Median Salary
$134,040
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$64.44
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$188,320
entry level starts ~$93,620
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 8,000 employed
How much does a Nurse Midwife make?
The median pay for a Nurse Midwife in the United States is $134,040 per year — about $64.44 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $93,620, while the most experienced Nurse Midwives in the top 10% earn $188,320.
That is $72,650 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Nurse Midwife salary range by percentile
Half of all Nurse Midwives earn between $116,510 and $157,400 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,620 | $45.01 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $116,510 | $56.01 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $134,040 | $64.44 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $157,400 | $75.67 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,320 | $90.54 |
|
Highest-paying states for Nurse Midwife
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Nurse Midwife pay at $203,840 a year, followed by Hawaii ($170,110) and Massachusetts ($159,800). At the other end, North Dakota posts the lowest median at $72,630 — a gap of $131,210 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Nurse Midwife salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 39 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
California $203,840Hawaii $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
Workforce and education
About 8,000 people work as Nurse Midwives in the United States. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Nurse Midwife make in the United States?
The median Nurse Midwife salary in the United States is $134,040 per year, or about $64.44 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $93,620, while the top 10% of earners make $188,320 or more.
How does Nurse Midwife pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Nurse Midwife median of $134,040 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Nurse Midwives the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Nurse Midwives, with a median salary of $203,840 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Nurse Midwife?
Becoming a Nurse Midwife typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Nurse Midwives work in the United States?
About 8,000 people were employed as Nurse Midwives in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.