Yes, another question about CRNA pay?

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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!:)

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

The average CRNA salary is somewhere between 150-170K a year. for full time, I think, is between 10-14K if you are paying for it yourself. I haven't had to buy my own malpractice insurance yet since I am covered under the military and my part-time job covers our malpractice insurance for us.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Like any job, including an RN, the pay of a CRNA varies based on where you are working. In areas where the cost of living is higher, the pay is hired as well. Likewise pay is usually higher in cities than rural areas. The salaries that you see online are probably before taxes are taken out. State and federal taxes can total 30-40% depending on the tax bracket. So if the actual salary is 105K, the salary before taxes is somewhere around 150K before mal-practice insurance.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Like any job, including an RN, the pay of a CRNA varies based on where you are working. In areas where the cost of living is higher, the pay is hired as well. Likewise pay is usually higher in cities than rural areas. The salaries that you see online are probably before taxes are taken out. State and federal taxes can total 30-40% depending on the tax bracket. So if the actual salary is 105K, the salary before taxes is somewhere around 150K before mal-practice insurance.

Actually, it is often just the opposite for CRNAs with salaries. Salaries are often higher in rural areas and lower in cities, and it has to do with supply demand. It is usually harder to get CRNAs to come to rural areas versus more "desirable" city locations. There are some good examples of this on gaswork.com

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Specializes in Transplant/Surgical ICU.

What wtbcrna said and to the OP you also have to factor in that some of the jobs on gaswork are 1099. Also, the fact that someone works with CRNAs does not always mean they know what they make.

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It all depends on where you work. I've heard 130 and i've heard over 200. I have never heard of any CRNA complain about malpractice costs. You should do it because its your passion, not necessarily the money!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Like anything else.....Location, location, location.......and no offense but.......In South Bend Indiana........ a take home of 105,000 dollars IS alot of money! Especially for that area. 105,000 dollars is alot of money take home for most areas. How much do you think you'd be making?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

That sounded snarky and I didn't mean it to be......but 105,000 take home IS alot of money.....I know a community CRNA in MA and her yearly is around 190,000. After taxes, insurance, and other expenditures take home is around 110,000 on a state where housing is EXPENSIVE! so it's still a good dollar.

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Specializes in Surgical ICU.

I'm not a CRNA so i can't help with your actual question, but i know for a fact that most people who work along side each other in differenent professions rarely know how much each other make. just recently me and one of my surgical attendings (we have 24 hour attending coverage on floor, always less than a hallway away) were talking about future plans and salary. 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.

And if you're worried about salary... just on a staff nursing salary I can afford a nice apartment and the payments on a brand new car, plus my other bills. I'm single. So as a CRNA, whatever the actual figure works out to be,.. I'm sure you'll be very comfortable.

Good luck!

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Specializes in SICU.

Just to second the location mantra, My sister works as a staff/charge nurse in Elkhart, IN (about 8 minutes from South Bend) in the ED. She's been there for like 10-12 years and I just found out she makes about 26.00 hourly. Sad news since you can start here in Michigan as a new grad on med/surg for more than that. It's all about where you are.

Not to meantion crna's can do hospital work or work for an anesthesia group for significantly varied income.

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That nurse does not know what she is taling about. Depending on the work setting CRNA's are starting around 120,000 - 130,000 and most places cover malpractice.

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.
That nurse does not know what she is taling about. Depending on the work setting CRNA's are starting around 120,000 - 130,000 and most places cover malpractice.

Have a reference to back that up?

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