PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist)
Veterans Health Administration · Little Rock, AR
$185k–$268k/ year
CRNA jobs in Fort Smith, AR
CRNAs in Arkansas earn a median of $64.53 per hour, about $134,230 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $40.38 and $89.80. That is 40% below the U.S. median of $107.31 per hour. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Fort Smith.
- $64.53median pay per hour, Arkansas
- $40–$90typical range per hour
- 86cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
CRNA pay in Fort Smith, AR
Nationally the median is $107.31 per hour. BLS counts about 320 nurse anesthetists employed in Arkansas.
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $40.01 | $83,220 | 63% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $40.38 | $83,990 | 62% below U.S. median |
| Median | $64.53 | $134,230 | 40% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $89.80 | $186,780 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $104.87 | $218,130 | 2% below U.S. median |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Nurse Anesthetists (SOC 29-1151), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Fort Smith
- Overall prices in Fort Smith run 14% below the U.S. average (index 85.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 47% below the U.S. average (index 53.4).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Fort Smith CRNA pay report
Named employers near Fort Smith, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Fort Smith paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,323
- Per year: $116,154
- Per month: $9,680
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for Arkansas. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Fort Smith
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel CRNA assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Open CRNA roles in Arkansas
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Fort Smith as they open.
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20+ more CRNA roles for you in Arkansas
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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Hospitals in Fort Smith
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of CRNAs.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Hospital Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Baptist Health - Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Sebastian County
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Sebastian County (1 population-group). The highest-scoring one rates 15 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
CRNA pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 51 mi | $40.01/hr | 103,134 |
| Springdale, AR | 59 mi | $40.01/hr | 89,368 |
| Rogers, AR | 68 mi | $40.01/hr | 75,639 |
| Bentonville, AR | 70 mi | $40.01/hr | 61,791 |
| Broken Arrow, OK | 92 mi | $115+/hr | 122,756 |
| Tulsa, OK | 101 mi | $115+/hr | 415,154 |
License and tax basics in Arkansas
Arkansas is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Arkansas license by endorsement.
Arkansas taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Fort Smith
Fort Smith city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do CRNAs make in Fort Smith, AR?
CRNAs in Arkansas have a median pay of $64.53 per hour, about $134,230 a year. The middle half earn between $40.38 and $89.80 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Where do CRNAs work in Fort Smith?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith, led by Mercy Hospital Fort Smith. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Arkansas license to work in Fort Smith as a CRNA?
Arkansas is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Arkansas license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Fort Smith in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Sebastian County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Fort Smith?
The federal per diem benchmark in Fort Smith is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place CRNAs in Fort Smith?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Fort Smith and across Arkansas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Fort Smith.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Fort Smith pay CRNAs? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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20+ CRNA roles in Arkansas, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your CRNA pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Arkansas list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Essentia HealthDuluth, MN · 4 postings$173.59/ hr$142–$200
- MercyWisconsin · 3 postings$152.50/ hr$88–$200
- NewYork-PresbyterianNew York · 7 postings$145.43/ hr$130–$161
- Mass General BrighamSalem, MA · 26 postings$140.62/ hr$67–$200
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Arkansas list
2What they are offering now
Low$90Median$139.42High$191
106 CRNA postings with published pay in the US, 69 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 CRNA roles
- Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist)Permanent$185k–$268k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.