Yes, another question about CRNA pay?

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

Hello!

I'll be starting my RN program come August with the hope of eventually becoming a CRNA at some point down the line. Earlier today I was talking with a friend of mine whose aunt is a surgical nurse in South Bend, IN. According to this friend of mine, his aunt said that CRNAs actually don't make very much money (relatively speaking), especially once you subtract out the cost of the . The figure that she gave was around 105k/yr for a full-time CRNA. Now I'm assuming that since she's a surgical nurse of some sort, and she works with CRNA's on a daily basis practically that she knows what she's talking about.

However, when I go onto websites such as gaswork.com and whatnot, the base starting salaries they have posted for full-time CRNA's are quite a bit higher, and quite a few of the postings there even say that they cover the malpractice insurance. Am I missing something here? Do CRNAs actually "only" make 105k/yr after malpractice insurance is subtracted from their earnings (or maybe even before the malpractice insurance)? Is her information very case specific, and descriptive only of a small Midwestern city in Indiana? I mean, either way I'd be more than willing to become a CRNA just based on the information I have so far for it. But, I'd just like to hear some more feedback on this, particularly from those of you who are already CRNAs.

Thanks in advance for any insight you might offer!:)

I'm not a CRNA so I have no dog in this fight, so to speak. I just thought I'd provide some information and perspective regarding NPs. My sister is an NP and I look at job postings all the time for the hospitals in my area. NPs here don't get anywhere near $105/hr. New NPs are offered in the $30-$40 range. My sister makes approximately $50/hr (not sure the exact amount) and she has several years of experience. I live in the northern Midwest, not the south as you might expect with such low wages.

Added: I just realized that you must have meant $105/year, which is somewhat more reasonable. But new NPs still fall $20-$40K short of that. I make more than that as an RN.

It may not be, but I was responding to someone else's comment, so you'd need to ask him.

0 Votes

This is a pdf of a spreadsheet I compiled with CRNA salary data as well as Tax and cost of living analysis for every state.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejgnwfu6zdftsh2/Crna%20salary%20data.pdf

0 Votes

Damn... that's pretty informative.

0 Votes
Specializes in Anesthesia.
This is a pdf of a spreadsheet I compiled with CRNA salary data as well as Tax and cost of living analysis for every state.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejgnwfu6zdftsh2/Crna%20salary%20data.pdf

This took a lot of work to do, but I know at least for Alaska that it is inaccurate at least for salaries. The cost of living is also skewed with most of that cost being d/t housing.

The most accurate information on CRNA salaries is probably going to come from the AANA annual salary survey report.

I am wondering if the data is flawed on CRNAs from the Bureau of Labor because a significant portion of CRNAs work as independent contractors/1099.

0 Votes
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I told him i made Gross 88,000 last year (i live in NY) and he nearly fell out of his seat. He didn't believe that we made that much. And then he told me as a 4th year Resident he was only making 35-40 thousand.

So if a resident ever gets an attitude with you, just remember that he's just miffed that he did the surgery and you're making more money :yeah:, at least for now

.

I never tire of reminding the occasional snarky resident that I make about 3x what they make, and that I do it with only an associates degree. I also like to remind them that unlike a resident, I have keys to the med room, access to PIXIS, and the Chief of Staff's personal cell number.

0 Votes

I agree that the data may be missing 1099 wages. However, these numbers would be higher on the average as locums make $95/hr to $105/hr or more. This is only a guide to give an idea of wages in each state with some data to back it up. My effort here is to demonstrate not just wages, but the effect of cost of living and taxes on the wages of CRNAs. As I am finishing CRNA school in December I wanted to know where the money is and how to keep more of what I earn. In my job search I can offset the cost of living and taxes by applying for jobs that have a higher base salary. I can also avoid places that far underpay their CRNAs based on the average in the state. At the end of the day it depends on how hard you are willing to work and where you are willing to live. Either way CRNAs have one of the highest job satisfaction ratings and that is worth so much more than money.

0 Votes

I agree that the data may be missing 1099 wages. However, these numbers would be higher on the average as locums make $95/hr to $105/hr or more. This is only a guide to give an idea of wages in each state with some data to back it up. My effort here is to demonstrate not just wages, but the effect of cost of living and taxes on the wages of CRNAs. As I am finishing CRNA school in December I wanted to know where the money is and how to keep more of what I earn. In my job search I can offset the cost of living and taxes by applying for jobs that have a higher base salary. I can also avoid places that far underpay their CRNAs based on the average in the state. At the end of the day it depends on how hard you are willing to work and where you are willing to live. Either way CRNAs have one of the highest job satisfaction ratings and that is worth so much more than money.

0 Votes

The same people fighting for the salary are the same people fighting for your work conditions. Job satisfaction can drop just as easy as pay. Support the PAC.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment