CRNA Salary Arizona 2026
What Banner Health, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, HonorHealth, and rural critical-access CRNAs actually earn—and what pushes individual pay past $260,000 in a physician-supervision state.
Arizona CRNAs earn a BLS OEWS May 2025 state mean of $218,772 per year — roughly 12% below the national CRNA mean of $248,320. That gap is real, and it has a specific cause: Arizona requires physician supervision for CRNAs in Medicare-certified facilities, a constraint that shapes how hospitals build their anesthesia departments and what they budget for CRNA salaries. Phoenix metro academic centers like Mayo Clinic Scottsdale push experienced CRNAs into the $225,000–$260,000 range, while rural critical-access hospitals and locum sole-provider contracts can reach $245,000 or more when premium pay and stipends are included.
I spent a decade in travel nursing across multiple states, including time in Arizona's Phoenix metro, and the supervision requirement comes up in every CRNA contract conversation here. It is not a dealbreaker — Arizona's cost of living is lower than the coasts, and Banner Health in particular offers a total compensation package that competes with opt-out states on a take-home basis. But it does mean the typical Arizona CRNA earns less per hour than a CRNA in an opt-out state, and understanding that context matters before you negotiate.
Employer-by-Employer Pay: Banner Health, Mayo Scottsdale & More
Arizona's CRNA market is dominated by four large health systems in the Phoenix-Tucson corridor, with the remainder of the state served by rural critical-access hospitals and independent surgery centers. Here is how the major employers stack up on base salary.
| Employer | Type | Base Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Banner Health (Phoenix / Tucson) | Large system, Level I trauma | $200,000–$225,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Scottsdale | Academic medical center | $225,000–$260,000 |
| HonorHealth (Scottsdale) | Community health system | $195,000–$220,000 |
| Dignity Health / CommonSpirit (AZ) | Catholic health system | $190,000–$215,000 |
| Valleywise Health (Phoenix) | Safety-net / county | $185,000–$210,000 |
| Banner University Medical Center (Tucson) | Academic affiliate | $205,000–$235,000 |
| Rural critical-access (locum / W-2) | Sole-provider / small access | $195–$225/hr |
Banner Health is Arizona's largest private employer and the dominant CRNA employer in the state, with Level I trauma centers at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix and Banner University Medical Center Tucson anchoring the high end of its pay band. Trauma and complex surgical volume supports top-of-band pay; CRNAs covering neurotrauma and cardiac cases at Banner tend to clear $220,000–$225,000. Mayo Clinic Scottsdale occupies its own category: the academic prestige and acuity mix attract experienced CRNAs, and Mayo's pay transparency reputation means the $225,000–$260,000 band is well-verified in the CRNA community.
What the Supervision Requirement Actually Means for Pay
Arizona has not opted out of the federal physician supervision requirement under 42 CFR 482.52(c). That rule requires CRNAs practicing in Medicare-certified hospitals to work under the supervision of a physician — defined as a physician anesthesiologist or the operating surgeon. As of September 2026, 27 states have opted out (per AANA), giving CRNAs independent practice in those facilities. Arizona is not one of them.
The practical pay implication: facilities that must pair a CRNA with an attending anesthesiologist face higher total anesthesia staffing costs, so budget pressure tends to compress CRNA base salaries relative to opt-out states. Arizona hospitals also pay physician anesthesiologists, which further limits CRNA pay negotiating power in a two-provider model. This is the structural reason the Arizona mean ($218,772) runs below the national mean ($248,320) despite Arizona's generally above-median cost of living in Phoenix metro.
The exception is rural Arizona. Critical-access hospitals more than 35 miles from a tertiary center often run CRNA-only anesthesia departments under a medical director agreement, which approaches a functional opt-out even under the supervision framework. Rural sole-provider rates are higher precisely because the supply of CRNAs willing to work in Kingman, Safford, or Show Low is thin relative to demand, and the hospitals know it.
Locum CRNA Market: $175–$225/hr and Phoenix Resort Demand
Arizona's locum CRNA market has two distinct segments: Phoenix metro ambulatory surgery centers and resort-area elective surgical facilities, and rural critical-access placements. The metro segment runs $175–$210 per hour for Phoenix-area placements, with higher rates at freestanding cardiac and bariatric centers that operate outside hospital supervision frameworks under a physician director model. Scottsdale's resort-adjacent surgical centers — which see high elective volume from affluent retirees, snowbirds, and medical tourism — pay $195–$220 per hour for locum CRNAs willing to block weeks during the October–April busy season.
Rural critical-access locum rates are higher still: $195–$225 per hour for verified sole-provider placements in northern and eastern Arizona, with some contracts adding stipends for housing and travel that effectively push total daily rate above $300 per hour equivalent. The locum rural market is tight — many of these hospitals have been searching for permanent CRNAs for years and converted their need to ongoing locum contracts. If you are a CRNA with flexibility and can tolerate the geography, rural Arizona is one of the stronger locum markets in the Mountain West.
I have talked to a lot of CRNAs who look at Arizona and assume the supervision requirement means the state is a dead end for CRNA autonomy. That is not quite right. The large health systems run team anesthesia models, and within those models experienced CRNAs often function with substantial clinical independence — the attending anesthesiologist is available but not physically present for every case. The real autonomy question is at rural critical-access facilities, and there, Arizona CRNAs often have more day-to-day practice independence than the state's regulatory posture would suggest. The pay differential versus opt-out states is real, but Arizona's lower cost of living, no state income tax treatment on certain stipend income for traveling CRNAs, and competitive benefit packages at Banner and HonorHealth narrow the take-home gap more than the base salary numbers suggest.
How to Push Your Arizona CRNA Pay Past $240,000
The Arizona CRNA mean of $218,772 is a starting point, not a ceiling. Several factors reliably push individual CRNA compensation above $240,000:
Specialty Premium — Cardiac, Neuro, and Pediatric Cases
CRNAs who can credibly cover open-heart, complex neuro, and pediatric cases command $15,000–$25,000 premiums above general OR rates at Banner and Mayo. These specialties require additional training and credentialing, and Arizona's Level I trauma centers actively recruit for them. If you are early in your CRNA career, getting cardiac training before you move to Arizona meaningfully changes your leverage.
Lead and Director Roles at Banner Health
Banner Health's CRNA lead and department director positions top out at $235,000–$255,000, with administrative stipends adding $10,000–$20,000 on top of base. These roles carry managerial responsibilities — scheduling, credentialing oversight, quality metrics — but they are the clearest path to Banner's upper compensation band. Turnover in these roles is low, so timing a move to Arizona with an opening is worth tracking.
Call and Weekend Differentials
At most Arizona health systems, call pay ($5–$12 per hour on standby, $30–$55 per hour on call-back) and weekend differentials (10–15%) can add $15,000–$30,000 to annual compensation for CRNAs who regularly take call. This is especially true at Banner's trauma centers, where overnight call demand is high and coverage gaps are common. CRNAs who are strategically willing to cover nights and weekends in their first two years in Arizona routinely outperform the state mean by $20,000–$30,000.
Locum Stacking with a Staff Position
Some Arizona CRNAs hold a 0.8 FTE staff position at a health system and pick up locum shifts at rural critical-access hospitals on their off weekends. At $200–$225 per locum hour, two rural weekend shifts per month adds roughly $28,000–$38,000 to annual compensation. This requires managing dual employment agreements and confirming that your staff employer permits outside work — most Arizona health systems allow it with disclosure — but it is the most reliable path to total compensation above $250,000 while maintaining benefits.
| Pay Factor | Estimated Annual Add |
|---|---|
| Cardiac / neuro specialty premium | +$15,000–$25,000 |
| Lead / director stipend (Banner) | +$10,000–$20,000 |
| Call and weekend differential | +$15,000–$30,000 |
| Locum stacking (2 rural weekends/mo) | +$28,000–$38,000 |
Calculate Your Arizona CRNA Take-Home
Run a travel CRNA pay breakdown, compare agency contracts, or estimate your net income after AZ taxes and housing costs.
Open Pay CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
What is the average CRNA salary in Arizona?
Arizona CRNAs earn a BLS OEWS May 2025 state mean of $218,772 per year — approximately 12% below the national CRNA mean of $248,320. Phoenix metro academic centers push experienced CRNAs to $225,000–$260,000, while rural critical-access sole-providers can exceed $245,000 when locum premiums and stipends are included. The gap from the national average primarily reflects Arizona's physician-supervision requirement and its relative distance from high-cost metro markets on the coasts.
Do CRNAs need physician supervision in Arizona?
Yes. Arizona has not opted out of the federal physician supervision requirement for CRNAs in Medicare-certified hospitals. Arizona CRNAs must practice under physician direction or a written agreement with a physician anesthesiologist or surgeon. This is different from the 27 states that have opted out (per AANA as of September 2026), where CRNAs can practice independently. Arizona's supervision requirement is a factor in CRNA pay relative to opt-out states, since hiring facilities face additional administrative overhead.
How much do Banner Health CRNAs earn in Arizona?
Banner Health — Arizona's largest hospital employer — typically pays CRNAs $200,000–$225,000 in base salary, with director-level and lead CRNA positions reaching $235,000–$255,000. Banner Health operates Level I trauma centers in Phoenix and Tucson (Banner University Medical Center), and trauma/complex surgical volume supports the higher end of the range. Banner's 403(b) match and benefits package adds meaningful total compensation above base.
What do locum CRNA rates look like in Arizona?
Locum CRNA rates in Arizona run $175–$210 per hour for Phoenix metro placements, with rural critical-access hospitals and sole-provider settings paying $195–$225 per hour. Resort market areas like Scottsdale and Flagstaff — which see high elective surgical volume from affluent retirees and snowbirds — typically pay $195–$220/hr for locum CRNAs. Arizona's active physician-supervision requirement creates additional demand for W-2 and 1099 CRNA placements because facilities cannot simply swap supervision models.
Is Arizona a compact nursing state?
Yes. Arizona has been an active NLC (Nurse Licensure Compact) member since 2002. RNs and LPNs holding a multistate license issued by another compact state can work in Arizona without a separate Arizona license, as long as Arizona is not their primary state of residence. Arizona nurses who live in Arizona automatically hold a multistate license if they meet NLC requirements. Note that CRNA practice in Arizona still requires compliance with the state's physician-supervision rules regardless of compact status.
Sources
Data Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — Arizona CRNA mean wage $218,772 (bls.gov)
- American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) — state opt-out status, supervision requirements, 27 opt-out states as of September 2026 (aana.com)
- Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) — Arizona compact state membership since 2002 and multistate license rules, NCSBN (ncsbn.org)
- Arizona State Board of Nursing — CRNA scope of practice, supervision framework, and licensure requirements (azbn.gov)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS National Data, May 2025 — national CRNA mean $248,320 (bls.gov)
Author: Jayson Minagawa, BSN, RN — Unit Manager & MDS Coordinator, 12+ years clinical experience across ICU, psychiatric, correctional, telehealth, and multi-state travel nursing. Disclaimer: Salary figures are estimates based on publicly available BLS data and health system postings. Individual compensation varies by experience, shift, and collective bargaining agreement. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice.