high-acuity settings.
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