How Much Do Locum CRNAs Make in 2026? Rates, States, and What to Expect

If you're a CRNA thinking about locum work — or already doing it and wondering if you're getting paid fairly — the short answer is that locum CRNAs are earning more in 2026 than they have in years. Demand is up, rates have climbed across the board, and there's no sign of it slowing down.

Here's what the market actually looks like right now, based on real assignments — not job board estimates:

A few things jump out. New York leads at $295/hr, which tracks — the Northeast consistently pays the highest locum CRNA rates because of cost of living and facility competition. Texas at $230/hr looks lower on paper, but there's no state income tax. A CRNA earning $230/hr in Houston takes home more than one earning $260/hr in California after state taxes eat into it.

Arizona's $265/hr includes call. That's a meaningful bump over straight-shift assignments — typically $30 to $50/hr more when call is involved.

The National Range

Across the country, locum CRNAs are pulling $200 to $325 per hour in 2026. Where you land depends on:

Where you work. Northeast and West Coast pay the highest raw rates. But no-income-tax states (Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, Tennessee) give you an effective raise that doesn't show up in the hourly number. Worth doing the math before chasing the highest rate on paper.

Whether you take call. Call adds $30-$50/hr on average. The Arizona assignment above is a clean example — $265 with call vs $230 straight in Texas.

Shift structure. Facilities offering 4x10s or 3x12s tend to pay slightly higher hourly because the schedule is more attractive. Five-day weeks at 8 hours are the most common but sit on the lower end of the pay scale.

Rural vs metro. Smaller hospitals and critical access facilities pay more because they can't attract permanent hires. If you're willing to work in a town most people haven't heard of, you can often add $20-$40/hr over the same assignment in a major city.

Assignment length. Short coverage (2-4 weeks) pays more per hour than longer contracts (3-6 months). Facilities pay a premium when they need someone fast.

What's Included Beyond the Hourly Rate

Most locum CRNA packages cover more than just the hourly pay. A solid agency includes:

• Malpractice insurance — $1M/$3M occurrence-based, carried by the agency
• Flights or mileage — to and from the assignment
• Housing — furnished housing or a stipend near the facility
• Rental car — if needed for the location
• Licensing and <a href="/blog/credentialing-101">credentialing</a> — state license fees and paperwork handled

When you add it up, the total package is usually worth $15,000 to $30,000 more per assignment than the hourly rate alone.

Some agencies do all-inclusive billing — one rate that covers everything including travel, call, and housing. No surprise invoices, no chasing down reimbursements. That's the cleanest model for both you and the facility.

Locum CRNA Pay vs Permanent

A permanently employed CRNA earns a national average of roughly $210,000 to $230,000 per year. A locum CRNA working full-time at $250/hr pulls approximately $520,000 annualized — more than double.

Most locum CRNAs don't work 52 weeks though. That's the whole point. Pick your weeks, take time off when you want. Working 30 weeks at $250/hr still puts you around $300,000 — well above the permanent average with a lot more flexibility.

The Tax Side

Locum CRNAs work as 1099 independent contractors. The agency pays your full hourly rate, and you're responsible for setting aside money for taxes. Here's what that looks like:

Set aside 28% to 35% of gross income. The exact amount depends on your state tax situation, filing status, and deductions. When in doubt, set aside more.

Track every unreimbursed expense. Travel, housing, licensing fees, CME courses, professional dues — these are all deductible. At locum CRNA income levels, deductions can easily add up to $15,000 to $30,000 per year.

Consider S-Corp election above $200K net income. The S-Corp structure can save $2,000 to $6,000 per year in self-employment tax at that income level. It's not the magic bullet some accountants pitch, but the savings are real.

File in every state where you worked. You need a nonresident return in every state where you earned income. The good news: states with no income tax (Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, Tennessee) mean no return needed for those assignments.

For a complete breakdown breakdown how all of that works in our <a href="/blog/locum-tenens-tax-guide">Locum Tenens Tax Guide</a>. There's also a <a href="/tools/locum-tax-calculator">free tax calculator</a> if you want to plug in your actual numbers.

Travel Perks and Rewards — Make the Lifestyle Work for You

One of the underrated benefits of locum work is that all the travel you're doing anyway can stack up into serious rewards. Here's how to set yourself up:

Hotel Rewards — Pick One and Stay Loyal

If your agency books your hotel, always give them your loyalty number. You should still earn points even when someone else is paying.

• Marriott Bonvoy — Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites are built for extended stays (kitchenette, weekly housekeeping). Largest global portfolio.
• Hilton Honors — Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites are the extended-stay options. Strong points earning.
• Wyndham Rewards — Best coverage in small-town America where a lot of locum assignments actually are. They also offer a 15-22% healthcare worker discount at participating locations.

For assignments over 30 days, look into Engine (engine.com) — a hotel booking platform with negotiated rates specifically for healthcare travelers. Often cheaper than booking direct.

Rental Car — Skip the Counter

• National Emerald Club (free to join) — Walk straight to the Emerald Aisle and pick any car. No counter, no upsell, no waiting. Best program for frequent renters.
• Healthcare worker discounts are available from Budget (up to 50% off), Avis (up to 40%), and National/Alamo (25%). Check carrentalsavers.com/nurses for current codes.

Housing — For Longer Assignments

• Furnished Finder (furnishedfinder.com) — The go-to for healthcare travelers. 30+ day furnished rentals, no service fees, landlords who understand short-term medical leases. Better than Airbnb for stays over a month.
• For assignments under 30 days, extended-stay hotels with your loyalty program are usually the move.
• If your agency offers housing, take it — but always ask for the stipend option and compare. Sometimes you come out ahead finding your own place.

Credit Cards — Turn Business Expenses Into Free Travel

You're running $30-50K in deductible business expenses through a card every year — licensing, CME, flights, professional dues. Use a card that rewards you for it.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/yr) — 3x on dining and travel, primary rental car insurance (saves you $15-20/day), Priority Pass lounge access
• Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95/yr) — Best entry point if you don't want a high annual fee. 60,000 point sign-up bonus worth $750+ in travel.
• Amex Platinum ($695/yr) — Auto Hertz Gold status, Marriott/Hilton Gold status, Centurion lounges. Best if you fly to every assignment.

Always give your frequent flyer number to your agency when they book flights. Those miles are yours.

Apps Worth Having

• Everlance or MileIQ — GPS mileage tracking for tax deductions. Runs in the background, auto-logs every drive. IRS-compliant.
• Expensify — Snap receipt photos, auto-categorize expenses, export for your CPA at tax time.
• Furnished Finder app — Mobile search for your next assignment housing.

What's Driving CRNA Locum Demand

The demand isn't slowing down. Here's what's pushing it:

• Anesthesiologist shortages — hospitals leaning harder on CRNAs for surgical coverage, especially in the Midwest and Southeast
• Rural hospital gaps — facilities can't attract permanent hires, so locums fill the gap
• Surgical volume recovery — elective procedures that stacked up continue to drive anesthesia demand
• Burnout and turnover — permanent CRNAs leaving creates coverage gaps that locums fill

The Midwest (Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota) and Southeast (Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi) have the most open CRNA assignments right now. The West (Montana, Wyoming, Alaska) pays premium rates but has fewer total openings.

How to Get Started

If you're considering it, the process is pretty simple:

1. Talk to an agency that actually specializes in anesthesia — not a generalist shop that fills everything
2. Get credentialed — a good agency handles the paperwork and can have you ready in as little as 21 days (most agencies take 60-90)
3. Choose your assignments — pick the states, shifts, and schedule that work for your life
4. Set up your taxes — open a Solo 401(k), set aside 30% for taxes, and get a CPA who does multi-state 1099 filing

The market is firmly in your favor right now. Rates are strong, demand is high, and you have more leverage on where and when you work than at any point in recent memory.

See What's Available

Locums One has 9,000+ CRNAs in our network and active assignments across the country. We credential in 21 days, cover $1M/$3M malpractice through ProAssurance, and connect our providers with tax professionals at no cost.

<a href="/contact">See Current CRNA Assignments →</a>

For compensation across all specialties, check out our <a href="/blog/locum-tenens-salary">2026 Salary Guide</a>.