## How We Ranked States
We evaluated all 50 states based on four key factors:
- Average CRNA Salary (40% weight)
- Cost of Living Adjusted Salary (25% weight)
- Scope of Practice Laws (20% weight)
- Job Availability (15% weight)
Top 10 Best States for CRNAs
1. Texas 🥇
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary | $225,000 |
| COL | Low |
| Practice | Full Authority (coming 2026) |
| Jobs | Excellent |
Why Texas Wins: High salaries, no state income tax, low cost of living, and rapidly expanding healthcare markets in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.
2. North Carolina 🥈
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary | $210,000 |
| COL | Low-Medium |
| Practice | Collaborative |
| Jobs | Excellent |
Highlights: Growing healthcare sector, particularly in Charlotte and Raleigh. Affordable housing and high quality of life.
3. Florida 🥉
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary | $218,000 |
| COL | Medium |
| Practice | Supervised |
| Jobs | Excellent |
Highlights: No state income tax, year-round warm weather, massive healthcare market with aging population driving demand.
4. Tennessee
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary | $205,000 |
| COL | Low |
| Practice | Supervised |
| Jobs | Very Good |
Highlights: Nashville's healthcare industry is booming. No state income tax and affordable living.
5. Georgia
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary | $212,000 |
| COL | Low-Medium |
| Practice | Supervised |
| Jobs | Very Good |
Highlights: Atlanta metro has excellent opportunities. Lower cost of living than comparable metros.
6. Washington
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary | $245,000 |
| COL | High |
| Practice | Full Authority |
| Jobs | Good |
Highlights: Full practice authority, no state income tax, but high cost of living in Seattle area.
7. Arizona
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary | $208,000 |
| COL | Medium |
| Practice | Full Authority |
| Jobs | Good |
Highlights: Full practice authority, growing healthcare market in Phoenix and Tucson, reasonable cost of living.
8. Colorado
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary | $220,000 |
| COL | Medium-High |
| Practice | Full Authority |
| Jobs | Good |
Highlights: Full practice authority, excellent quality of life, outdoor recreation access.
9. Minnesota
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary | $215,000 |
| COL | Medium |
| Practice | Full Authority |
| Jobs | Good |
Highlights: Full practice authority, strong healthcare system (Mayo Clinic region), good work-life balance.
10. Oregon
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary | $238,000 |
| COL | Medium-High |
| Practice | Full Authority |
| Jobs | Good |
Highlights: High salaries, full practice authority, great quality of life outside Portland.
States with Full Practice Authority
These states allow CRNAs to practice independently without physician supervision:
Full Practice Authority States: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
States to Watch
These states are considering or moving toward expanded CRNA practice authority:
- Texas — Full practice authority expected 2026
- Pennsylvania — Scope expansion discussions ongoing
- California — Limited expansion under consideration
Conclusion
The best state for you depends on your priorities. If maximizing take-home pay is the goal, consider Texas, Tennessee, or Florida (no state income tax). If autonomous practice matters most, look at full practice authority states. And if quality of life is paramount, Colorado, Oregon, and Minnesota rank highly.
Rankings updated January 2025. Data from BLS, AANA, and Anesearch research.