How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Plan and administer anesthesia and keep patients safe through surgery, one of the highest-paid advanced practice nursing roles. It typically requires a doctoral degree (dnp/dnap), with a median salary of $236,590 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$236,590/yr
Middle half
$206,730 to $294,350
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
2,700
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Anesthesia Management
- Critical Care
- Pharmacology
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
Helpful certifications
- CRNA (NBCRNA certification)
- RN licensure + ICU experience
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
61/100
Stress level
79/100
Related careers
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- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
- Physician Assistant$135,880 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) make?
The median pay for a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is $236,590 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $206,730 and $294,350 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)?
The usual entry point is a doctoral degree (dnp/dnap). Common majors are Nursing and Biology.
Is Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 2,700 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) use most?
Common skills for this role are Anesthesia Management, Critical Care, Pharmacology, Monitoring, and Critical Thinking.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).