Per diemPosted 10 days ago
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), San Diego (Per Diem)
Kaiser Permanente · San Diego, CA
Pay range with your report
CRNA jobs in San Diego, CA
CRNAs in the San Diego area earn a median of $115+ per hour, about $239,200+ a year, and the middle half of them earn between $115+ and $115+. That is 7% above the U.S. median of $107.31 per hour. The CMS hospital directory lists 9 hospitals in San Diego. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near San Diego.
- $115+median pay per hour, San Diego
- $115+–$115+typical range per hour
- 100CRNAs employed in the metro area
- 112cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open CRNA roles in San Diego
1 more open role from employers in San Diego. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
CRNA pay in San Diego, CA
The metro median is in line with the California statewide median of $115+ per hour. Nationally the median is $107.31 per hour. BLS counts about 100 nurse anesthetists employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 0.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.19).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $106.20 | $220,900 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $115+ | $239,200+ | 7% above U.S. median |
| Median | $115+ | $239,200+ | 7% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $115+ | $239,200+ | 7% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $115+ | $239,200+ | 7% above U.S. median |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Nurse Anesthetists (SOC 29-1151), all industries. Figures marked $115+ are the BLS top-coded maximum. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
Get the San Diego CRNA pay report
Named employers near San Diego, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in San Diego
- Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
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.
Travel assignment per diem in San Diego
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $205 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,037 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,481 |
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. 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).
Hospitals in San Diego
CMS lists 9 hospitals in San Diego, 5 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of CRNAs.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Va San Diego Healthcare System San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Nmc San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Department of Defense | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Aurora San Diego San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in San Diego County
HRSA lists 25 active primary care shortage designations that include San Diego County (4 population-group, 21 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa, CA | 7 mi | $115+/hr | 60,767 |
| Santee, CA | 9 mi | $115+/hr | 59,104 |
| Temecula, CA | 47 mi | $115+/hr | 112,431 |
License and tax basics in California
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in San Diego
San Diego city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do CRNAs make in San Diego, CA?
CRNAs in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $115+ per hour, about $239,200+ a year. The middle half earn between $115+ and $115+ per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Where do CRNAs work in San Diego?
CMS lists 9 hospitals in San Diego, led by Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in San Diego as a CRNA?
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is San Diego in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 25 active primary care shortage designations that include San Diego 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 San Diego?
The federal per diem benchmark in San Diego is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place CRNAs in San Diego?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in San Diego and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near San Diego.
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What do employers near San Diego 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
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your CRNA pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your California 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 California 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 CRNA roles
Open CRNA roles near San Diego, CA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.