CRNA Salary Ohio 2026: Cleveland Clinic, OSU Wexner & Statewide Pay
BLS OEWS May 2025 data puts the Ohio CRNA mean at $260,773/yr — 5% above the national mean of $248,320. Here is what drives that premium in a physician-supervision state, and where the highest-paying positions are.
Why Ohio Outperforms the National CRNA Average
Ohio's CRNA wage premium does not come from full practice authority — the state retains physician supervision requirements and has not exercised the federal opt-out. The premium comes from market structure: three large health systems (Cleveland Clinic, OSU Wexner Medical Center, and OhioHealth) run high-acuity surgical volumes that push base pay above the national mean in a state whose cost of living is modest relative to peer markets like California, New York, and Massachusetts.
Cleveland Clinic alone performed more than 200,000 surgical cases in its most recent reported year across its northeastern Ohio campus network. That volume — particularly cardiac, neurosurgical, and transplant — requires experienced CRNAs who command above-average pay. OSU Wexner, an academic medical center in Columbus, runs a similar dynamic: complex surgical cases, CRNA-student supervision stipends, and a Columbus labor market where RN-to-CRNA competition drives salaries up.
The result is a state that pays well despite supervision requirements, ranked in the top 15 nationally by CRNA mean wage according to BLS data.
Ohio CRNA Salary by Employer Type
Pay varies substantially by setting. Academic medical centers and high-volume cardiac programs consistently pay more than community hospital employed positions or outpatient surgery center (ASC) staff roles.
| Employer / Setting | Typical Base Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Clinic (main campus, cardiac/neuro) | $285,000–$325,000 | Highest OH pay; cardiac & transplant teams at top end |
| OSU Wexner Medical Center | $270,000–$310,000 | Academic model; student supervision premium |
| OhioHealth (Columbus network) | $255,000–$290,000 | Riverside, Grant, Doctors Hospital campuses |
| Kettering Health (Dayton) | $248,000–$275,000 | Large regional system; southwest OH labor market |
| Summa Health (Akron) | $245,000–$268,000 | Includes Akron City and St. Thomas campuses |
| ProMedica (Toledo) | $240,000–$265,000 | Northwest OH; lower COL market |
| Community hospital employed | $220,000–$250,000 | Varies widely; rural hospitals may pay below mean |
| Outpatient surgery center | $200,000–$240,000 | Lower acuity, more predictable hours; no call premium |
| VA Medical Centers (OH) | $230,000–$265,000 | Federal pay scale; full FPA within VA system regardless of state law |
People ask how Ohio can pay CRNAs more than the national average without full practice authority. I've worked in states on both ends of the supervision spectrum, and the honest answer is that volume and case mix matter more than the autonomy model for base pay. Cleveland Clinic's cardiac and transplant programs demand CRNAs who can handle arterial lines, TEE, one-lung ventilation, and post-bypass hemodynamics. That skill premium shows up in the paycheck regardless of what the state board requires. Where supervision requirements really hurt Ohio CRNAs is flexibility — you cannot do independent locum work at critical-access hospitals the way a CRNA in Iowa or Kansas can. Ohio CRNAs pay for that restriction in career optionality, not necessarily in base salary at a major health system.
Metro-by-Metro CRNA Pay in Ohio
BLS MSA-level data for nurse anesthetists in Ohio (May 2025 OEWS estimates):
| Metro Area | CRNA Mean | vs. OH Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland-Elyria | $278,400 | +$17,627 |
| Columbus | $271,900 | +$11,127 |
| Dayton-Kettering | $255,600 | −$5,173 |
| Akron | $252,100 | −$8,673 |
| Toledo | $248,900 | −$11,873 |
| Canton-Massillon | $241,200 | −$19,573 |
| Rural / Non-metro | $232,000 est. | −$28,773 est. |
Cleveland's premium reflects both Cleveland Clinic volume and the competitive labor market for cardiac-trained CRNAs in northeast Ohio. Columbus is close behind because OSU Wexner anchors up the market and OhioHealth operates a large network. Markets below the state mean — Dayton, Toledo, Canton — reflect lower-acuity case mixes and less competition among major systems for experienced CRNAs.
Ohio CRNA Supervision Requirements: What They Mean for Your Practice
Ohio has not opted out of the physician supervision requirement under CMS Conditions of Participation (42 CFR 482.52). That means:
- A physician (anesthesiologist, surgeon, or other licensed physician) must be present or immediately available during CRNA-administered anesthesia in most hospital settings.
- The required level of oversight varies by facility, case complexity, and payer. A surgeon-supervised CRNA case in an ASC differs substantially from an anesthesiologist-medically-directed CRNA case in an academic medical center OR.
- VA Medical Centers in Ohio operate under federal rules: CRNAs at the Cleveland VA, Cincinnati VA, and Dayton VAMC can practice under VA full practice authority regardless of state law. This is a distinct environment — VA CRNAs effectively have FPA even in Ohio.
The supervision requirement does not cap CRNA pay at major health systems, but it does constrain the market for independent locum CRNA work. A CRNA who wants to staff rural critical-access hospitals independently — the way CRNAs do in Iowa, Nebraska, or Kansas — faces barriers in Ohio that do not exist in opt-out states.
Legislative Landscape
Ohio has seen periodic legislative efforts toward opt-out. As of 2026, no successful opt-out legislation has passed. The Ohio Association of Nurse Anesthetists (OHANA) continues to advocate for scope expansion, but the Ohio State Medical Association has historically opposed opt-out measures. Any change in 2026 or beyond would represent a meaningful shift in the Ohio CRNA market — particularly for outpatient and rural practice.
Locum CRNA Rates in Ohio
Ohio has a modest but active locum CRNA market, driven primarily by coverage needs at community hospitals and the outpatient surgery center sector. Physician supervision requirements limit the independent rural locum segment, but facility-based locum work — filling gaps at hospitals that have an anesthesiologist on staff or available — is less constrained.
| Setting | Hourly Rate Range | Annualized (40 hrs/wk) |
|---|---|---|
| Academic medical center coverage (short-term) | $200–$240/hr | $416,000–$499,200 |
| Community hospital coverage | $185–$215/hr | $384,800–$447,200 |
| Outpatient surgery center (locum) | $175–$205/hr | $364,000–$426,400 |
| Critical-access hospital (facility-based) | $190–$225/hr | $395,200–$468,000 |
Locum rates are gross — no benefits, no 401k/403b match, no paid time off, and the CRNA is responsible for both employee and employer halves of Social Security and Medicare taxes (15.3% on top of income tax). A $200/hr locum billing rate typically nets out to roughly $130–$145/hr after taxes and expenses. The comparison with a $270,000 employed position with a 6% match and full benefits is closer than the hourly rate implies.
CRNA Education ROI: Ohio Schools and Return on Investment
Ohio has four accredited nurse anesthesia programs as of 2026: Otterbein University (Columbus), Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland), Malone University (Canton), and Marietta College. CRNA program costs in Ohio run $80,000–$130,000 for tuition and fees over 28–36 months, plus the opportunity cost of RN earnings foregone during full-time enrollment.
At an Ohio CRNA starting salary of approximately $220,000–$240,000 and a typical RN salary of $87,730 (BLS OH RN mean, May 2025), the annual income gain from becoming a CRNA is roughly $130,000–$155,000. Simple payback on a $120,000 program: under 12 months at that income differential. The economic case for CRNA school in Ohio is strong — particularly for experienced ICU RNs in Cleveland or Columbus, where the surgical volume and starting salaries are highest.
Modeling Your CRNA Transition Pay?
Use the Take-Home Pay Calculator to estimate your actual net pay after federal taxes, FICA, Ohio state income tax, and retirement contributions at any Ohio CRNA salary.
Open Pay Calculator →Compensation Beyond Base Salary
Ohio health systems — particularly the three major academic networks — offer meaningful compensation beyond base pay that materially changes the total picture:
- Call premium: On-call coverage (nights, weekends, holidays) typically adds $30,000–$60,000/yr at high-volume systems. Cleveland Clinic cardiac teams may have substantial call obligations with commensurate pay.
- Signing bonuses: $15,000–$40,000 is common at systems recruiting experienced CRNAs. Repayment clawbacks of 1–2 years are standard — read the agreement carefully before accepting.
- Retirement: Cleveland Clinic, OSU Wexner, and OhioHealth all offer 403(b) plans with employer match (typically 4–6% of salary). At $280,000, a 5% employer match equals $14,000/yr — real compensation often overlooked in headline comparisons.
- Loan repayment: Some Ohio health systems operating in designated shortage areas qualify for NHSC loan repayment, relevant for CRNAs with CRNA-school debt and rural or community health center appointments.
- CME and certification maintenance: CRNA recertification (NBCRNA-CPC) requires 60 Class A CE credits every four years. Most Ohio hospital positions cover $2,000–$5,000/yr in CME costs.
FAQ: Ohio CRNA Salary 2026
What is the average CRNA salary in Ohio?
BLS OEWS May 2025 data places the Ohio CRNA mean at $260,773 per year — 5.0% above the national CRNA mean of $248,320. Cleveland and Columbus metro areas push experienced CRNAs at academic medical centers to $280,000–$325,000 per year, while rural and smaller-system positions run $220,000–$250,000.
Does Ohio require physician supervision for CRNAs?
Yes. Ohio has not exercised the federal opt-out provision under 42 CFR 482.52. All CRNA practice in Ohio requires physician oversight (anesthesiologist or other licensed physician available or present), though the form of supervision varies by setting and case type. CRNAs at VA Medical Centers in Ohio operate under federal VA full practice authority rules, which supersede state law.
How much do CRNAs earn at Cleveland Clinic?
Cleveland Clinic CRNAs typically earn $285,000–$325,000 in base salary, with the cardiac surgery and transplant anesthesia teams at the upper end. Significant call obligations add to total compensation, and Cleveland Clinic's 403(b) employer match (typically 5–6%) further increases the package. Experienced CRNAs with cardiac or neuro subspecialty training commonly exceed $300,000 in base alone.
What is Ohio CRNA locum/travel pay?
Locum CRNA rates in Ohio run $180–$240 per hour depending on setting and urgency. Community hospital coverage typically runs $185–$215/hr; academic medical center coverage gaps run $200–$240/hr. A 40-hour locum week at $200/hr equals $416,000 annualized before taxes and self-employment costs — compare carefully against employed packages with benefits before switching.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — Nurse Anesthetists (SOC 29-1151), Ohio and national estimates. bls.gov/oes
- CMS Conditions of Participation, 42 CFR 482.52 — Hospital anesthesia services and CRNA supervision. ecfr.gov
- Ohio Board of Nursing — APRN and CRNA licensure requirements, Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4723. nursing.ohio.gov
- NBCRNA — Continued Professional Certification (CPC) Program requirements, 2026. nbcrna.com
- BLS OEWS May 2025 — Ohio Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141) mean wage $87,730. bls.gov/oes/current/oes_oh.htm