Nurse midwife salary
BLS occupation: Nurse Midwives · also called certified nurse midwife · Healthcare practitioners · data for May 2025
Median salary $134,040 a year, US
Median hourly pay $64.44 an hour
Middle half earn $116,510–$157,400 25th to 75th percentile
Nurse midwifes employed 7,920 +11.5% projected by 2035
How much does a nurse midwife make?
- The median nurse midwife salary in the US is $134,040 a year ($64.44 an hour): half of the 7,920 nurse midwifes BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $136,980.
- The middle half earn between $116,510 and $157,400. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $93,620 and the top 10% more than $188,320.
- That is 2.6 times the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- California pays nurse midwifes the most (median $203,840), followed by Hawaii ($170,110) and Massachusetts ($159,800). North Dakota pays the least ($72,630).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in California, where the median is worth $184,104 in typical US prices, then Hawaii and Vermont.
- In all 41 metro areas with data, the median nurse midwife salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of nurse midwifes to grow 11.5% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 400 openings a year. The typical entry education is a master's degree.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what nurse midwifes are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Nurse midwife salary range
Half of nurse midwifes earn between $116,510 and $157,400 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Lowest 10% earn under Yearly pay: $93,620
Lowest 25% earn under Yearly pay: $116,510
Median Yearly pay: $134,040
Top 25% earn over Yearly pay: $157,400
Top 10% earn over Yearly pay: $188,320
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $93,620 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $116,510 |
| Median | $134,040 |
| Top 25% earn over | $157,400 |
| Top 10% earn over | $188,320 |
Nurse midwife salary by state
California pays nurse midwifes the most; North Dakota the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($134,040), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.
- 20%+ below US
- 10–20% below
- 3–10% below
- Within 3%
- 3–10% above
- 10–20% above
- 20%+ above US
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| California | $203,840 median |
| Hawaii | $170,110 median |
| Massachusetts | $159,800 median |
| Washington | $158,970 median |
| New Jersey | $153,970 median |
| Vermont | $151,030 median |
| Oregon | $146,900 median |
| New York | $144,510 median |
| New Hampshire | $142,960 median |
| Arizona | $140,960 median |
| Maryland | $140,120 median |
| Nebraska | $138,880 median |
| Colorado | $137,610 median |
| Virginia | $135,710 median |
| Rhode Island | $135,180 median |
| Minnesota | $134,810 median |
| Alaska | $133,430 median |
| Maine | $133,270 median |
| Wisconsin | $133,070 median |
| Iowa | $131,360 median |
| Utah | $130,930 median |
| Connecticut | $130,790 median |
| Missouri | $130,220 median |
| Ohio | $127,730 median |
| Delaware | $127,510 median |
| Florida | $127,460 median |
| North Carolina | $126,040 median |
| Michigan | $125,140 median |
| Texas | $123,380 median |
| New Mexico | $123,350 median |
| South Carolina | $122,390 median |
| Illinois | $120,840 median |
| Pennsylvania | $119,990 median |
| Louisiana | $119,280 median |
| Tennessee | $116,980 median |
| Georgia | $105,510 median |
| Indiana | $101,630 median |
| District of Columbia | $101,450 median |
| North Dakota | $72,630 median |
Where nurse midwife pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Nurse midwifes' pay goes furthest in California once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| California | $184,104 |
| Hawaii | $154,714 |
| Vermont | $154,178 |
| Nebraska | $154,135 |
| Massachusetts | $151,101 |
| Iowa | $149,678 |
| Washington | $148,552 |
| Missouri | $143,387 |
| Oregon | $142,123 |
| New Jersey | $141,510 |
Nurse midwife pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $203,840 | $98.00 | $140,970 | $227,590 | 870 | $184,104 |
| Hawaii | $170,110 | $81.78 | $125,720 | $193,780 | – | $154,714 |
| Massachusetts | $159,800 | $76.83 | $120,230 | $204,000 | 280 | $151,101 |
| Washington | $158,970 | $76.43 | $73,320 | $175,100 | 170 | $148,552 |
| New Jersey | $153,970 | $74.02 | $134,400 | $193,760 | 120 | $141,510 |
| Vermont | $151,030 | $72.61 | $126,090 | $169,170 | 60 | $154,178 |
| Oregon | $146,900 | $70.63 | $129,910 | $161,180 | 240 | $142,123 |
| New York | $144,510 | $69.48 | $104,860 | $177,240 | 360 | $133,904 |
| New Hampshire | $142,960 | $68.73 | $78,680 | $164,930 | 60 | $137,244 |
| Arizona | $140,960 | $67.77 | $101,160 | $258,680 | 80 | $140,012 |
| Maryland | $140,120 | $67.37 | $127,340 | $166,910 | 240 | $133,500 |
| Nebraska | $138,880 | $66.77 | $130,370 | $138,880 | – | $154,135 |
| Colorado | $137,610 | $66.16 | $124,970 | $161,460 | 180 | $133,535 |
| Virginia | $135,710 | $65.25 | $108,110 | $164,450 | – | $134,228 |
| Rhode Island | $135,180 | $64.99 | $117,100 | $168,300 | 80 | $132,167 |
| Minnesota | $134,810 | $64.81 | $110,050 | $158,440 | 410 | $136,695 |
| Alaska | $133,430 | $64.15 | $111,400 | $175,290 | 60 | $130,355 |
| Maine | $133,270 | $64.07 | $110,900 | $144,730 | 50 | $137,321 |
| Wisconsin | $133,070 | $63.98 | $87,990 | $156,490 | 200 | $141,421 |
| Iowa | $131,360 | $63.15 | $81,620 | $158,930 | 80 | $149,678 |
| Utah | $130,930 | $62.95 | $59,340 | $169,440 | 140 | $132,434 |
| Connecticut | $130,790 | $62.88 | $122,870 | $147,440 | 150 | $126,233 |
| Missouri | $130,220 | $62.61 | $89,860 | $154,560 | 80 | $143,387 |
| Ohio | $127,730 | $61.41 | $105,110 | $143,250 | 180 | $137,679 |
| Delaware | $127,510 | $61.30 | $102,680 | $153,610 | – | $127,755 |
| Florida | $127,460 | $61.28 | $49,780 | $146,590 | 460 | $123,252 |
| North Carolina | $126,040 | $60.60 | $97,830 | $155,340 | 240 | $133,622 |
| Michigan | $125,140 | $60.16 | $104,370 | $142,430 | 430 | $130,060 |
| Texas | $123,380 | $59.32 | $90,260 | $153,100 | 290 | $127,121 |
| New Mexico | $123,350 | $59.30 | $61,430 | $150,340 | 50 | $133,768 |
| South Carolina | $122,390 | $58.84 | $90,880 | $151,590 | 100 | $130,551 |
| Illinois | $120,840 | $58.10 | $58,200 | $156,920 | 280 | $120,891 |
| Pennsylvania | $119,990 | $57.69 | $77,620 | $158,520 | 320 | $122,976 |
| Louisiana | $119,280 | $57.35 | $96,680 | $134,640 | 60 | $135,227 |
| Tennessee | $116,980 | $56.24 | $93,620 | $135,410 | 330 | $127,332 |
| Georgia | $105,510 | $50.73 | $86,290 | $164,300 | 300 | $109,572 |
| Indiana | $101,630 | $48.86 | $101,630 | $145,100 | 170 | $108,894 |
| District of Columbia | $101,450 | $48.77 | $92,250 | $150,640 | 70 | $92,310 |
| North Dakota | $72,630 | $34.92 | $71,200 | $163,860 | – | $81,644 |
BLS does not publish pay for nurse midwifes in 12 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Nurse midwife salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes nurse midwife pay: 41 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- Riverside, CA $218,760
- San Francisco, CA $212,630
- Los Angeles, CA $202,850
- Sacramento, CA $191,220
- Honolulu, HI $184,620
- San Diego, CA $181,450
- Boston, MA $174,870
- Seattle, WA $162,970
- New York, NY $159,730
- Buffalo, NY $151,640
Where the pay goes furthest
- Riverside, CA $205,520
- San Francisco, CA $183,915
- Sacramento, CA $179,263
- Los Angeles, CA $178,619
- Honolulu, HI $166,383
- San Diego, CA $162,173
- Boston, MA $161,519
- Buffalo, NY $158,215
- Omaha, NE $151,103
- Seattle, WA $146,644
All 41 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | $218,760 | 40 | $205,520 | 14% |
| San Francisco, CA | $212,630 | 190 | $183,915 | 19% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $202,850 | 220 | $178,619 | 17% |
| Sacramento, CA | $191,220 | 80 | $179,263 | 14% |
| Honolulu, HI | $184,620 | – | $166,383 | 20% |
| San Diego, CA | $181,450 | 60 | $162,173 | 20% |
| Boston, MA | $174,870 | 200 | $161,519 | 20% |
| Seattle, WA | $162,970 | 70 | $146,644 | 17% |
| New York, NY | $159,730 | 240 | $141,903 | 27% |
| Buffalo, NY | $151,640 | 40 | $158,215 | 11% |
| Washington, DC | $149,170 | 310 | $136,999 | 19% |
| Portland, OR | $147,140 | 170 | $139,574 | 15% |
| Miami, FL | $146,590 | – | $128,413 | 22% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $141,520 | 50 | $145,992 | 13% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $139,530 | 70 | $138,329 | 14% |
| Omaha, NE | $138,880 | – | $151,103 | 12% |
| Denver, CO | $137,610 | 110 | $130,088 | 17% |
| Baltimore, MD | $135,910 | 150 | $130,074 | 17% |
| Providence, RI | $135,180 | 90 | $132,825 | 19% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $134,810 | 300 | $128,608 | 15% |
| Columbus, OH | $134,380 | 50 | $140,758 | 14% |
| Anchorage, AK | $133,430 | 40 | $126,570 | 17% |
| St. Louis, MO | $133,330 | 40 | $140,217 | 13% |
| Rochester, NY | $132,240 | 30 | $136,281 | 14% |
| Raleigh, NC | $132,070 | 30 | $134,550 | 15% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $131,760 | 40 | $137,902 | 15% |
| New Haven, CT | $130,790 | 60 | $125,087 | 19% |
| Dallas, TX | $129,990 | – | $126,094 | 15% |
| Hartford, CT | $129,380 | 40 | $125,922 | 19% |
| Greenville, SC | $129,360 | 30 | $138,709 | 15% |
| Houston, TX | $129,280 | 90 | $131,077 | 15% |
| Charlotte, NC | $128,110 | 60 | $131,600 | 16% |
| Tampa, FL | $128,020 | – | $126,891 | 19% |
| Detroit, MI | $125,140 | 180 | $124,768 | 15% |
| Reading, PA | $124,470 | – | $128,240 | 15% |
| Nashville, TN | $117,010 | – | $121,458 | 18% |
| Memphis, TN | $116,440 | 70 | $126,319 | 14% |
| Chicago, IL | $115,500 | 180 | $111,492 | 22% |
| Atlanta, GA | $105,510 | 230 | $105,449 | 21% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $101,630 | 120 | $106,201 | 18% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $77,620 | 170 | $75,687 | 29% |
What the median nurse midwife salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $134,040 |
| Month | $11,170 |
| Every two weeks | $5,155 |
| Week | $2,578 |
| Hour | $64.44 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming a nurse midwife: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | Master's degree |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | None |
| On-the-job training | None |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +11.5% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 400 |
| Self-employed | 1.7% |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Similar jobs
| Job | Median a year | Typical education |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 | Associate's degree |
| Vet tech | $47,380 | Associate's degree |
| Speech-language pathologist | $97,870 | Master's degree |
| Physician assistant | $135,880 | Master's degree |
| Nurse practitioner | $132,300 | Master's degree |
| Medical lab tech | $62,930 | Bachelor's degree |
| MRI tech | $95,480 | Associate's degree |
| CRNA | $236,590 | Master's degree |
Questions about nurse midwife pay
How much does a nurse midwife make an hour?
The median is $64.44 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $45.01 and the top 10% over $90.54.
How much does a nurse midwife make a month?
About $11,170 a month before taxes at the median salary of $134,040, or $5,155 every two weeks.
What state pays nurse midwifes the most?
California, with a median of $203,840. Hawaii ($170,110), Massachusetts ($159,800), Washington ($158,970) and New Jersey ($153,970) follow.
Where do nurse midwifes make the most after cost of living?
California: its median of $203,840 is worth $184,104 at typical US prices. Hawaii, Vermont and Nebraska come next.
How much do entry-level nurse midwifes make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of nurse midwifes earn under $93,620 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $116,510, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become a nurse midwife?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a master's degree. Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: none.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 29-1161 (Nurse Midwives). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.