Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Salary

St. Charles vs St. Louis: Nurse Anesthetist Salary (2026)

Compare nurse anesthetist salaries between St. Charles, MO and St. Louis, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

St. Charles, MO
$225,503
$108.42/hr
St. Louis, MO
$244,380
$117.49/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Charles, MOSt. Louis, MO
Median Salary$225,503$244,380
Hourly Rate$108.42$117.49
Entry Level (P10)$147,498$226,159
25th Percentile$194,997$226,169
75th Percentile$277,774$330,307
Top Earner (P90)$316,140$350,106
Total Employed16650
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Charles ($225,503) and St. Louis ($244,380) nurse anesthetist salaries.St. CharlesSt. LouisMedian Salary$225,503$244,380Entry Level (P10)$147,498$226,159Top Earner (P90)$316,140$350,106US Median $248,893

Verdict

St. Louis, MO offers better overall compensation for nurse anesthetists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to St. Charles.

The salary gap between St. Charles and St. Louis is $18,877 (8.37%). St. Louis's median is -1.81% compared to the US national median of $248,893.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in St. Charles spans $168,642,St. Louis spans $123,947. St. Charles has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

St. Charles
P10 (Entry)$147,498
P25$194,997
Median$225,503
P75$277,774
P90 (Top)$316,140
St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$226,159
P25$226,169
Median$244,380
P75$330,307
P90 (Top)$350,106

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Louis ($257,004 effective) pays 2.12% more than St. Charles ($251,677 effective).

St. Charles
Nominal: $225,503
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $251,677
St. Louis
Nominal: $244,380
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $257,004

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose St. Charles if…

  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Higher median salary ($244,380/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($350,106)
  • Larger job market (650 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $257,004)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, nurse anesthetist salaries in St. Charles grew 10.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 43.9% growth in St. Louis over the same period.

St. Charles, MO

+10.0%

$194,795 (2024) → $214,356 (2025)

St. Louis, MO

+43.9%

$161,410 (2019) → $232,300 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays nurse anesthetists more: St. Charles or St. Louis?

St. Louis has a higher median nurse anesthetist salary at $244,380/year, compared to St. Charles at $225,503/year — a difference of $18,877 (8.37%).

What is the hourly rate difference between St. Charles and St. Louis?

St. Charles nurse anesthetists earn $108.42/hr while St. Louis hygienists earn $117.49/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Charles to St. Louis as a nurse anesthetist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Charles and St. Louis. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Charles = $251,677, St. Louis = $257,004), job availability (16 vs 650 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level nurse anesthetists earn in St. Charles vs St. Louis?

Entry-level (10th percentile) nurse anesthetists earn $147,498 in St. Charles and $226,159 in St. Louis. The St. Louis area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

AJ

Written by Alexandra Johnson, MSN, CRNA

Career Analyst

Alexandra Johnson has 10 years of experience as a nurse anesthetist. She specializes in anesthesia for orthopedic surgeries. She works in a regional medical center.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Lee, DNP, CRNAData verified by Fatima Ahmad, MSN, CRNA

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 5.20% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Alexandra Johnson, MSN, CRNA, a licensed nurse anesthetist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov