Nurse Anesthetists Salary
In California, nurse anesthetists earn $292,410 at the median, or about $140.58 an hour. The range runs from $201K at the entry level to $336K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $275,495 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 15.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $292K get you in California?
About nurse anesthetists
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for nurse anesthetists, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $237K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,471/month, 15.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, California offers a genuinely strong financial position for nurse anesthetistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level nurse anesthetists (10th percentile) start around $201K. Mid-career wages sit at $292K. Top earners bring in $336K or more, a $135K spread from bottom to top.
Nurse Anesthetists salary by metro in California
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $299K | +2% | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $283K | -3% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track nurse anesthetists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nurse anesthetist afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $292K, rent takes 15.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nurse anesthetists in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nurse anesthetists typically earn — is $201K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $12,032/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nurse anesthetist a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $292K here vs. $237K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for nurse anesthetists?
California pays $292K median vs. the U.S. average of $237K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $275K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nurse anesthetists make in California?
The median is $292,410 a year, that works out to about $141 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $200,530, and experienced nurse anesthetists can clear $335,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $292K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $15,537/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 15.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nurse anesthetists salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median nurse anesthetists salary is worth about $275,495 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nurse anesthetists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
