Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) salary in California
California nurse anesthetists earn a median of $292,410 a year ($140.58 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 24% above the national median of $236,590, and ranks 4th of 44 states.
Median, California
$292,410
Mean $283,780
Middle half earns
$277,920 to $315,990
US: $206,730 to $294,350
Employed in California
2,230
0.37x the national concentration
Where California sits in the range
California
Statewide
United States
National
Riverside
Metro area
Los Angeles
Metro area
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by percentile
Ten percent of California nurse anesthetists earned less than $200,530 and ten percent earned more than $335,550, a spread of $135,020. Where you land depends mostly on specialty, setting, experience and how the productivity pay is built, which is why two offers in the same city can be far apart.
| Percentile | California | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $200,530 | $155,250 | +29.2% |
| 25th | $277,920 | $206,730 | +34.4% |
| Median | $292,410 | $236,590 | +23.6% |
| 75th | $315,990 | $294,350 | +7.4% |
| 90th | $335,550 | $339,500 | -1.2% |
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by metro area
BLS published CRNA pay for 2 metro areas that include part of California. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA has the highest median at $298,910. Metro estimates rest on smaller samples than the statewide figure, so treat a low-precision row as a direction, not a number.
| Metro area | Employed | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CAmoderate precision | 140 | $298,910 | $268,960 to $298,910 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | not published | $282,930 | $278,660 to $288,880 |
How CRNA pay compares with other clinicians in California
| Occupation | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $292,410 | $236,590 |
| Physician assistant | $165,650 | $135,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $168,520 | $132,300 |
| Registered nurse | $140,270 | $97,550 |
The California CRNA workforce
BLS counts 2,230 nurse anesthetists on California payrolls, or 0.12 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, less concentrated than in the country as a whole.
Using these numbers when you negotiate
A state median is a reference point, not a target. If an offer comes in under $277,920, it sits in the bottom quarter of what California nurse anesthetists earn, and you should know why before you sign: a new-grad rate, a light schedule, or a base kept low because a productivity bonus is supposed to make up the difference. If it is above $315,990, ask what is expected in return, such as call, volume targets or a longer non-compete.
Compare the whole package, not the base: how the bonus is calculated, call pay, CME, PTO and who pays malpractice tail coverage. The negotiation guide and the contract checklist walk through each term.
Questions about CRNA pay in California
How much does a CRNA make in California?
The median annual wage for nurse anesthetists in California was $292,410 in May 2025, and the mean was $283,780, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $277,920 and $315,990.
What is the hourly rate for nurse anesthetists in California?
The median hourly wage was $140.58 and the mean was $136.43. BLS computes hourly figures from annual pay assuming a full-time year, so per-shift or per-diem rates can differ.
Where do CRNAs earn the most in California?
Among California metro areas with published data, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA had the highest median at $298,910, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA the lowest at $282,930.
How does California rank for CRNA pay?
California ranks 4th of 44 states (including DC) by median CRNA pay, 24% above the national median of $236,590. Pay is only half the picture: compare it with what housing and taxes cost where you would live.
How many nurse anesthetists work in California?
BLS estimated 2,230 nurse anesthetists employed in California in May 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (bls.gov/oes), SOC 29-1151, all industries and ownerships. NPI counts: NPPES monthly file, August 2026 (CMS, public domain). BLS wages are straight-time pay: they include production bonuses but leave out overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits, and they exclude the self-employed.
Have an offer on the table?
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