Background Information
First, before we begin, here are some official reference points on Nurse Anesthetist Salary Chicago from official sources:
- Salary.com states the median CRNA Salary Chicago is US$198,082 and ranges from US$167,444 at the lowest 10% and US$232,482 at the highest 90% quartile.
- In the official AANA career survey of over 5,000 CRNAs, the median CRNA salary in Illinois is US$192,500 and the median CRNA total income is US$212,967.
- The US government Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average CRNA salary in Illinois is US$199,660.
My Study on CRNA Salary in Chicago
- CRNA Offer #1: US$170,000 (Chicago)
- Nurse Anesthetist Job Offer #2: US$165,000 (Chicago)
- CRNA Offer #3: US$165,000 (Chicago)
Similar to CRNA jobs in other cities, benefits were quite standard from all the hospitals. They included standard malpractice, health insurance, life insurance, dental, disability, matching contribution to retirement plans.
Sign-on Bonus for CRNA Salary in Chicago
Indirectly, these sign-on bonuses are retention bonuses because they can have strings attached. I’ve seen CRNA sign-on bonuses paid out prior to graduation in addition to ones paid out half and half. To clarify, the hospital paid half prior to graduation and the other half after 6 months of employment. To emphasize, sign on bonuses always have a commitment in terms of the numbers of years you need to continue working at that hospital. Remember – There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch!
If you leave prior to the agreement, the hospital will ask for the entire signing bonus to be returned. As a side note, it’s important that you speak with other CRNAs to get feedback on the hospital’s reputation. The reason is because an unknown hospital may be mismanaged and offering high sign-on bonuses as the only way to attract staff. It’s always important to do your research before you join a hospital in Chicago because taking on a sign-on bonus is a significant commitment, like being in a long-term relationship!
One last thing to mention – don’t forget that the APRN credentialing process in Chicago and Illinois takes a long time. It’s one of the toughest states, alongside California. Be sure to properly budget time and plan for this.
Other Considerations for CRNA Salary Chicago
I have spoken to many CRNAs working in Chicago and they tell me the same thing. Similar to a CRNA in NYC, there is very little or no autonomy working at large hospitals in the City. Opportunities to do Obstetrics, place blocks and central lines are rare.
Second, if your main purpose is money, you would be able to save more by working in other cities. Like New York City, the cost of living in Chicago is still quite expensive compared to the CRNA Salary Chicago. You would be able to earn the same CRNA salary in other States but have nearly one third the cost of living.
Nurse Anesthetist Salary Map
How does CRNA Salary in Chicago compare to other US cities? Check out the nurse anesthetist salary map below to learn more information and compare the results.
Notes:
The darker the green color equivocates to a higher the average CRNA salary.
Tier 1 = Top 25% CRNA Salary in the US
2nd Tier = Top 50% CRNA Salary in the US
Tier 3 = Top 75% CRNA Salary in the US
Tier 4 = Bottom 25% CRNA Salary in the US
Data source: AANA Career Survey
Best CRNA Programs
Other Illinois CRNA Information
Conclusion
In conclusion, the actual CRNA Salary Chicago that I discovered seemed lower than official estimates from other job websites. The realistic CRNA Salary Chicago range seems to be US$165,000 to US$170,000. What I’ve learned is the CRNA profession is different from other occupations, so the salary metric is difficult to generalize. Many CRNA’s work multiple jobs, some do a lot of call shifts, while others run their own practice. My purpose on this article on CRNA Salary Chicago is not to give one concrete final number but to give a range of figures for you to think about, to help negotiate your job offer or to help you decide on which city you want to live and work as a CRNA.
Do you work in Chicago as a CRNA? How do your job offers for CRNA salary compare to those that I received in Chicago? Please help share your salary information to help the community. We can all grow stronger by sharing together. Click on the image gallery below for more information on Nurse Anesthetist Salary in Chicago.