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Nurse midwife: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$134,040median pay per year, or $64.44 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $93,620lowest 10% earn less
  2. $116,51025th percentile
  3. $134,040median
  4. $157,40075th percentile
  5. $188,320top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A nurse midwife had median pay of $134,040 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 11.5% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+11.5%[2]
Openings per year
400[6]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[7]

How much do nurse midwives make?

The median wage for nurse midwives was $134,040 a year, or $64.44 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $136,980 a year, or $65.86 an hour[8]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[5].

Pay varied across the range. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $93,620 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $188,320[4]. BLS publishes percentile boundaries, not a starting salary[9].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][10] $93,620 $45.01
25th[4][10] $116,510 $56.01
Median[1] $134,040 $64.44
75th[4][10] $157,400 $75.67
90th[4][10] $188,320 $90.54

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[11]. About 1.7% of nurse midwives were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

California had the top state median at $203,840, followed by Hawaii at $170,110 and Massachusetts at $159,800[13]. North Dakota had the lowest published median at $72,630[13]. BLS published state figures for 38 states and DC[13].

California also had the most jobs, at 870[14]. Florida (460), Michigan (430), Minnesota (410) and New York (360) followed[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[15], San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont led on pay with a median of $212,630[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim came next at $202,850, then Boston-Cambridge-Newton at $174,870[15]. The Washington, DC area had the most metro jobs at 310[16]. Minneapolis-St. Paul followed at 300[16].

Show median pay in 38 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[13]$203,840870
Hawaii$170,110n/a
Massachusetts$159,800280
Washington$158,970170
New Jersey$153,970120
Vermont$151,03060
Oregon$146,900240
New York$144,510360
New Hampshire$142,96060
Arizona$140,96080
Maryland$140,120240
Nebraska$138,880n/a
Colorado$137,610180
Virginia$135,710n/a
Rhode Island$135,18080
Minnesota$134,810410
Alaska$133,43060
Maine$133,27050
Wisconsin$133,070200
Iowa$131,36080
Utah$130,930140
Connecticut$130,790150
Missouri$130,22080
Ohio$127,730180
Delaware$127,510n/a
Florida$127,460460
North Carolina$126,040240
Michigan$125,140430
Texas$123,380290
New Mexico$123,35050
South Carolina$122,390100
Illinois$120,840280
Pennsylvania$119,990320
Louisiana$119,28060
Tennessee$116,980330
Georgia$105,510300
Indiana$101,630170
District of Columbia$101,45070
North Dakota$72,630n/a

How to become a nurse midwife

The BLS training details come from a profile that covers a wider group, which includes nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners[17]. The path for advanced practice nurses is:

BLS lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training for nurse midwives[7]. Some employers may also ask for CPR or life support certification[23]. Requirements differ from state to state, so each state's board of nursing has the details[22].

In an ONET survey of 32 workers, 81% said a master's degree was required and 16% said a post-master's certificate[24]. ONET lists "Certified Nurse-Midwife" among job titles workers reported[25].

What nurse midwives do

O*NET describes the job as diagnosing and coordinating the birthing process, either alone or on a healthcare team. Some also provide well-woman gynecological care[26]. Typical tasks include:

Where nurse midwives work

In the wider group of advanced practice nurses, 46% worked in physicians' offices in 2025[28]. Some nurse midwives work in birthing centers, and some advanced practice nurses care for patients at home[29]. Some travel long distances to reach places with few healthcare workers[30].

Most advanced practice nurses work full time[31]. In hospitals they may work shifts that include nights, weekends and holidays[31]. Those who deliver babies may need to be on call[31]. The work can be tiring on the body and stressful, and it involves some contact with infectious disease[32][33].

Job outlook

BLS projects nurse midwife employment to grow 11.5% from 2025 to 2035[2]. That is from about 8,200 to 9,100 jobs, a gain of about 900[2]. For all occupations the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 400 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2% of workers leave the labor force and 1.9% move to a different occupation[34]. The field is small, with about 7,920 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[35].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a well-paid field that asks for a lot of schooling. A master's degree is the typical entry level, and a nursing license and national certification are part of the path[7][21]. Pay was well above the all-occupations median, and growth is projected above the all-occupations rate[1][5][2][3]. The field is small, with about 7,920 wage and salary jobs[35]. The work can include shifts, on-call time and physical strain[32][31].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a nurse midwife make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $64.44 in May 2025, and the average was $65.86[1][8].
What degree do you need to be a nurse midwife?
BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education[7]. You also need a registered nursing license, a graduate program, national certification and a state license[21][18].
What is the highest paying state for nurse midwives?
California, with a median of $203,840 a year, is first in the state list[13]. Hawaii is second at $170,110[13].
Is nurse midwife a growing field?
BLS projects 11.5% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 400 openings are projected each year[6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Nurse Midwives in the US was $134,040 per year and $64.44 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Nurse Midwives is projected to grow 11.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 8,200 to 9,100 jobs (a change of +900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Nurse Midwives: 10th percentile $93,620, 25th percentile $116,510, 75th percentile $157,400, 90th percentile $188,320. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 400 openings for Nurse Midwives are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Nurse Midwives: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Nurse Midwives was $136,980 per year and $65.86 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Nurse Midwives: 10th percentile $45.01, 25th percentile $56.01, 75th percentile $75.67, 90th percentile $90.54. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 1.7% of Nurse Midwives were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Nurse Midwives in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Nurse Midwives jobs: California 870; Florida 460; Michigan 430; Minnesota 410; New York 360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Nurse Midwives (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $212,630; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $202,850; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $174,870; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $159,730; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $149,170; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $147,140; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $137,610; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $135,910. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Nurse Midwives jobs: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 310 (median $149,170); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 300 (median $134,810); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 240 (median $159,730); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 230 (median $105,510); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 220 (median $202,850); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 200 (median $174,870). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners" covers Nurse Midwives together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 29-1161.00 survey of workers (32 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 81%, Post-Master's Certificate 16% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 29-1161.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), Nurse Midwife, Staff Certified Nurse Midwife, Staff Nurse Midwife. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET description of Nurse Midwives. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Nurse Midwives. O*NET OnLine
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners in 2025: Offices of physicians 46%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Nurse Midwives: 2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 1.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 7,920 people were employed as Nurse Midwives in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.