Yes, another question about CRNA pay?

Nursing Students SRNA

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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!:)

Specializes in Anesthesia.

"What Employment Opportunities Exist for CRNAs?

CRNAs are in demand and therefore have many opportunities for general or specialty practice throughout the United States.

Reflecting the level of responsibility, CRNAs are one of the best paid nursing specialties. The reported average annual salary in 2005 was approximately $160,000."

http://www.aana.com/BecomingCRNA.aspx?id=110&terms=average+salary

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.

No one was talking about the starting pay but rather the average pay. Listen to those like the ones with CRNA behind their names. That "nurse" might know something a little more than a pre-srna.

Specializes in Anesthesia.

Pay definately varies with location like with anything else, so do benefit packages. I work in a relatively rural hospital as a CRNA, my net income for the year is already over $100,000 and the group I work for pays my malpractice/healthcare insurance, I'm a W2 employee through a private anesthesia group that has a contract with the hospital in which I practice. In our group we have contracted CRNA's that are self employeed but contract through the group I work for, they make more $$ gross but are responsible for their own malpractice and healthcare insurance.

A few months ago, gaswork had a listing for Minnesota that would pay to relocate, paid malpractice and healthcare and was starting at $250,000....2 year contract.

The overall consensus is the same isn't it? It depends where you live and for whom you work. One thing to take into consideration is whether or not you will ever get a raise. Some starting pays sound impressive, but once you take into account the fact that there is no set raise schedule, it doesn't look so good a couple years in. Benefits such as medical care, educational opportunities, vacation, and retirement, as well as what your schedule will be, are also big factors in determining the "worth" of a job.

To the OP - if your focus on becoming a CRNA is money, you will have a hard time earning the respect of those of us who are in it for the love of the work itself. It doesn't matter how much money you make when those school loans come due, it hurts. Also, we all tend to spend what we earn - meaning: the more you make the more you spend.

Good luck on step ONE, which is to become an RN. Focus on that and really think about whether you like the work itself.

Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

The national average, PER THE AANA is 180k.

Malpractice runs about 5k/year if you pay your own.

I've not made less then 200k since 1999

Specializes in Anesthesia.
The national average, PER THE AANA is 180k.

Malpractice runs about 5k/year if you pay your own.

I've not made less then 200k since 1999

How much is the coverage for 5k? Is that for the 250/750k, if not then I got screwed on my quote.?

Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

That is for 1m/3m

Specializes in Anesthesia.
That is for 1m/3m

Ouch, do you mind telling me which company?

Thanks

Working in a salried position with the occasional overtime shift paid on an hourly basis, it is quite easy to make 180K gross...and , unless you are a contract worker paid on a 1099 you wont be paying your own ... even then it is uncommon.

If you are sole provider in a hospital with a contract for anesthesia services... and you bill for services, expect to make north of 200K.. at which point the 12 to 14K becomes less of a problem....BUT in that situation you pay quarterly income, SS ANd payroll taxes.

That being said.. the job is rewarding enough I would actually do it for what I was paid as an ICU nurse.

Pay definately varies with location like with anything else, so do benefit packages. I work in a relatively rural hospital as a CRNA, my net income for the year is already over $100,000 and the group I work for pays my malpractice/healthcare insurance, I'm a W2 employee through a private anesthesia group that has a contract with the hospital in which I practice. In our group we have contracted CRNA's that are self employeed but contract through the group I work for, they make more $$ gross but are responsible for their own malpractice and healthcare insurance.

A few months ago, gaswork had a listing for Minnesota that would pay to relocate, paid malpractice and healthcare and was starting at $250,000....2 year contract.

I read in a forum post that you graduated from barry and attended their ocala/gainesville site. can you provide some insight on your experience. if you had to do it again which site would you choose? i tied to pm you but there was an error. thanks!

Off topic but I work in California and I have been a nurse for 10 years and i made 184000(yes you heard that right!) last year working 4 twelves a week. Nurses in the rest of the country get ripped off! You guys need to do something about your wages!

Specializes in Anesthesia.
Off topic but I work in California and I have been a nurse for 10 years and i made 184000(yes you heard that right!) last year working 4 twelves a week. Nurses in the rest of the country get ripped off! You guys need to do something about your wages!

IMO...You guys in California need to get a lower cost of living. You should also realize salaries like that are one of the reasons that healthcare costs are now at unsustainable levels.

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