Nurse Anesthetist Salary in Starkville, MS: $207,424 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nurse anesthetist in Starkville, MS earns a median $207,424/year (≈ $99.72/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1151). Once you factor in Starkville's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.7), that paycheck buys what $242,035 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.8% below the Mississippi state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In Starkville, Mississippi, the effective compensation for nurse anesthetists is significantly influenced by their employment structure, typically either as W-2 hospital employees or 1099 contractors in group practices. The projected median annual salary of $207,424 for 2026 reflects the complexities of this dichotomy. Nurse anesthetists here can expect to see a salary range from $133,191 to $281,813, highlighting the variance based on factors such as the type of practice, clinical demand, and individual negotiation skills. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price influences, reveal a competitive positioning that, while lower than the national median of $248,893, still presents a substantial income potential for practitioners in the area. Given that 5 nurse anesthetists are employed locally, Starkville's job market appears stable yet selective.
About the Starkville Market
Salary estimated from Mississippi average ($205,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $133,191 | $64.04 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $189,981 | $91.33 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $207,424 | $99.72 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $251,329 | $120.83 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $281,813 | $135.49 |
Median Salary Position
16.66% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Starkville
In Starkville, MS, the nurse anesthetist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $148,622 (2026 est.). At $207,424, the local median is 16.66% below the national median of $248,893.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Starkville: You'd be above the median
How Starkville Nurse Anesthetist Pay Compares
Starkville median: $207,424/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Starkville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Average | $213,399 | -2.80% less |
| National Average | $248,893 | -16.66% less |
Nurse Anesthetists in Starkville, MS earn a median of $207,424 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.66% lower than the national median of $248,893 and 2.80% below the Mississippi state average of $213,399.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Starkville has a cost of living 14.30% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Starkville, MS has a cost-of-living index of 85.7 (below the national average of 100). A nurse anesthetist earning $207,424 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $242,035 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.69% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$145,668
2025 BLS Actual
$197,171
2026 Current Est.
$207,424
2019–2027 Growth
+49.8%
Salary Trajectory for Nurse Anesthetists in Starkville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $145,668 | Actual |
| 2020 | $152,993 | Actual |
| 2021 | $163,019 | Actual |
| 2022 | $169,253 | Actual |
| 2023 | $177,220 | Actual |
| 2024 | $170,844 | Actual |
| 2025 | $197,171 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $207,424 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $218,210 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Starkville metropolitan area, the median nurse anesthetist salary grew 35.4% from $145,668 (2019) to $197,171 (2025). At a 5.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $218,210 by 2027 — a total increase of $72,542 (49.80%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Starkville 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) | $133,191 – $189,981 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $189,981 – $207,424 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $207,424 – $251,329 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $251,329 – $281,813 |
CRNA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nurse anesthetist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nurse Anesthetist Job Market in Starkville
In assessing the job market for nurse anesthetists in Starkville, the cost of living index of 85.7 plays a critical role in shaping take-home pay and purchasing power. While salaries may trail behind the national average, the relatively lower living expenses offer a compensatory advantage for healthcare professionals. Local employers such as hospital systems and ambulatory surgery centers typically provide the most competitive compensation packages, particularly for those who take on additional responsibilities like call coverage or work in high-demand settings. The variation in pay also encompasses differences in workload, such as call rotation schedules and productivity incentives. Those seeking to elevate their earnings in Starkville should consider engaging in partnerships at anesthesia group practices or exploring locum tenens opportunities, maximizing both their income potential and professional flexibility in this evolving market.
More salary data for Starkville, MS:
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 $197,171 for nurse anesthetistsin the Starkville 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 Starkville 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