California Median
$203,840
per year
Hourly Rate
$98.00
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+52% vs US median
US median $134,040
State Rank
#1 of 39
870 employed here
How much does a Nurse Midwife make in California?
A Nurse Midwife working in California earns a median salary of $203,840 per year, or about $98.00 per hour. That is 52% above the national median of $134,040 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $140,970 while the top 10% make $227,590 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $176,080 and $216,560 a year.
Nurse Midwife salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $140,970 | $67.77 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $176,080 | $84.65 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $203,840 | $98.00 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $216,560 | $104.12 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $227,590 | $109.42 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 39 states and territories for Nurse Midwife pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Nurse Midwife salary in other states
Hawaii $170,110Massachusetts $159,800Washington $158,970New Jersey $153,970Vermont $151,030Oregon $146,900New York $144,510New Hampshire $142,960Arizona $140,960Maryland $140,120Nebraska $138,880Colorado $137,610Virginia $135,710Rhode Island $135,180Minnesota $134,810Alaska $133,430Maine $133,270Wisconsin $133,070Iowa $131,360Utah $130,930Connecticut $130,790Missouri $130,220Ohio $127,730Delaware $127,510Florida $127,460North Carolina $126,040Michigan $125,140Texas $123,380New Mexico $123,350South Carolina $122,390Illinois $120,840Pennsylvania $119,990Louisiana $119,280Tennessee $116,980Georgia $105,510Indiana $101,630District of Columbia $101,450North Dakota $72,630
Working as a Nurse Midwife in California
Nationally, about 8,000 people work as Nurse Midwives in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($203,840) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Nurse Midwife make in California?
The median Nurse Midwife salary in California is $203,840 per year, or about $98.00 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $140,970 at the entry level to $227,590 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Nurse Midwives about 52% more than the national median of $134,040. California ranks 1st out of 39 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Nurse Midwives?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $203,840 a year. About 870 Nurse Midwives are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Nurse Midwife salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.