Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Salary

St. Louis vs Lee's Summit: Nurse Anesthetist Salary (2026)

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

St. Louis, MO
$244,380
$117.49/hr
Lee's Summit, MO
$221,048
$106.27/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Louis, MOLee's Summit, MO
Median Salary$244,380$221,048
Hourly Rate$117.49$106.27
Entry Level (P10)$226,159$145,217
25th Percentile$226,169$191,888
75th Percentile$330,307$282,219
Top Earner (P90)$350,106$329,404
Total Employed65020
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Louis ($244,380) and Lee's Summit ($221,048) nurse anesthetist salaries.St. LouisLee's SummitMedian Salary$244,380$221,048Entry Level (P10)$226,159$145,217Top Earner (P90)$350,106$329,404US Median $248,893

Verdict

St. Louis, MO offers better overall compensation for nurse anesthetists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Lee's Summit.

The salary gap between St. Louis and Lee's Summit is $23,332 (10.56%). 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. Louis spans $123,947,Lee's Summit spans $184,187. Lee's Summit has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced nurse anesthetists.

St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$226,159
P25$226,169
Median$244,380
P75$330,307
P90 (Top)$350,106
Lee's Summit
P10 (Entry)$145,217
P25$191,888
Median$221,048
P75$282,219
P90 (Top)$329,404

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Louis ($257,004 effective) pays 4.17% more than Lee's Summit ($246,705 effective).

St. Louis
Nominal: $244,380
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $257,004
Lee's Summit
Nominal: $221,048
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $246,705

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

Which City Is Right for You?

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

Choose Lee's Summit if…

  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, nurse anesthetist salaries in St. Louis grew 43.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 10.0% growth in Lee's Summit over the same period.

St. Louis, MO

+43.9%

$161,410 (2019) → $232,300 (2025)

Lee's Summit, MO

+10.0%

$190,947 (2024) → $210,122 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays nurse anesthetists more: St. Louis or Lee's Summit?

St. Louis has a higher median nurse anesthetist salary at $244,380/year, compared to Lee's Summit at $221,048/year — a difference of $23,332 (10.56%).

What is the hourly rate difference between St. Louis and Lee's Summit?

St. Louis nurse anesthetists earn $117.49/hr while Lee's Summit hygienists earn $106.27/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Louis to Lee's Summit as a nurse anesthetist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Louis and Lee's Summit. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Louis = $257,004, Lee's Summit = $246,705), job availability (650 vs 20 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level nurse anesthetists earn in St. Louis vs Lee's Summit?

Entry-level (10th percentile) nurse anesthetists earn $226,159 in St. Louis and $145,217 in Lee's Summit. 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