ICU Nurse vs CRNA Salary
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists earn more — a national median of $236,590 vs $109,260, a gap of about $127,330 per year.
ICU Nurse
Specialty estimate$109,260 / yr median
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Verified public wage data$236,590 / yr median
Annual pay, side by side
- ICU NurseSpecialty estimate$109,260$52.53/hr
- Certified Registered Nurse AnesthetistVerified public wage data$236,590$113.75/hr
What the difference comes down to
Many CRNAs begin as ICU nurses, and the pay jump is dramatic: nurse anesthetists earn far more than critical-care staff nurses in exchange for a doctoral anesthesia program and full anesthesia scope. ICU experience is a common prerequisite for CRNA school, making this a well-worn career path. Scope of practice, required education, and autonomy are the biggest drivers of the gap. Use the calculator to personalize either path by your state, experience, and work setting.
ICU Nurse vs CRNA Salary by state
Estimated pay gap for this comparison in each state.
Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.
Modeled specialty estimate
ICU Nurse is not broken out by BLS. Figures are modeled from the SOC 29-1141 median using a specialty differential of 1.12×, reflecting commonly reported pay differences. Treat as directional, not precise.
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Last reviewed July 3, 2026.
ICU Nurse vs CRNA Salary FAQ
- Do ICU Nurses or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists earn more?
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists earn more, with a national median of about $236,590 a year vs $109,260 for ICU Nurses — a gap of roughly $127,330 per year.
- How big is the pay gap between ICU Nurses and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists?
- The difference is about $127,330 a year, or roughly 117% more for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. It varies by state, experience, setting, and shift — use the calculator to compare both for your own situation.
- Why do Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists earn more than ICU Nurses?
- Scope of practice, required education, and autonomy are the biggest drivers — Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists complete more training and take on more clinical responsibility, which is reflected in pay.
- Why are some figures verified and others estimates?
- National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.
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