For the vast majority of the United States, there is a shortage in healthcare professionals. The shortages are present across all specialties, including anesthesiology. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are one of healthcare professionals hospitals find themselves in need of.
Scope of Practice
Nurse anesthetist is another name for a CRNA. They are a type of advanced practice registered nurse specializing in anesthesiology. They provide anesthesia and monitor patients before, during, and after the administration of anesthesia. They primarily deal in is pain management for patients.
Most states allow CRNAs to practice independently, but they do not all allow CRNAs to have full prescriptive authority. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) describes which states allow independent practice, or independent prescribing for CRNAs.
CRNA Salary by State
Nurse anesthetists are typically paid more than other types of nurses. This is because of the extra courses and certification they need to administer anesthesia. The Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights the annual mean wage of nurse anesthetists, as of May 2023. According to them, the national average salary for CRNAs is $214,200.
A compensation report in 2023 by Medscape supports this. They estimate that the average base compensation for CRNAs is around $207K yearly, while the total compensation is $235K.
Top Paying States for CRNAs
- Illinois at $281,240 a year
- Massachusetts at $272,510 a year
- Montana at $256,460 a year
- New York at $256,160 a year
- Vermont at $254,790 a year
Cost of Living
CRNAs looking for work should consider the cost of living in each of these states before deciding. Each of them comes with their own expenses. A high salary doesn’t necessarily mean an easy financial situation.
Illinois has a cost of living that is 8% lower than the national average. Generally, most aspects of Illinois are lower than the national average. The housing expenses are 22% lower, utilities are 10% lower, and the price of groceries are 4% lower.
Massachusetts, however, has a cost of living 48% higher than the national average. Housing expenses are 112% higher and utilities are 16% higher than the national average as well. Almost every aspect of Massachusetts is more expensive than the national average. The most expensive city is Nantucket, which has a cost of living 139% higher than the national average.
Montana is the third highest paying state for CRNAs. The cost of living is only slightly higher than the national average at 3.7%. Yet the cost of transportation is 0.6% lower and utility costs are 8.4% lower as well. When compared to the other states mentioned, Montana is a relatively cheap option for CRNAs.
The fourth highest paying state is New York, which is well-known for its unaffordable housing and high population. The overall cost of living is 25.1% higher than the national average, but the housing expenses are 73.3% higher. The expenses such as groceries and transportation are relatively low or close to the national average.
The last high-paying state is Vermont, which has a cost of living 14.9% higher than the national average. The housing costs for the state are 31.4% higher, and utility expenses are 20.8% higher than the national average.
The top five highest paying states for CRNAs do offer good salaries, but each one comes with their own expenses and risks. CRNAs seeking employment should be wary of the costs associated with each of these areas. Especially for states like Massachusetts and New York, which have high housing costs.
States with a Shortage of CRNAs
While the shortage of healthcare providers is felt all over the U.S., the rural areas of the nation are hit the hardest. Georgia in particular, has 25% less CRNAs than the national average. It also does not allow CRNAs to practice independently, requiring a written agreement between the CRNA and a physician. However, the low average wage in Georgia ($204,070) isn’t encouraging for CRNAs.
Many of the rural states suffer from the overall nurse shortage because of their aging population. As the population gets older, elderly patients need more medical attention and CRNAs are retiring at the same time.
One thing that the majority of healthcare careers share is burnout. Nurses and CRNAs are no exception to this. They deal with stressful situations while working long shifts, a perfect recipe for burnout.
According to a satisfaction report by Medscape in 2022, 56% of CRNAs were somewhat or completely burned out. The results of this emotional toll include low job satisfaction and nurses leaving their profession. These internal factors exacerbate the shortage.
Get Started with Wellhart
Ready to find your next locum tenens assignment as a CRNA? Look at our job board to find open positions. For those interested in anesthesiology as a nurse, check out our guide on how to become a CRNA.
This article was written by Desirae Sin