I know you’ve all seen it. We’ve all seen it. My FYP page is screaming CRNA! So, is being a CRNA really the dream? I decided to look into it for all of us girls dreaming of the perfect life, and here’s what I found out. The short answer is yes; the long answer is complicated.
As you get older, you become obsessed with work-life balance. What does that even mean? To my sister, who just became a new mom, it’s not missing out on her child’s milestones. To me, it means having more time to pursue other passions. Work-life balance doesn’t work unless you also have financial freedom.
So, when CRNAs started “trending” on TikTok, we became curious. Here’s a career that offers you work-life balance and financial freedom. Is it all true, or is TikTok hyping us up? We needed to know before we signed up for school again and thus the dreaded school loans. I did some digging.
According to the U.S. Department Of Labor, Registered nurses is the most common occupation for women in the Labor Force at 2.2 million in 2024. I only bring this up because you have to be an RN to become a CRNA, in case you didn’t know that. So here’s what you need to know about becoming a CRNA.
- BSN Degree
- 1 year RN in ICU
- 3 years in a CRNA Program
Okay, now that you’re a CRNA, now what? I went to Reddit to answer the work-life balance question. Here are a few real-life responses to this question: thread one, thread two, thread three. I also went on Indeed and LinkedIn to see what the job market was for CRNAs, and what I found coincided with the Reddit threads. It seems that a CRNA’s work schedule is very flexible, which can give someone the luxury of prioritizing their personal life. Who wouldn’t love that? I know moms and non-moms love the sound of that.
Now, what about financial freedom? What are CRNAs earning that makes 3 years of school and essentially working for free worth it? I spent a lot of time looking into this one because money talks and, well, you know the rest. I did the usual searches on Google. In 2025, the average CRNA made $259,000, according to ZipRecruiter. I follow a few CRNAs on TikTok, and some share their salary, which I love because salary transparency helps us all. But that wasn’t enough for me, so I turned to Reddit once again.
What the new grads are sharing with us on Reddit is crazy good! Thread one shows us her pay progression after CRNA school. Sign me up like yesterday! Thread two, we see MDs and CRNAs going head to head over salary and who should be making more. Can’t we all get along? A month ago, a 31-year-old CRNA male posted his earnings on this thread from his first year working as a CRNA. The salaries I’ve seen for new grads range from 225k to 300k, depending on location.
It’s needless to say, friends, that this career choice is a winner. Don’t be fooled, though; it is not an easy path to get there. The schooling is gruesome and expensive, but if you have the will, there is a way. I have to go make plans now. Love you, bye!
