Nurse anesthetists
SOC Code: 29-1151Also known as:
Anesthesia Physician, Certified Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Nurse Anesthetist, Staff Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Staff CRNA)
Median Annual Salary
$223,210
+8.6% growth (2024-2034)
3K
Openings/Year
54K
Current Jobs
What Nurse anesthetists Do
Administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
💰 Salary
$223,210
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+8.6%
Much faster than average
🎓 Education
Master's degree
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
3K
Projected average per year
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
53,800
Projected Employment (2034)
58,500
Related Careers
Physician assistants
$133,260 •
+20.4% growth
Registered nurses
$93,600 •
+4.9% growth
Nurse practitioners
$129,210 •
+40.1% growth
Anesthesiologists
N/A •
+3.2% growth
Top Skills Required
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Speaking
Active Learning
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- Manage patients' airway or pulmonary status, using techniques such as endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, pharmacological support, respiratory therapy, and extubation.
- Respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administering emergency fluids or drugs, or using basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques.
- Monitor patients' responses, including skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, ventilation, or urine output, using invasive and noninvasive techniques.
- Select, order, or administer anesthetics, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids or blood products as necessary.
- Select, prepare, or use equipment, monitors, supplies, or drugs for the administration of anesthetics.
- Assess patients' medical histories to predict anesthesia response.
- Perform or manage regional anesthetic techniques, such as local, spinal, epidural, caudal, nerve blocks and intravenous blocks.
- Develop anesthesia care plans.
- Obtain informed consent from patients for anesthesia procedures.
- Prepare prescribed solutions and administer local, intravenous, spinal, or other anesthetics, following specified methods and procedures.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
Master's degree
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
Doctoral Degree
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Nurse anesthetists
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a nurse anesthetists:
Nurse Anesthetist
1,960 degrees awarded •
73 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Nurse anesthetists
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become nurse anesthetists.
| # | College | Location | Related Degrees | Repit Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 27 | A |
| 2 | Duke University | Durham, NC | 21 | A |
| 3 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA | 15 | A |
| 4 | Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, TX | 85 | B+ |
| 5 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh, PA | 41 | B+ |
| 6 | Georgetown University | Washington, DC | 33 | B+ |
| 7 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | 31 | B+ |
| 8 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 28 | B+ |
| 9 | Northeastern University | Boston, MA | 27 | B+ |
| 10 | Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, NC | 21 | B+ |
| 11 | Baylor University | Waco, TX | 34 | B |
| 12 | University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS | 33 | B |
| 13 | Union University | Jackson, TN | 28 | B |
| 14 | University of Tulsa | Tulsa, OK | 28 | B |
| 15 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | Columbia, SC | 27 | B |
| 16 | Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 26 | B |
| 17 | Wayne State University | Detroit, MI | 24 | B |
| 18 | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL | 24 | B |
| 19 | University at Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | 21 | B |
| 20 | Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | 18 | B |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nurse anesthetists make?
The median annual salary for nurse anesthetists is $223,210.
What education do nurse anesthetists need?
Most nurse anesthetists positions require a master's degree.
Common degree programs include Nurse Anesthetist.
Is becoming nurse anesthetists a good career choice?
Nurse anesthetists is projected to see +8.6% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is faster than average for all occupations. With approximately 2,700 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for nurse anesthetists?
Top colleges for aspiring nurse anesthetists include
University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, Emory University, Texas Christian University, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to nurse anesthetists?
Nurse anesthetists may also be known as: Anesthesia Physician, Certified Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Nurse Anesthetist, Staff Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Staff CRNA), Staff Nurse Anesthetist.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.