Administering anesthesia and monitoring patients under its effects is a complex and delicate process that requires intense training and expertise. While an anesthesiologist is responsible for overseeing the entire anesthesia process, they often work alongside a care team that includes certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). As we look ahead to the rest of 2025 and beyond, CRNA employment opportunities are expected to expand significantly. Read on as we dive deeper into the CRNA job outlook, taking a closer look at CRNA salary figures and how locum CRNA jobs can help combat a growing shortage of anesthesia providers.
CRNA Employment Opportunities Poised to Expand
CRNA employment opportunities in the United States are projected to grow over the next few years. According to projections published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) is projected to expand by 10% from 2023 to 2033, from 49,900 providers to 55,100, or an increase of 5,200.
This CRNA job outlook is faster than the average employment growth for all occupations in the United States, which stands at 4%. Numbers like these illustrate the increased demand for highly-skilled CRNAs across the country as we head into the 2030s.
Exploring the CRNA Job Outlook: States Leading in CRNA Employment
CRNAs are needed across the entire country, but these five states had the highest employment of CRNAs in 2024, according to data from the BLS:
- Florida
- Texas
- Michigan
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
It’s difficult to predict exactly which states will have the greatest demand for CRNAs five years from now, but by taking a look at which states employ the most CRNAs today, we can infer what CRNA employment opportunities will look like in the future.
Top States for Locum CRNA Jobs in 2025
Locum CRNA jobs are hot right now—we took a look at our internal listing data and found that these states have the most CRNA employment opportunities for summer 2025 and beyond:
Keep in mind that these aren’t the only states in which we have open locum CRNA jobs available. These are simply the states we’ve seen increased interest in over the past few months.
Looking for more locum CRNA jobs? Check out our job board and apply today!
What is the average CRNA salary?
The average annual CRNA salary in 2024 was $231,700, according to the BLS. Nurse anesthetists (otherwise known as CRNAs) were actually the highest earners among all nurse-adjacent Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)—nurse practitioners (NPs) made an average annual salary of $129,210 in 2024 while nurse midwives made an average annual salary of $128,790.
These figures are averages—that means, if you take locum CRNA jobs, you’ll likely make even more. That’s because locum tenens jobs typically offer higher pay rates to compensate for the temporary nature of the work and the flexibility required. In fact, according to our internal data, those who take locum CRNA jobs make upward of $190–$250 an hour, further increasing your CRNA salary prospects.
Read more about CRNA salary figures in our salary guide!
Is there a CRNA shortage?
There is a general shortage of anesthesia providers across the country. According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), the country might see a shortage of around 12,500 anesthesia providers by 2033, which is 22% of current staff. And since CRNAs represent more than 80% of anesthesia providers in rural areas of the country, this shortage could impact marginalized populations the most.
But this also means that anesthesiologists are also in high demand—and according to the AANA, CRNAs are stepping up to fill in the gaps.
Why are CRNA employment opportunities growing?
One of the main factors behind the growing demand for CRNAs is the aforementioned shortage of anesthesiology providers across the country. According to the AANA, a disproportionate number of anesthesiologists are leaving the field due to age—and as the Baby Boomer generation grows old in large numbers, the demand for surgeries and other anesthesiology-adjacent healthcare services grows.
There are also other factors behind the growth of CRNA employment opportunities, such as rising costs for hospitals, an issue that forces administrators to find cheaper, yet still extremely effective, alternatives. Enter CRNAs.
In addition, the AANA projects that 12% of CRNAs will retire by 2027, opening even more CRNA employment opportunities for those looking to get into the field.
How can locum CRNA jobs combat the anesthesiologist shortage?
Locum tenens CRNAs are the unsung heroes of the healthcare staffing world. These highly trained professionals take short- or long-term temporary assignments at healthcare facilities struggling with staffing shortages to provide critical anesthesia services, ensuring patient care doesn’t skip a beat. From bustling urban hospitals to remote rural clinics, locum CRNAs bring their expertise wherever it’s needed most.
The growing demand for anesthesia services has created a unique opportunity for CRNAs to embrace the locum lifestyle. This flexible career path allows them to gain diverse experience, explore different healthcare settings, and often earn higher compensation compared to permanent positions. For healthcare facilities, locum CRNAs offer a lifeline during staffing crunches, preventing surgical backlogs and maintaining essential pain management services.
While locum CRNAs aren’t a permanent fix for the anesthesia provider shortage, they’re an invaluable stopgap measure. As more CRNAs discover the benefits of locum work, the pool of available professionals expands, creating a more robust network of skilled providers ready to deploy where they’re needed most. This trend could help healthcare facilities nationwide better manage their anesthesia needs, regardless of location or case complexity, ultimately improving patient access to timely care.
Find Locum CRNA Jobs with Wellhart
Feeling good about CRNA employment opportunities as we head into the future? We have many locum CRNA jobs available on our job board—check them out and apply today!