Nurse Midwifes: Salary Overview
Nurse midwives are advanced practice registered nurses who provide gynecological exams, family planning services, and prenatal care to women.
Their main job duty includes delivering babies and managing emergency situations that may occur during childbirth but they may also provide care to their patients’ partners for sexual or reproductive issues.
Nurse midwives also assist physicians during cesarian births.
Nurse midwives have the role of educating their patients on how to lead healthy lives and how to care for their babies.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for nurse midwives was $105,030 as of May 2019.
Salaries in this field vary based on a variety of factors and as a nurse midwife you can make anywhere between less than $69,000 and more than $159,000 per year.
Nurse Midwife Salary by Industry
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse midwives held approximately 6,500 jobs in 2018, most of them working for offices of physicians, for hospitals or for outpatient care centers.
The numbers published by BLS show that the mean annual wage reported by nurse midwives employed in offices of physicians was $106,760, close to the median for all industries.
Nurse midwives employed by general medical and surgical hospitals reported an average annual wage of $110,180 in 2019.
A higher mean annual wage was reported by nurse midwives who worked for outpatient care centers such as birthing centers- a field where these medical professionals were paid, on average, with $123,620 per year.
The mean annual wage for nurse midwives who practiced in offices of other health practitioners was $80,560, lower than the average for this profession.
This sector includes offices of health practitioners such as chiropractors, optometrists, mental health practitioners (except physicians), physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists.
Nurse midwives employed by colleges, universities, and professional schools reported a mean annual wage of $105,590.
The highest average annual salary was reported by nurse midwives who worked for local governments- a field that hired only a few nurse midwives but paid them, on average, with $153,280 per year.
Those who are registered as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) may provide care in patients’ homes.
In conclusion salaries for nurse midwives vary widely depending on the industry of employment.
For example, a nurse midwife employed by a local government may earn more than double the salary earned by a nurse midwife who works in the office of a health practitioner.
However, there are many other factors that may influence how much a nurse midwife makes.
Although a master’s degree is enough for entry-level employment, earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) of Ph.D. may help you get a better-paying job.
Earning the Certified-Nurse Midwife credential offered by the American Midwifery Certification Board may also help you earn a higher salary.
Becoming certified is a requirement for licensure in most states.
Job Prospects
Overall employment for nurse midwives is projected to grow 16 percent from 2018 to 2028, which translates into 1,000 new jobs.
So job prospects are projected to be good, especially for those who are willing to relocate to underserved areas such as rural areas or inner cities.
In conclusion, this profession can be both financially and professionally rewarding but before being able to practice as a nurse midwife you will need several years of rigorous training and you will have to pass licensing and certification exams.
We should mention that this profession can be quite stressful as you may have to work night shift (especially if you work in a hospital or a birthing center) and you will have to spend a lot of time on your feet.
As a nurse who delivers babies, you may need to be on call.
Nurse midwives may come in contact with infectious diseases so it is very important that they follow very strict safety and sanitation procedures.
* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Nurse Midwifes. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.