Nurse Practitioner vs Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist salary in California
In California, certified registered nurse anesthetists earn more — an estimated $326,490 a year versus $182,570 for nurse practitioners, a gap of about $143,920 (roughly 79% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for California.
Nurse Practitioner — California
EstimatedMedian annual pay
$182,570
+38% vs nationalHourly
$87.77/hr
- Typical range
- $162,830–$216,250
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $240,700
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $139,850
- Newer nurses
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist — California
EstimatedMedian annual pay
$326,490
+38% vs nationalHourly
$156.97/hr
- Typical range
- $285,290–$406,200
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $468,510
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $214,240
- Newer nurses
Why the gap in California
Both are advanced-practice nurses with graduate degrees. CRNAs (nurse anesthetists) typically out-earn nurse practitioners, reflecting the doctoral anesthesia training, autonomy, and call coverage. The California figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for California's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Nurse Practitioner vs Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist comparison or personalize the calculator.
Nurse Practitioner vs Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in California — FAQ
- Do nurse practitioners or certified registered nurse anesthetists earn more in California?
- In California, certified registered nurse anesthetists earn more — an estimated $326,490 a year versus $182,570 for nurse practitioners, a gap of about $143,920 (roughly 79% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for California's local pay level.
- How much is the nurse practitioner vs certified registered nurse anesthetist pay gap in California?
- The estimated gap in California is about $143,920 a year, or roughly 79% more for certified registered nurse anesthetists. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
- Are these California figures exact?
- No — they're modeled estimates, not verified California wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for California's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
- 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.
Source & confidence— An estimate based on national nurse pay and local cost of living. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.
Modeled estimate (BLS national × state wage index)
California figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 1.38×).
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figures for California. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.