I understand the difference and you are right. I just find it hard to beleive a nurse of any sort is getting straight out of school making 150 with no experience. I would like to see that job posting. From my research that is the top end of the scale. Even regular nurses dont make 80 coming out of school MOST of the time probably not ALL the time. Congrats to your nephew if that was the case.

From http://www.crnasalary.com/
Nurse anesthetist
CRNA Salary Information

Reflecting their level of responsibility, CRNAs are one of the best paid nursing specialties.

According to a Merritt Hawkins & Associates study from 2009 the average salary for CRNAs was $189,000. Although in 2005 the average annual CRNA salary was reported as $160,000, although starting salaries tend to be closer to $110,000-$130,000

I find that hard to believe for a starting salary. I wonder if the nurses would have to purchase mal-practice insurance?

Great facts thatnks. yeah I thought 175ish was high starting out of college. Even though thats a possibility I would guess with todays market starting at that is probably hard with competition. This brings up something else is that these people that go to school to get these jobs deserve good money but this kind of money to be a high speed nurse right out of the gate, we wonder why it cost 20 grand to get a few stitches and x rays.

You bring up a good point about the insurance, that could be part of it, which if it is I wonder how much a year that is. From what I have seen average that cost 28-50 a year. so if you start at 130 and minus 50 then your at 80 which is still good. Good point brad that could be the reason this starts out so high

http://www.valuemd.com/physician-salary-first-year.html
Doctors starting salary, how much faith can you put in something you find with a search engine?

SPECIALTY Years 1-2
Allergy/ Immunology $158,000
Ambulatory $80,000
Anesthesiology: Pediatrics $283,000
Anesthesiology: General $207,000
Anesthesiology: Pain Management $315,000
Cardiology: Invasive $258,000
Cardiology: Interventional $290,000
Cardiology: Noninvasive $268,000
Critical Care $187,000
Dermatology $195,000
Emergency Medicine $192,000
Endocrinology $171,000
FP (with OB) $182,000
FP (w/o OB) $161,000
FP - Sports Medicine $152,000
FP - Urgent Care $128,000
Gastroenterology $265,000
Hematology/Oncology $181,348
Infectious Disease $154,000
Internal Medicine $154,000
IM (Hospitalist) $161,000
Medicine/Pediatrics $139,000
Medical Oncology $198,000
Neonatal Medicine $286,000
Nephrology $191,000
Neurology $180,000
Obstetrics/Gynecology $211,000
Gynecology $159,000
Maternal/Fetal Medicine $286,000
Occupational Medicine $139,000
Ophthalmology $138,000
Ophthalmology Retina $280,000
Orthopedic Surgery $256,000
ORS - Foot & Ankle $228,000
ORS - Hand & Upper Extremities $288,000
ORS - Hip & Joint Replacement $330,000
ORS - Spine Surgery $398,000
ORS - Sports Medicine $266,000
Otorhinolaryngology $194,000
Pathology $169,000
Pediatrics $135,000
Pediatrics - Cardiology $145,000
Pediatrics - Critical Care $196,000
Pediatrics - Hematology/Oncology $182,000
Pediatrics - Neurology $175,000
Physiatry $169,000
Podiatry $128,000
Psychiatry $149,000
Psychiatry - Child and Adolescent $158,000
Pulmonary Medicine + Critical Care $215,000
Radiation Oncology $241,000
Radiology $201,000
Rheumatology $179,000
Surgery - General $226,000
Surgery - Cardiovascular $336,000
Surgery - Neurological $354,000
Surgery - Plastic $237,000
Surgery - Vascular $270,000
Urology $261,000

nurse anesthetists do not pay insurance fees as they are covered under the operating anesthesiologists policy. that 110-130k number is on the low side. my cousin was offered several postitions in the 145-165k range. granted the position requires training and additional school, it still demands nearly double the starting salary of regular nurses.

2fast9tech2,
Do you know if there is a high demand for nurse anesthetists? What area was your cousin interviewing?

there is a huge demand. my cousin was picked up by a local walk in clinic whom paid for his training. he actually stayed with them after completion.

his good friend who was actually in the same school with him relocated to TX for a 165k offer.

as my cousin puts it, the nurses do all the work while the anesthesiologists just oversee everything. anesthesiologists make around 275k. its a lucrative field but then again, they have all the risk. putting someone to sleep is no easy task. kill or injure someone its all over.

Now I know why the Health insurance plans I give my employees is so out of whack. Those $$ are stupidly high.

Yeah then deduct the cost of the education (student loans) and the cost of insurance and suddenly Dr's aren't rich anymore! I have a neighbor that is a surgeon, she took a few years off to have kids/raise the family (her husband is a Dr. as well). Her insurance was 30K a year and she kept the policy current (paid the premiums) because she had no claims and feared not being able to get insurance again when she resumed her work schedule!

I know a OBGYN that is out on disability (fell down a staircase, looks fine but ins. company declared him disabled due to the fact he can't lift one arm over his head and that would inhibit child delivery). He makes more money disabled than he netted working (gross - insurance - office overhead = net and the DI payout is currently greater than his former net income!).

Lawyers are making all the money in the medical field, the days of Dr's being the rich guy in towna and playing golf on Wednesdays is over.......

Many hospitals in Florida aren't allowing them to work in their facilities forcing them to work offsite in Dr. offices instead. Wages are way down from 20 years ago in that field. Insurance companies don't want hospitals using these nurses, they want Dr's knocking people out!