Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) salary in North Carolina
North Carolina nurse anesthetists earn a median of $224,610 a year ($107.99 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 5% below the national median of $236,590, and ranks 31st of 44 states.
Median, North Carolina
$224,610
Mean $226,780
Middle half earns
$167,090 to $278,040
US: $206,730 to $294,350
Employed in North Carolina
3,340
2.03x the national concentration
Where North Carolina sits in the range
North Carolina
Statewide
United States
National
Charlotte
Metro area
Winston
Metro area
Asheville
Metro area
Wilmington
Metro area
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by percentile
Ten percent of North Carolina nurse anesthetists earned less than $117,170 and ten percent earned more than $323,640, a spread of $206,470. 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 | North Carolina | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $117,170 | $155,250 | -24.5% |
| 25th | $167,090 | $206,730 | -19.2% |
| Median | $224,610 | $236,590 | -5.1% |
| 75th | $278,040 | $294,350 | -5.5% |
| 90th | $323,640 | $339,500 | -4.7% |
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by metro area
BLS published CRNA pay for 9 metro areas that include part of North Carolina. Fayetteville, NC has the highest median at $331,760. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SCmoderate precision | 910 | $277,550 | $231,470 to $312,690 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 440 | $216,140 | $150,460 to $273,840 |
| Asheville, NCmoderate precision | 150 | $223,630 | $124,100 to $223,630 |
| Wilmington, NCmoderate precision | 150 | $218,830 | $218,830 to $266,240 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 120 | $213,630 | $149,570 to $301,540 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NClow precision | 100 | $297,560 | $210,270 to $297,560 |
| Fayetteville, NCmoderate precision | 90 | $331,760 | $117,110 to $331,760 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | not published | $155,250 | $75,740 to $157,790 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | not published | $233,060 | $218,380 to $279,880 |
How CRNA pay compares with other clinicians in North Carolina
| Occupation | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $224,610 | $236,590 |
| Physician assistant | $129,360 | $135,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $128,990 | $132,300 |
| Registered nurse | $84,350 | $97,550 |
The North Carolina CRNA workforce
BLS counts 3,340 nurse anesthetists on North Carolina payrolls, or 0.68 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, more 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 $167,090, it sits in the bottom quarter of what North Carolina 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 $278,040, 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 North Carolina
How much does a CRNA make in North Carolina?
The median annual wage for nurse anesthetists in North Carolina was $224,610 in May 2025, and the mean was $226,780, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $167,090 and $278,040.
What is the hourly rate for nurse anesthetists in North Carolina?
The median hourly wage was $107.99 and the mean was $109.03. 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 North Carolina?
Among North Carolina metro areas with published data, Fayetteville, NC had the highest median at $331,760, and Raleigh-Cary, NC the lowest at $155,250.
How does North Carolina rank for CRNA pay?
North Carolina ranks 31st of 44 states (including DC) by median CRNA pay, 5% below 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 North Carolina?
BLS estimated 3,340 nurse anesthetists employed in North Carolina 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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