Nurse Anesthetist Salary in Pittsburgh, PA: $235,196 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nurse anesthetist in Pittsburgh, PA earns a median $235,196/year (≈ $113.08/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1151). Once you factor in Pittsburgh's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 94.7), that paycheck buys what $248,435 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.5% above the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source

The projected 2026 nurse anesthetist salary in Pittsburgh stands at $235,196, reflecting a competitive pay scale compared to the national median of $248,893. Local salaries range from $203,267 at the 10th percentile to $281,873 at the 90th percentile, illustrating a significant disparity influenced by factors such as call coverage and operational demands. This data derives from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, offering a glimpse into the economic landscape for nurse anesthetists in Pittsburgh. With the healthcare sector's continual growth in the area, CRNAs can expect various opportunities alongside varying pay structures.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $203,267 | $97.73 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $205,708 | $98.90 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $235,196 | $113.08 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $241,644 | $116.17 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $281,873 | $135.52 |
Median Salary Position
5.5% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Pittsburgh
In Pittsburgh, PA, the nurse anesthetist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $78,606 (2026 est.). At $235,196, the local median is 5.5% below the national median of $248,893.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Pittsburgh: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Pittsburgh Nurse Anesthetist Pay Compares
Pittsburgh median: $235,196/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Pittsburgh Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $227,242 | +3.50% more |
| National Average | $248,893 | -5.50% less |
Nurse Anesthetists in Pittsburgh, PA earn a median of $235,196 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.50% lower than the national median of $248,893 and 3.50% above the Pennsylvania state average of $227,242.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Pittsburgh has a cost of living 5.33% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Pittsburgh, PA has a cost-of-living index of 94.671 (below the national average of 100). A nurse anesthetist earning $235,196 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $248,435 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.63% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$170,320
2025 BLS Actual
$223,570
2026 Current Est.
$235,196
2019–2027 Growth
+45.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nurse Anesthetists in Pittsburgh (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $170,320 | Actual |
| 2020 | $184,080 | Actual |
| 2021 | $184,845 | Actual |
| 2022 | $189,700 | Actual |
| 2023 | $182,210 | Actual |
| 2024 | $207,380 | Actual |
| 2025 | $223,570 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $235,196 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $247,426 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, the median nurse anesthetist salary grew 31.3% from $170,320 (2019) to $223,570 (2025). At a 5.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $247,426 by 2027 — a total increase of $77,106 (45.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Pittsburgh 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) | $203,267 – $205,708 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $205,708 – $235,196 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $235,196 – $241,644 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $241,644 – $281,873 |
CRNA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nurse anesthetist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nurse Anesthetist Job Market in Pittsburgh
The job market for nurse anesthetists in Pittsburgh consists of around 500 positions, providing a solid foundation for professionals in this field. The local cost of living, indexed at 94.671, suggests that practitioners in this area enjoy a relatively affordable lifestyle compared to the national average, enhancing their take-home purchasing power. Major employers, such as local hospital systems and ambulatory surgery centers, typically offer the highest salaries, but opportunities also exist with CRNA-owned anesthesia groups and locum tenens agencies. Pay disparities often arise from differences in call coverages—such as varying rotations between 1-in-8 and 1-in-5—as well as differing compensation models that include weekend differentials, trauma stipends, and production bonuses. For maximizing earnings in this market, seeking out partnership tracks within CRNA-owned practices may present the most lucrative options for long-term financial growth, especially in an environment where independent practice continues to expand.
More salary data for Pittsburgh, PA:
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 $223,570 for nurse anesthetistsin the Pittsburgh 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