Are you interested in becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist or CRNA? You’ll want to learn more about what can impact your salary and benefits. That way, you can receive the compensation you deserve for your education and training.
CRNAs play a crucial role in healthcare, but a few factors can still affect their salaries. These include location, experience, and the practice that they work at. So, make sure you keep reading to learn more about all of these factors.
1. Location of the CRNA
First, the state and city where the CRNA works can drastically impact their salary and benefits. This factor is common among most jobs, so you’ll want to look up the average CRNA salary in your area to know what to expect.
For example, a CRNA in New Jersey earns about $284,772 yearly. However, West Virginia pays significantly less on average at $187,578 annually. That’s nearly a $100,000 difference! That makes it crucial to research the CRNA salaries where you live. You may want to relocate for the opportunity to earn more.
Supply and demand for CRNAs in the area can also impact your salary and benefits. For instance, if you’re researching places with too few CRNAs, you’ll likely receive a higher wage, which happens when the practice wants to retain you for a very long time.
That also makes the inverse true. If you’re living somewhere with many CRNAs, you’ll likely receive a smaller salary.
2. Experience of the CRNA
The experience of the CRNA can also significantly impact their benefits and earnings. Those with more years’ worth of expertise receive higher salaries. A new graduate wouldn’t make as much as someone with ten years of anesthesia experience.
That makes sense; the more experience you have, the more money you can make. You’ll want to look into salaries corresponding to your experience level to better understand your earnings.
Entry-level CRNAs tend to make $100,000 less than those working in the field for more than eight years when they become seniors.
So, if you want to make as much money as possible, you’ll have to stick it out for some time. However, earning $100,000 a year more is worth it. You’ll have a much better quality of life and can easily save up for all your goals.
3. The Practice Where the CRNA Works
Next, the practice where the CRNA works can impact their compensation. For example, those working in outpatient care centers make more than those working in physician offices. You’ll want to research your area’s possible workplace settings and compare each’s salaries.
There are so many different places where a CRNA can work. Essentially, anywhere that could perform surgery or similar procedures on a patient requires CRNAs to administer anesthesia.
Many CRNAs work in hospital settings, especially those with operating rooms. Specialty clinics, private practices, and government agencies are also possibilities.
You’ll also need to consider whether you’ll work in an urban or rural environment. Those in urban areas typically make more money to meet the higher cost of living. However, working in a rural setting can be just as rewarding since you’ll get to serve an area that needs you the most.
Finally, you’ll want to determine if the practice is unionized. Unionized settings pay more to their CRNAs while offering them plenty more benefits. The union will ensure that you’re paid fairly and receive good compensation.
4. The CRNA’s Certifications
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Suppose you have more certifications as a CRNA. You’ll make more money in that case because the additional training is very valuable. You may receive bonuses or salary raises for gaining more certifications as well.
There are several certifications to look into, so find the ones that will support you most on your career journey. These certifications show that you’re continuing your CRNA education, making your skills more valuable to medical practices.
You’ll make more money with more certifications than those with less.
5. The CRNA’s Negotiation Abilities
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It’s also worth noting that CRNAs can make different amounts of money depending on how they present themselves during the interview process. Then, after being with a practice for a while, the CRNA might be able to ask for a raise and receive it.
If you want to negotiate higher pay and more benefits, there are a few tactics that you can use. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you should try:
- Be informed of salary trends in the industry.
- Explain your qualifications and experience and why you deserve to make more money.
- Get the changes to compensation in writing.
Negotiating successfully requires you to remain honest while informing the hiring team of your abilities.
6. The CRNA’s Specialties
Some CRNAs choose to go into specialties. For example, they can choose to work in pediatrics or obstetrics. Dental anesthesia is another common specialty that CRNAs might work in. Specialization allows CRNAs to negotiate higher salaries because they have more in-demand knowledge and experience in a specific field.
The highest-paying CRNA specialty would have to be outpatient care centers.
CRNA Benefits To Consider
You’ll want to be aware of several benefits when hunting for a career in the CRNA field. If you don’t know about all of them, you could easily overlook them when filling out applications. Here’s a quick list to review:
- Dental, medical, and vision coverage
- Retirement plans
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Financial support for continuing education
- Certification expenses reimbursement
- Relocation assistance for when you need to move for the job
- Life and malpractice (or liability) insurance
- Gym memberships
- Child Care Assistance
- Transportation assistance
The above list will help you determine ways to get a higher salary with more benefits. You’ll want to keep these benefits in mind to get the most out of your job. You’ll feel much less stressed with the more benefits you receive, allowing you to focus more energy on your work and training.
Several Factors Impact CRNA Salary and Benefits
In short, many factors will impact your CRNA salary and benefits, including the location, experience, and more. You’ll want to consider all these factors when choosing practices to apply to.
