Nurse Anesthetist Salary in Hickory, NC: $224,739 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nurse anesthetist in Hickory, NC earns a median $224,739/year (≈ $108.05/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1151). Once you factor in Hickory's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 88.5), that paycheck buys what $253,983 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.4% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the nurse anesthetist salary in Hickory, North Carolina, is projected to reach a median annual pay of $224,739. This figure falls nearly 10% below the national median salary of $248,893, highlighting the market’s nuanced position in relation to broader trends across the United States. The range of earnings for nurse anesthetists in this region varies significantly, with the lowest 10% making approximately $75,534 and the highest 10% earning up to $348,749. These statistics are derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, framing Hickory's compensation landscape against both the federal opt-out and Anesthesia Care Team (ACT) models, which affect practice autonomy and remuneration pathways.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $75,534 | $36.32 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $157,348 | $75.65 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $224,739 | $108.05 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $317,220 | $152.51 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $348,749 | $167.67 |
Median Salary Position
9.7% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Hickory
In Hickory, NC, the nurse anesthetist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $273,215 (2026 est.). At $224,739, the local median is 9.7% below the national median of $248,893.
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At 40 hours/week in Hickory: You'd be above the median
How Hickory Nurse Anesthetist Pay Compares
Hickory median: $224,739/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Hickory Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $232,649 | -3.40% less |
| National Average | $248,893 | -9.70% less |
Nurse Anesthetists in Hickory, NC earn a median of $224,739 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.70% lower than the national median of $248,893 and 3.40% below the North Carolina state average of $232,649.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Hickory has a cost of living 11.51% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Hickory, NC has a cost-of-living index of 88.486 (below the national average of 100). A nurse anesthetist earning $224,739 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $253,983 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.01% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$157,827
2025 BLS Actual
$213,630
2026 Current Est.
$224,739
2019–2027 Growth
+49.8%
Salary Trajectory for Nurse Anesthetists in Hickory (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $157,827 | Actual |
| 2020 | $165,764 | Actual |
| 2021 | $167,850 | Actual |
| 2022 | $213,190 | Actual |
| 2023 | $217,840 | Actual |
| 2024 | $226,460 | Actual |
| 2025 | $213,630 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $224,739 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $236,425 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Hickory metropolitan area, the median nurse anesthetist salary grew 35.4% from $157,827 (2019) to $213,630 (2025). At a 5.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $236,425 by 2027 — a total increase of $78,598 (49.80%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Hickory 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) | $75,534 – $157,348 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $157,348 – $224,739 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $224,739 – $317,220 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $317,220 – $348,749 |
CRNA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nurse anesthetist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nurse Anesthetist Job Market in Hickory
Examining the local job market, Hickory employs about 120 nurse anesthetists, reflecting sufficient demand in a city with a cost-of-living index of 88.486, indicating a below-average living expense. This lower cost enhances the take-home purchasing power of professionals in the area. Among the potential employers, hospital systems generally offer the most stable salaries and benefits, while CRNA-owned anesthesia groups may provide lucrative partnership track options. Variances in pay can stem from factors such as call coverage rotations, with differences in frequency affecting overall earnings. Additionally, weekend and holiday differentials, productivity bonuses, and the choice between 1099 and W-2 employment structures further influence financial outcomes in Hickory. In this context, maximizing pay can involve seeking positions that offer higher stipends for trauma centers or capitalizing on associative benefits from group practices, allowing for better financial positioning within the region.
More salary data for Hickory, 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 $213,630 for nurse anesthetistsin the Hickory 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, 5-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