Nurse Midwife salary in the U.S.
Nurse Midwives in the U.S. earn a median of $134,040 a year ($64.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,920 workers.
Pay ranges from $93,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,320 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $136,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for nurse midwives in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| 25th percentile | $116,510 | $56.01 |
| Median | $134,040 | $64.44 |
| 75th percentile | $157,400 | $75.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,320 | $90.54 |
| Average (mean) | $136,980 | $65.86 |
Half of nurse midwives earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,170 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,585 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,155.38 |
| Weekly | $2,577.69 |
| Hourly | $64.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Nurse Midwife salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $203,840 | 870 |
| Hawaii | $170,110 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $159,800 | 280 |
| Washington | $158,970 | 170 |
| New Jersey | $153,970 | 120 |
| Vermont | $151,030 | 60 |
| Oregon | $146,900 | 240 |
| New York | $144,510 | 360 |
| New Hampshire | $142,960 | 60 |
| Arizona | $140,960 | 80 |
| Maryland | $140,120 | 240 |
| Nebraska | $138,880 | n/a |
| Colorado | $137,610 | 180 |
| Virginia | $135,710 | n/a |
| Rhode Island | $135,180 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $134,810 | 410 |
| Alaska | $133,430 | 60 |
| Maine | $133,270 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $133,070 | 200 |
| Iowa | $131,360 | 80 |
| Utah | $130,930 | 140 |
| Connecticut | $130,790 | 150 |
| Missouri | $130,220 | 80 |
| Ohio | $127,730 | 180 |
| Delaware | $127,510 | n/a |
| Florida | $127,460 | 460 |
| North Carolina | $126,040 | 240 |
| Michigan | $125,140 | 430 |
| Texas | $123,380 | 290 |
| New Mexico | $123,350 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $122,390 | 100 |
| Illinois | $120,840 | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | $119,990 | 320 |
| Louisiana | $119,280 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $116,980 | 330 |
| Georgia | $105,510 | 300 |
| Indiana | $101,630 | 170 |
| District of Columbia | $101,450 | 70 |
| North Dakota | $72,630 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for nurse midwives
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $218,760 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $212,630 | 190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $202,850 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $191,220 | 80 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $184,620 | n/a |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $181,450 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $174,870 | 200 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $162,970 | 70 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $159,730 | 240 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $151,640 | 40 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $149,170 | 310 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $147,140 | 170 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $146,590 | n/a |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $141,520 | 50 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $139,530 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most nurse midwives
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 310 | $149,170 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 300 | $134,810 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 240 | $159,730 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 230 | $105,510 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 220 | $202,850 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 200 | $174,870 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 190 | $212,630 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 180 | $115,500 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 180 | $125,140 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 170 | $77,620 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 170 | $147,140 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 150 | $135,910 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 120 | $101,630 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 110 | $137,610 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 90 | $129,280 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $127.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Dentists, General | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 | $117.39 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,400 | $36.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1161. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse midwife make in the U.S.?
The median salary for nurse midwives in the U.S. is $134,040 a year, or $64.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $93,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nurse midwives make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of nurse midwives in the U.S. earn at least $188,320 a year. The top 25% earn $157,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for nurse midwives in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $93,620 a year, and a quarter of nurse midwives earn $116,510 or less.
How many nurse midwives work in the U.S.?
About 7,920 nurse midwives are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.