Locum CRNA Pay Rates:
What Your Facility
Should Be Paying
A data-driven breakdown of locum CRNA direct pay rates across four care settings and six U.S. regions — so your facility can evaluate proposals accurately and budget with confidence.
The market has shifted — your budget assumptions may not have.
Anesthesia coverage gaps are one of the most operationally disruptive challenges facing healthcare facilities today. By 2033, the United States is projected to face a shortage of approximately 12,500 anesthesia providers — nearly 22% of the current workforce — forcing facilities of every type to rely on locum CRNAs to maintain OR throughput and prevent surgical cancellations.
For facility leaders, this means the budget assumptions used two or three years ago are no longer reliable benchmarks for contract negotiations or workforce planning. Understanding what locum CRNAs are actually earning — not what agencies bill — is essential for evaluating staffing proposals and negotiating favorable contract terms.
Care Setting Rate Ranges
Direct pay benchmarks for ASCs, community hospitals, academic centers, and rural/critical access facilities.
6-Region Geographic Analysis
Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, South Central, Mountain West, and Pacific West rate breakdowns.
Rate Variation Factors
Call burden, subspecialty premiums, rural scarcity, and state income tax effects on effective compensation.
Bill Rate vs. Pay Rate
How to read agency invoices — and what questions to ask your staffing partner.
The Market Has Shifted — Your Budget Assumptions May Not Have
The cost of locum CRNA coverage has risen materially. SullivanCotter’s 2025 analysis shows median CRNA total cash compensation has increased 22.9% since 2022, significantly outpacing inflation. Demand is not uniform across care settings — each carries a distinct cost profile shaped by case acuity, call burden, provider scarcity, and facility type.
| Care Setting | Direct Pay Rate | Demand | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambulatory Surgery Centers | $210–$260/hr | High | No call; M–F schedule; lower acuity; 6,500+ centers nationwide |
| Community Hospitals | $225–$275/hr | Very High | Largest locum demand segment; broad case mix; moderate call burden |
| Academic Medical Centers | $220–$265/hr | Moderate–High | Complex subspecialty cases; resident support reduces urgency; structured hierarchy |
| Rural / Critical Access Hospitals | $240–$310/hr | Very High | Highest rates; 15–25% scarcity premium; independent practice required in opt-out states |
“The facilities that secure the best locum coverage are those that move quickly, offer transparent compensation structures, and work with partners who understand the CRNA market from the inside.”
The full report details direct pay rate ranges for all six U.S. regions — including a national summary comparison table — along with key drivers, regional nuances, and guidance on how to evaluate agency proposals against market benchmarks.
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Benchmark Report
Access all 9 pages — including the complete regional rate tables, bill rate vs. pay rate breakdown, and national summary comparison — delivered instantly to your inbox.
Why facility leaders work with AVEA CRNA.
Full Rate Transparency
We share both the bill rate and our margin. You always know exactly what the CRNA is earning and what you’re paying for the placement service.
CRNA-Led Recruiting
Your recruiter is an experienced CRNA. They know what qualified looks like in the OR — and can assess candidate fit in ways a non-clinical recruiter cannot.
~3 Weeks to Qualified Candidate
We work with a select number of facilities at a time. No assembly lines. Focused attention on your opening from kickoff to placement.
Locum + Permanent, Both Tracks
Cover your immediate gap with a locum while running a parallel permanent search — one partner, both needs, full continuity.
“What set them apart was that they actually understood what we needed clinically. They asked the right questions from the very first call.” — Sara Gabrick, CNO/COO, Winona Health
Get the Report. Then Let’s Talk.
Download the Benchmark Report above, then book a free 25-minute strategy call. We’ll tell you exactly how fast we can help and what to expect — no obligation.