Nurse Anesthetists

SOC code 29-1151 · O*NET-SOC 29-1151.00 · Extensive preparation needed · Healthcare

Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation

Nurse Anesthetists pay

U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number

Median pay

$236,590

a year

Hourly

$113.75

per hour

10th$155,250Median$236,59090th$339,500

The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.

Average pay

$248,320

$119.38 per hour

Middle 50%

$206,730 – $294,350

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$155,250 – $339,500

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

51,840

nationwide

National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.

10th percentile: $155,250; $74.64/hr
25th percentile: $206,730; $99.39/hr
Median percentile: $236,590; $113.75/hr
75th percentile: $294,350; $141.51/hr
90th percentile: $339,500; $163.22/hr

What does a nurse anesthetist 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.

The tasks that matter most day to day

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.

How to become a nurse anesthetist

Most people in this role hold doctoral degree — 56% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.

Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed

Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

See all zone 5 occupations →

Education reported by people doing this job

Doctoral Degree56%
Master's Degree41%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.4%

Common questions

How much does a nurse anesthetist earn?

The national median is $236,590 a year. The full range runs from $155,250 at the 10th percentile to $339,500 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.

Can you become a nurse anesthetist without a degree?

Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Reading Comprehension4.1/5
Critical Thinking4.1/5
Active Listening4.0/5
Speaking4.0/5
Active Learning4.0/5
Monitoring4.0/5
Science3.9/5

Knowledge areas

Medicine and Dentistry4.8/5
Customer and Personal Service4.6/5
Biology4.6/5
Chemistry4.3/5
Mathematics4.3/5
Education and Training4.3/5
English Language4.2/5
Psychology4.0/5

Transferable strengths: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness.