Nurse Anesthetists Salary
In North Carolina, nurse anesthetists earn $224,610 at the median, or about $107.99 an hour. The range runs from $117K at the entry level to $324K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $242,402 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 9.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $225K get you in North Carolina?
About nurse anesthetists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Nurse anesthetists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $225K locally vs. $237K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 9.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level nurse anesthetists (10th percentile) start around $117K. Mid-career wages sit at $225K. Top earners bring in $324K or more, a $206K spread from bottom to top.
Nurse Anesthetists salary by metro in North Carolina
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $332K | +48% | 90 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $298K | +32% | 100 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $278K | +24% | 910 |
| Asheville | $224K | -0% | 150 |
| Wilmington | $219K | -3% | 150 |
| Winston-Salem | $216K | -4% | 440 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $214K | -5% | 120 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $155K | -31% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track nurse anesthetists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nurse anesthetist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $225K, rent takes 9.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nurse anesthetists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nurse anesthetists typically earn — is $117K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,030/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 18% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nurse anesthetist a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $225K locally vs. $237K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for nurse anesthetists?
North Carolina pays $225K median vs. the U.S. average of $237K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $242K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nurse anesthetists make in North Carolina?
The median is $224,610 a year, that works out to about $108 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $117,170, and experienced nurse anesthetists can clear $323,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $225K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,997/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 9.9% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median nurse anesthetists salary is worth about $242,402 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.