Nurse Anesthetist Salary in Charlotte, NC: $291,983 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nurse anesthetist in Charlotte, NC earns a median $291,983/year (≈ $140.38/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1151). Once you factor in Charlotte's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.3), that paycheck buys what $299,937 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 25.5% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, nurse anesthetists in Charlotte, North Carolina, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $291,983, which is significantly higher than the national median of $248,893, reflecting a 17.31% wage premium for local practitioners. The salary range for CRNAs in this area spans from $234,081 at the 10th percentile to $351,557 at the 90th percentile, highlighting a diverse pay structure influenced by the choice between W-2 hospital employment and 1099 group practice. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, these figures shape the compensation landscape for nurse anesthetists in Charlotte, where factors such as employer structure and local healthcare demands play a vital role in determining effective earning potential.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $234,081 | $112.54 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $243,506 | $117.08 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $291,983 | $140.38 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $328,950 | $158.15 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $351,557 | $169.01 |
Median Salary Position
17.31% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Charlotte
In Charlotte, NC, the nurse anesthetist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $117,476 (2026 est.). At $291,983, the local median is 17.31% above the national median of $248,893.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Charlotte: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Charlotte Nurse Anesthetist Pay Compares
Charlotte median: $291,983/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Charlotte Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $232,655 | +25.50% more |
| National Average | $248,893 | +17.31% more |
Nurse Anesthetists in Charlotte, NC earn a median of $291,983 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.31% higher than the national median of $248,893 and 25.50% above the North Carolina state average of $232,655.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Charlotte has a cost of living 2.65% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Charlotte, NC has a cost-of-living index of 97.348 (below the national average of 100). A nurse anesthetist earning $291,983 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $299,937 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.72% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$193,950
2025 BLS Actual
$277,550
2026 Current Est.
$291,983
2019–2027 Growth
+58.4%
Salary Trajectory for Nurse Anesthetists in Charlotte (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $193,950 | Actual |
| 2020 | $204,030 | Actual |
| 2021 | $229,475 | Actual |
| 2022 | $215,930 | Actual |
| 2023 | $231,680 | Actual |
| 2024 | $238,780 | Actual |
| 2025 | $277,550 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $291,983 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $307,166 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Charlotte metropolitan area, the median nurse anesthetist salary grew 43.1% from $193,950 (2019) to $277,550 (2025). At a 5.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $307,166 by 2027 — a total increase of $113,216 (58.37%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Charlotte 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) | $234,081 – $243,506 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $243,506 – $291,983 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $291,983 – $328,950 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $328,950 – $351,557 |
CRNA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nurse anesthetist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nurse Anesthetist Job Market in Charlotte
With approximately 910 nurse anesthetists employed in the Charlotte area, the job market remains robust, providing a steady demand for CRNAs in various settings, including hospital systems and anesthesia group practices. The cost of living index in Charlotte is 97.348, which is slightly below the national average, positively impacting the purchasing power of nurse anesthetists' salaries. Among local employers, hospital systems typically offer competitive pay for W-2 employed CRNAs, while CRNA-owned practices may provide lucrative opportunities for partnership. The differences in compensation stem from various factors, such as call coverage rotations, trauma center stipends, and the structuring of 1099 versus W-2 employment. To maximize earnings in the Charlotte market, practitioners should explore opportunities that provide weekend and holiday differentials, as well as consider engaging in high-demand specialties such as pain management or trauma anesthesia.
More salary data for Charlotte, NC:
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 $277,550 for nurse anesthetistsin the Charlotte 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
Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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