Nurse Anesthetist Salary in Huntington Beach, CA: $282,481 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nurse anesthetist in Huntington Beach, CA earns a median $282,481/year (≈ $135.81/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1151). Once you factor in Huntington Beach's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $249,762 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.3% above the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In Huntington Beach, California, the projected median annual salary for nurse anesthetists in 2026 is positioned at $282,481, reflecting a growth trend compared to the national median of $248,893. Local compensation spans from $190,680 at the 10th percentile to $427,220 at the 90th percentile, delivering a robust income potential for professionals in this field. These figures are derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for California's regional price parities. The compensation structure can be influenced by whether nurse anesthetists choose to work in hospital systems with W-2 arrangements or in group practices utilizing a 1099 structure. This decision can significantly impact earnings and job stability and showcases the interplay of local practices and economic factors in Huntington Beach's job market.
About the Huntington Beach Market
Salary estimated from California average ($260,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $190,680 | $91.67 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $249,298 | $119.85 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $282,481 | $135.81 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $347,916 | $167.27 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $427,220 | $205.39 |
Median Salary Position
13.49% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Huntington Beach
In Huntington Beach, CA, the nurse anesthetist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $236,540 (2026 est.). At $282,481, the local median is 13.49% above the national median of $248,893.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Huntington Beach: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Huntington Beach Nurse Anesthetist Pay Compares
Huntington Beach median: $282,481/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Huntington Beach Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $281,636 | +0.30% more |
| National Average | $248,893 | +13.49% more |
Nurse Anesthetists in Huntington Beach, CA earn a median of $282,481 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.49% higher than the national median of $248,893 and 0.30% above the California state average of $281,636.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Huntington Beach has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Huntington Beach, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $282,481 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $249,762 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$198,378
2025 BLS Actual
$268,518
2026 Current Est.
$282,481
2019–2027 Growth
+49.8%
Salary Trajectory for Nurse Anesthetists in Huntington Beach (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $198,378 | Actual |
| 2020 | $208,354 | Actual |
| 2021 | $222,008 | Actual |
| 2022 | $230,497 | Actual |
| 2023 | $241,347 | Actual |
| 2024 | $295,088 | Actual |
| 2025 | $268,518 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $282,481 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $297,170 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Huntington Beach metropolitan area, the median nurse anesthetist salary grew 35.4% from $198,378 (2019) to $268,518 (2025). At a 5.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $297,170 by 2027 — a total increase of $98,792 (49.80%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Huntington Beach metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.20% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $190,680 – $249,298 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $249,298 – $282,481 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $282,481 – $347,916 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $347,916 – $427,220 |
CRNA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nurse anesthetist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nurse Anesthetist Job Market in Huntington Beach
The current job market in Huntington Beach supports around 50 employed nurse anesthetists, a factor that contributes to competitive compensation dynamics. Given that the cost-of-living index stands at 113.1, maintaining a high take-home salary becomes crucial for financial viability in the region. Major employers include local hospital systems, ambulatory surgery centers, and CRNA-owned anesthesia groups, often providing differing levels of compensation based on practice structure. Variations in pay can arise from nuances such as call coverage rotations, efficiency bonuses, and partnership track opportunities in group practices. To maximize earnings, nurse anesthetists in Huntington Beach should consider negotiating terms that reflect weekend and holiday differentials or exploring locum tenens opportunities, which often come with higher pay rates compared to traditional employment arrangements.
More salary data for Huntington Beach, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $268,518 for nurse anesthetistsin the Huntington Beach metropolitan area. A 5.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Huntington Beach is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.20%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nurse anesthetists (SOC 29-1151).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Johnson, MSN, CRNA, a licensed nurse anesthetist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov