Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) salary in South Carolina
South Carolina nurse anesthetists earn a median of $265,480 a year ($127.64 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 12% above the national median of $236,590, and ranks 16th of 44 states.
Median, South Carolina
$265,480
Mean $276,380
Middle half earns
$229,140 to $302,230
US: $206,730 to $294,350
Employed in South Carolina
1,010
1.31x the national concentration
Where South Carolina sits in the range
South Carolina
Statewide
United States
National
Charlotte
Metro area
Columbia
Metro area
Myrtle Beach
Metro area
Charleston
Metro area
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by percentile
Ten percent of South Carolina nurse anesthetists earned less than $210,100 and ten percent earned more than $401,600, a spread of $191,500. 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 | South Carolina | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $210,100 | $155,250 | +35.3% |
| 25th | $229,140 | $206,730 | +10.8% |
| Median | $265,480 | $236,590 | +12.2% |
| 75th | $302,230 | $294,350 | +2.7% |
| 90th | $401,600 | $339,500 | +18.3% |
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by metro area
BLS published CRNA pay for 6 metro areas that include part of South Carolina. Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC has the highest median at $279,570. 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 |
| Columbia, SClow precision | 210 | $271,350 | $224,320 to $287,680 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SClow precision | 40 | $279,570 | $262,650 to $323,640 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | not published | $228,740 | $223,940 to $288,390 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | not published | $229,740 | $229,140 to $288,460 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | not published | $211,310 | $211,310 to $276,240 |
How CRNA pay compares with other clinicians in South Carolina
| Occupation | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $265,480 | $236,590 |
| Physician assistant | $122,490 | $135,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $123,290 | $132,300 |
| Registered nurse | $82,360 | $97,550 |
The South Carolina CRNA workforce
BLS counts 1,010 nurse anesthetists on South Carolina payrolls, or 0.44 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 $229,140, it sits in the bottom quarter of what South 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 $302,230, 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 South Carolina
How much does a CRNA make in South Carolina?
The median annual wage for nurse anesthetists in South Carolina was $265,480 in May 2025, and the mean was $276,380, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $229,140 and $302,230.
What is the hourly rate for nurse anesthetists in South Carolina?
The median hourly wage was $127.64 and the mean was $132.87. 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 South Carolina?
Among South Carolina metro areas with published data, Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC had the highest median at $279,570, and Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC the lowest at $211,310.
How does South Carolina rank for CRNA pay?
South Carolina ranks 16th of 44 states (including DC) by median CRNA pay, 12% 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 South Carolina?
BLS estimated 1,010 nurse anesthetists employed in South 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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