# Nurse Anesthetists

US SOC code 29-1151. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/29-1151

Also called: CRNA, Certified registered nurse anesthetist, Nurse anesthesia, APRN-anesthesia, Nurse anesthesiologist.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **51,840** US nurse anesthetists, with median pay of **$236,590** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2012, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.workingnurse.com/articles/130-years-of-anesthesia-nursing/) of **1,700** from 1931, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for nurse anesthetists: Processed EEG depth-of-anesthesia monitoring, 1996 to 2015.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 9.7% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1151&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **12.5%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Nurse Anesthetists employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1877
- Latest US employment: 51,840 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [3]
- Latest US median pay: $236,590 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [5]
- Outlook: +9.7% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [21]

### All 17 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1931 | 1,700 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Working Nurse [1] |
| 1967 | 16,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Cromwell et al. (1991) [2] |
| 1990 | 26,000 (estimate) | $65,000 (estimate) | Est., Cromwell et al. (1991) [2] |
| 2012 | 34,180 | $148,160 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [3] |
| 2013 | 35,430 | $151,090 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [3] |
| 2014 | 36,590 | $153,780 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [3] |
| 2015 | 39,410 | $157,140 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [3] |
| 2016 | 39,860 | $160,270 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [3] |
| 2017 | 42,620 | $165,120 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [3] |
| 2018 | 43,520 | $167,950 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [3] |
| 2019 | 43,570 | $174,790 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [3] |
| 2020 | 41,960 | $183,580 | BLS OEWS May 2020 (employment) [3]; BLS OEWS May 2020 (pay) [6] |
| 2021 | 43,950 | $195,610 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [3] |
| 2022 | 46,540 | $203,090 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [3] |
| 2023 | 47,810 | $212,650 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [3] |
| 2024 | 50,350 | $223,210 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [3] |
| 2025 | 51,840 | $236,590 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [3] |

## Sources (67)

### Employment series

1. [Working Nurse -- "130 Years of Anesthesia Nursing" (AANA founding membership, 1931)](https://www.workingnurse.com/articles/130-years-of-anesthesia-nursing/), Working Nurse
2. [Cromwell et al. (1991) -- "CRNA manpower forecasts: 1990-2010" Medical Care (PubMed 2072768) -- 2:1 CRNA:anesthesiologist ratio noted for 1967](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2072768/), PubMed / Medical Care
3. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

4. [Cromwell et al. (1991) -- "CRNA manpower forecasts: 1990-2010" Medical Care; CRNA-to-anesthesiologist compensation comparison and cost-savings analysis](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2072768/), PubMed / Medical Care
5. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
6. [BLS OEWS, May 2020 — Nurse Anesthetists (29-1151), median annual wage $183,580](https://www.bls.gov/oes/2020/may/oes291151.htm), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
7. [BLS OEWS May 2024, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Tool eras

8. [Alice Magaw Kessel -- "Observations in Anesthesia" Northwestern Lancet (1899); Working Nurse history summary of Magaw's technique](https://www.workingnurse.com/articles/alice-magaw-kessel-1860-1928-mother-of-anesthesia/), Working Nurse
9. [Mayo Clinic News Network -- "Celebrating Nurse Anesthetist Education: Alice Magaw (1860-1928): Mother of Anesthesia"](https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/celebrating-nurse-anesthetist-education-alice-magaw-1860-1928-mother-of-anesthesia/), Mayo Clinic
10. [AAG Health -- "History of Nurse Anesthesia: How CRNAs Evolved Over Time" (WWI/WWII CRNA roles, cyclopropane era)](https://www.aag.health/post/history-of-nurse-anesthesia), AAG Health
11. [Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology -- Cyclopropane history (introduced 1930s; explosive hazard; replaced by halothane 1958)](https://www.woodlibrarymuseum.org/museum/cyclopropane/), Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology
12. [Anesthesia Key -- "A History of Inhaled Anesthetics" (halothane 1956, Fluotec vaporizer, replacement of ether and cyclopropane)](https://aneskey.com/a-history-of-inhaled-anesthetics/), Anesthesia Key
13. [Barton Associates -- "The History of CRNAs: How Nurse Anesthetists Reshaped Modern Medicine" (1971: CRNAs 48.5% vs. ASA 38.3% of US anesthetics)](https://www.bartonassociates.com/blog/history-of-crnas/), Barton Associates
14. [AANA History page -- "1986: Congress granted CRNAs direct Medicare Part B reimbursement -- the first nursing specialty/non-physician group to receive this right"](https://www.aana.com/about-us/history/), American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
15. [Codapedia -- "Anesthesia Billing for CRNAs" (OBRA 1986, direct reimbursement effective January 1, 1989; CRNAs bill Medicare at 100% of physician fee schedule)](https://www.codapedia.com/article_479_Anesthesia_Billing_for_CRNAs.cfm), Codapedia
16. [Medtronic BIS Monitoring System -- Bispectral Index product page; FDA-cleared; used in \>90% of US operating rooms; BIS values 40-60 correlate with general anesthesia (Medtronic 2025)](https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/healthcare-professionals/products/patient-monitoring/brain-monitoring/brain-channel-monitoring/bis-monitoring-system.html), Medtronic
17. [Data USA -- Nurse Anesthetists employment profile (26,283 in 2014 to 46,047 in 2024: 75% growth)](https://datausa.io/profile/soc/nurse-anesthetists), Data USA / BLS OEWS
18. [AANA Position Statement on Artificial Intelligence in Anesthesia Practice (2025) -- CRNAs must maintain accountability for AI-assisted decisions; AI supports but does not replace CRNA judgment and licensure](https://www.aana.com/practice/clinical-practice-resources/artificial-intelligence), American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
19. [Edwards Lifesciences HemoSphere platform -- hemodynamic monitoring with Acumen Hypotension Prediction Index (HPI); predicts intraoperative hypotension in surgical patients](https://www.edwards.com/ca-en/healthcare-professionals/products-services/hemodynamic-monitoring/hemosphere), Edwards Lifesciences
20. [AAG Health -- "2025 CRNA Doctorate Changes: What Every Nurse Anesthetist Must Know" (mandatory DNP/DNAP for all new CRNAs beginning 2025)](https://www.aag.health/post/crna-doctorate-changes), AAG Health

### Forecasts and exposure studies

21. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 29-1151 Nurse anesthetists (2025: 54.5 thousand; 2035: 59.8 thousand; +9.7%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1151&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
22. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 29-1151.00, human-rated β 0.125)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

23. [AAG Health -- "History of Nurse Anesthesia" (Sister Mary Bernard Sheridan, St. Vincent's Hospital, Erie PA, 1877)](https://www.aag.health/post/history-of-nurse-anesthesia), AAG Health
24. [Mayo Clinic News Network -- "Alice Magaw (1860-1928): Mother of Anesthesia" (14,380 anesthetics, no fatalities; Magaw A. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1906;3:795-799)](https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/celebrating-nurse-anesthetist-education-alice-magaw-1860-1928-mother-of-anesthesia/), Mayo Clinic
25. [CANA Inc. -- "A Brief History of Nurse Anesthesiologists" (Lakeside Hospital School of Anesthesia, Agatha Hodgins, 1915)](https://canainc.org/a-brief-history-of-nurse-anesthesiologists/), CANA
26. [AANA -- History of AANA (NANA founded June 17, 1931; became AANA in 1939)](https://www.aana.com/about-us/history/), American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
27. [Chalmers-Francis v. Nelson, 6 Cal.2d 402 (1936) -- California Supreme Court (Justia case record)](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/2d/6/402.html), Justia / California Supreme Court
28. [AAG Health -- "2025 CRNA Doctorate Changes: What Every Nurse Anesthetist Must Know" (mandatory DNP or DNAP; 141 accredited programs; AANA 2007 position; COA 2009 vote)](https://www.aag.health/post/crna-doctorate-changes), AAG Health

### Predecessors & successors

29. [AANA -- How to Become a CRNA: requires RN license + minimum 1 year acute care experience before CRNA program entry](https://www.aana.com/about-us/about-crnas/become-a-crna/), American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
30. [O\*NET 29-1151.00 -- entry requirements: registered nursing experience in critical care, emergency, or anesthesia settings](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1151.00), O\*NET / BLS
31. [AAG Health -- History of Nurse Anesthesia: military CRNA training at Fort Jackson (1941, Ruth Satterfield); WWII military nurse anesthesia pipeline](https://www.aag.health/post/history-of-nurse-anesthesia), AAG Health

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Nurse Anesthetists (29-1151.00): tasks, work activities, technology skills, employment data](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1151.00), accessed 2026-05-24
- [BLS OOH — Nurse Anesthetists: ~44,700 employed 2024; +9% growth 2024-2034; median annual wage $214,060; highest-paid APRN specialty](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm), accessed 2026-05-24
- [AANA — CRNA Fact Sheet 2025: 59,000+ licensed CRNAs; sole anesthesia providers in ~80% of rural hospitals; independent practice in 20+ Opt-Out states; avg salary $202,470](https://www.aana.com/membership/become-a-crna/crna-fact-sheet), accessed 2026-05-24
- [AANA Position Statement on Artificial Intelligence in Anesthesia Practice 2025 — CRNAs must maintain accountability for AI-assisted decisions; AI supports but does not replace CRNA judgment and licensure](https://www.aana.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AANA-comments-on-RFI-Development-of-an-AI-Action-Plan.pdf), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Edwards Lifesciences — HemoSphere Advanced Monitoring Platform with Hypotension Prediction Index (HPI): AUC 0.88-0.91 for intraoperative hypotension prediction; 1,600+ hospitals globally; PREVENT trial JAMA 2023](https://www.bd.com/en-us/products-and-solutions/products/product-families/hemosphere-monitor), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science): occupational LLM exposure framework](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Health Affairs 2024 — CRNA access study: 20 states exercising CMS Opt-Out of physician supervision requirement; CRNAs serving as sole anesthesia provider in 80% of rural hospitals](https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01191), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Epic Anesthesia (AIMS) — automated vital sign capture from OR devices, AI-assisted pre-op templates, medication reconciliation, post-op order sets; \>65% of U.S. academic medical centers use Epic AIMS (Epic.com 2025)](https://www.epic.com/software/anesthesia/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Microsoft Nuance Dragon Medical One for anesthesia providers — ambient documentation integrated with Epic AIMS; Dragon Copilot for Clinical Documentation (rebranded 2025); 750+ health systems (Microsoft Nuance 2025; Healthcare IT News 2025)](https://www.nuance.com/healthcare/physician-and-clinical-speech/dragon-medical-one.html), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Bainbridge Health MedSafe — AI-powered anesthesia drug oversight; integrates with Pyxis/Omnicell ADCs; deployed at 50+ health systems; OR Manager 2025](https://www.bainbridgehealth.com/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Medtronic BIS Complete — Bispectral Index processed EEG depth-of-anesthesia monitoring; BIS values 40-60 correlate with general anesthesia; FDA-cleared; used in \>90% of U.S. ORs (Medtronic 2025; Anesthesia & Analgesia 2025)](https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/healthcare-professionals/products/patient-monitoring/brain-monitoring/brain-channel-monitoring/bis-monitoring-system.html), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Masimo SedLine — 4-channel EEG brain function monitor; Patient SafetyNet wireless surveillance for PACU opioid safety; FDA cleared; deployed at \>200 hospitals (Masimo 2025; Journal of Clinical Anesthesia 2025)](https://www.masimo.com/products/sedation/sedline/), accessed 2026-05-24

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.