Travel CRNA Jobs 2026 — $5,500–$7,500+/Week
Travel CRNAs (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) are the highest-paid travel nursing specialty in 2026. National anesthesiologist shortage + rising CRNA-led anesthesia models = sustained $6K+/week pay at academic centers and rural critical-access hospitals. **Get matched the moment a contract opens.**
CRNA Contracts Move Fast — Get on the Match List
CatSol's CRNA contracts at academic centers (UCSF, Cedars-Sinai, Texas Medical Center) and critical-access hospitals typically fill within 24-72 hours of posting. Rather than show stale inventory, we match you to the next CRNA contract that fits your license states, sub-specialty, target weekly pay, and location preferences.
Submit Profile for CRNA Matched AlertsTravel CRNA Pay by Region 2026
Weekly pay ranges include tax-free housing and meals stipends. Pay varies by hospital type (academic vs. community vs. rural critical access), sub-specialty (cardiac, OB, peds), and shift mix (regular vs. call vs. weekend).
| Region | Weekly Pay Range |
|---|---|
| San Francisco Bay Area (CA) | $6,500 – $7,500+/wk |
| Los Angeles / Southern California | $5,500 – $7,000/wk |
| New York / Northeast | $5,200 – $6,800/wk |
| Texas (Houston/Dallas) | $4,800 – $6,200/wk |
| Pacific Northwest (WA/OR) | $4,500 – $6,000/wk |
| Rural / Critical Access | $5,000 – $7,500/wk |
Why Travel CRNA Is the Top-Paid Nursing Specialty
- •Anesthesiologist shortage — hospitals shifting to CRNA-led anesthesia models
- •Limited supply — only ~125 CRNA programs, ~3,500 grads/yr against rising demand
- •Rural critical access dependency — many small hospitals have NO anesthesiologist on staff, depend entirely on CRNAs
- •Top 1% nursing comp — $270K–$390K/year annualized; ROI is unmatched in nursing
Travel CRNA Requirements
- •NBCRNA certification (active) + state APRN license per state
- •Experience: 2+ years post-certification preferred (new grads usually need staff time first)
- •Certifications: ACLS, BLS, PALS standard. PAC (Pediatric Anesthesia) for peds-heavy facilities.
- •DEA registration for controlled substances management
- •APRN licensing is state-by-state (no compact) — 8-16 weeks per new state
- •CatSol assists with multi-state APRN endorsement strategy
Get on the CRNA Match List
Submit your profile once — we'll reach out within 24 hours when a CRNA contract opens that matches your license states, sub-specialty, and target pay.
Frequently Asked Questions — Travel CRNA
How much do travel CRNAs make in 2026?
Travel CRNAs earn $5,500–$7,500+ per week in 2026, making them the highest-paid nursing specialty by a significant margin (next highest is CVOR at $4,800–$5,800/wk). San Francisco Bay Area pays the most ($6,500–$7,500+/wk at UCSF, Stanford, Kaiser). Crisis CRNA contracts at rural critical-access hospitals can exceed $8,000/wk including housing premiums. Annualized: $270,000–$390,000/year, the top 1% of nursing compensation.
Why is travel CRNA pay so high?
Three structural factors: (1) Nationwide anesthesiologist shortage — many hospitals have shifted from MD-supervised to CRNA-led anesthesia care, dramatically increasing CRNA demand. (2) Limited supply — only ~125 CRNA programs nationally produce ~3,500 new graduates per year against rising demand. (3) Rural critical access — many small hospitals depend entirely on CRNAs for surgical anesthesia (no anesthesiologist on staff). Combined, these create the highest pay leverage in nursing.
What licenses and certifications do travel CRNAs need?
Travel CRNAs need: (1) Active RN license + APRN license in each state where you work (state-by-state — no compact for APRNs). (2) NBCRNA certification (National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists). (3) Most hospitals require ACLS, BLS, PALS, and sometimes Pediatric Anesthesia Cert (PAC) or specialty cert (Cardiac, Obstetric). (4) DEA registration if managing controlled substances. Multi-state APRN licensure adds 8-16 weeks per state — start the process months ahead.
Which states have the most travel CRNA demand right now?
Highest current CRNA travel demand: (1) California — Bay Area academic centers (UCSF, Stanford, Kaiser) lead pay at $6,500–$7,500+/wk; (2) Texas — Houston (Texas Medical Center) + Dallas have consistent CRNA travel openings; (3) Rural / critical access hospitals nationwide pay premium rates ($5,000–$7,500/wk) because they often have NO anesthesiologist on staff; (4) New York metro academic centers; (5) Pacific Northwest (Seattle, Portland) growing CRNA travel market.
Does CatSol currently have active travel CRNA contracts?
CatSol's CRNA inventory rotates frequently — when academic centers like UCSF, Cedars-Sinai, or Texas Medical Center post CRNA contracts, they fill within days. Submit your profile (license states, NBCRNA cert date, sub-specialties, target weekly pay) to get matched the moment a contract opens that fits your criteria. CatSol's CRNA recruiter team will reach out within 24 hours of your inquiry with current matched openings or alert you when one opens.
Is travel CRNA a good career move from staff CRNA?
Travel CRNA pay is typically 30–60% above staff CRNA pay in the same market, with the trade-off being 13-week contracts (no long-term job security), no employer benefits (must purchase health/disability/life insurance privately), and licensing burden (every new state = 8-16 weeks). For experienced CRNAs with 3+ years staff experience, financial discipline (saving 30%+ for benefits/taxes), and willingness to relocate every 3-6 months, travel CRNA is the highest-ROI career move available in nursing — $270K–$390K/year is achievable.
Can new graduate CRNAs travel right away?
Most agencies require 2+ years of post-certification CRNA experience before travel placements. Reason: travel CRNAs are expected to onboard fast (1-3 days vs. 2-4 weeks for permanent staff) and run cases independently from day one. New grad CRNAs should plan to do 2-3 years at a staff position first to build case volume, develop specialty depth (cardiac, OB, peds), and earn NBCRNA recertification. CatSol then places experienced CRNAs in premium $6K+/wk contracts.