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What to Pay a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in Seattle, WA (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings
Market Median
$258,000
base, annual
Competitive Range
$232K–$292K
25th–75th percentile
YoY Movement
+4.7%
trailing 12 months
Days to Fill
~55
Seattle metro average
To hire a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in Seattle at market, plan on a base salary range of $232,000 to $292,000, with $258,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 55 days, expect to lead at $292K–$335K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. Washington REQUIRES pay scale disclosure under the WA Equal Pay and Opportunities Act.

How to set your CRNA pay range in Seattle

Three pay positions, modeled against current Seattle market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market
Pay Below Median
$208K–$232K
Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Seattle average.
Match Market — recommended
Pay at Median
$247.6K–$271.6K
Default for most Seattle employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~55 days. A range width of ~30% (min $232,000 to max $292,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a CRNA's typical 8–12 year tenure.
Lead Market
Pay Above Median
$278.4K–$335K
Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

CRNA salary percentile distribution in Seattle, WA

Where the Seattle market actually sits for CRNA base pay.

10th $208K
25th $232K
Median $258K
75th $292K
90th $335K

Most Seattle employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($258,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $232,000 and a max of $292,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

Washington pay transparency compliance for CRNA job postings

What you must post when hiring a CRNA in Washington.

Required. Washington requires employers with 15+ employees to include the wage scale or salary range and a general description of benefits in every posting.
Requirement Applies When Penalty for Non-Compliance
Wage scale or salary range in posting 15+ employees; role in WA Up to $1,000 per violation; escalates for repeat
General benefits description All covered postings Same schedule

For a CRNA role in Seattle, a compliant good-faith range looks like $232,000 to $292,000. A compliant good-faith range for this role in Seattle is $232,000–$292,000.

Top CRNA employers in Seattle — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring CRNAs in the Seattle metro and what they're posting.

Employer Type Disclosed Range Sign-on Bonus
UW Medicine Academic medical center (ACT) $252K–$308K Common ($20K–$35K)
Providence Swedish Health system $250K–$305K Very common ($30K–$48K)
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health system $248K–$302K Very common ($25K–$42K)
MultiCare Health System Health system $245K–$298K Very common ($30K–$45K)
Independent anesthesia groups Physician-led ACT $268K–$332K Production-based

CRNA talent supply and hiring difficulty in Seattle

How hard is it to fill a CRNA role in Seattle.

~55
Avg Days to Fill
~100
Active Postings
~1,050
Seattle CRNA Workforce
Very tight
Supply : Demand

Seattle CRNA market driven by UW, Swedish, Virginia Mason Franciscan.

Skill premiums CRNA candidates command in Seattle, WA

Skill / Credential Pay Premium Demand Signal
Cardiac anesthesia +10–15% Very high
Pediatric anesthesia (Seattle Children's) +10–15% Very high
Regional anesthesia / blocks +8–12% Very high
Independent practice +12–18% Washington allows

CRNA total compensation in Seattle — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for CRNAs in Seattle. "Prevalence" reflects share of Seattle disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component Typical Value Prevalence in Seattle Postings
Base salary $258,000 (median) 100%
Call pay (standby + callback) $12–$18/hr standby + 2–3× hourly ~95%
Sign-on bonus $25,000–$48,000 ~85%
Loan repayment $30K–$58K total ~52%
Production bonus $22K–$58K ~44% (independent groups)
Estimated total comp benchmark ~$308K–$372K

Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.

CRNA pay by setting in Seattle — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the CRNA range splits by employer type in the Seattle metro.

Setting Median Competitive Range Hiring Difficulty
Hospital OR (ACT) $252,000 $228K–$292K Very high
Hospital OR (CRNA-only) $262,000 $238K–$302K Very high
Ambulatory surgery center $238,000 $218K–$275K Very high
Pain management clinic $245,000 $222K–$282K Tight
Independent practice $285,000 $258K–$328K Very tight

CRNA salary in Seattle vs. other Washington and nearby metros

What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.

Location Median Base vs. Seattle Hiring Difficulty
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA $258,000 Tight
Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR-WA $232,000 −10.1% Above national avg
San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward, CA $315,000 +22.1% Very tight
Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO $245,000 −5.0% Tight
Washington statewide $242,000 −6.2%
U.S. national $220,000

FAQ: hiring a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in Seattle, WA

Market median is $258,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $258,000 — typically $232,000 to $292,000. To lead the market, plan on $292K–$335K base plus a sign-on bonus.
Yes. Washington's EPOA requires a wage scale or salary range plus a general benefits description in every posting if you have 15+ employees.
$232,000 falls below the Seattle market median of $258,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.
Roughly 85% of Seattle CRNA postings include a sign-on bonus. Providence Swedish leads with $30K–$48K offers.
Average fill time is approximately 55 days in the Seattle metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($292K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($232K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.
By Seattle-metro posting volume: UW Medicine, Providence Swedish, Virginia Mason Franciscan, MultiCare Health System, Independent anesthesia groups lead the pack.
A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for CRNA in Seattle — for example, $232,000 to $292,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months. Washington does not cap range width but requires the range to reflect the wage scale or salary range set by the employer.
Yes. Washington's law covers all postings — internal and external.

Related CRNA pay benchmarks — Washington metros and nearby nursing roles

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.