Nurse Midwives
Nurse Midwives (SOC 29-1161) earn a median $134,040 a year ($64.44 an hour) in the United States, with 7,920 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What nurse midwives do
Nurse midwives are nurses with specialized graduate education who diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team. They provide prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum and newborn care, and may provide well-woman gynecological care. In prenatal care they monitor fetal development by listening to the fetal heartbeat, taking external uterine measurements, identifying fetal position and estimating fetal size and weight. They document health histories, symptoms and physical conditions, order and interpret diagnostic or laboratory tests, and develop individualized plans for health care management. They offer family planning services such as inserting intrauterine devices, dispensing oral contraceptives and fitting cervical barriers. They prescribe medications as permitted by state regulations, and they explain procedures to patients, family members and staff. O*NET lists certified nurse midwife among its alternate titles. About four in five respondents report a master's degree. Obstetricians, who are physicians and surgeons, are counted in a separate group.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a master's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (81 percent).
Also called: Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), Direct-Entry Midwife, Nurse Midwife, Postpartum Nurse.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $45.01 | $56.01 | $64.44 | $75.67 | $90.54 | $65.86 | 7,920 |
| Annual | $93,620 | $116,510 | $134,040 | $157,400 | $188,320 | $136,980 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where nurse midwives earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $67.77 | $84.66 | $98.00 | $104.11 | $109.42 | $93.62 | 870 | 0.05 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $140,970 | $176,080 | $203,840 | $216,560 | $227,590 | $194,730 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $60.44 | $63.71 | $81.78 | $93.16 | $93.16 | $79.50 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $125,720 | $132,530 | $170,110 | $193,780 | $193,780 | $165,360 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $57.80 | $67.32 | $76.83 | $84.78 | $98.08 | $78.09 | 280 | 0.08 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $120,230 | $140,030 | $159,800 | $176,340 | $204,000 | $162,420 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $35.25 | $53.13 | $76.43 | $78.35 | $84.19 | $67.72 | 170 | 0.05 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $73,320 | $110,510 | $158,970 | $162,970 | $175,100 | $140,860 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $64.62 | $67.81 | $74.03 | $80.76 | $93.16 | $76.52 | 120 | 0.03 | 0.53 |
| Annual | $134,400 | $141,050 | $153,970 | $167,980 | $193,760 | $159,170 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $67.77 | $84.66 | $98.00 | $104.11 | $109.42 | $93.62 | 870 | 0.05 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $140,970 | $176,080 | $203,840 | $216,560 | $227,590 | $194,730 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $23.93 | $32.91 | $61.28 | $63.83 | $70.48 | $53.78 | 460 | 0.05 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $49,780 | $68,450 | $127,460 | $132,760 | $146,590 | $111,870 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $50.18 | $54.73 | $60.16 | $65.25 | $68.47 | $60.21 | 430 | 0.10 | 1.90 |
| Annual | $104,370 | $113,840 | $125,140 | $135,730 | $142,430 | $125,240 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $52.91 | $60.13 | $64.81 | $70.46 | $76.17 | $65.09 | 410 | 0.14 | 2.70 |
| Annual | $110,050 | $125,070 | $134,810 | $146,560 | $158,440 | $135,380 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $50.41 | $62.79 | $69.48 | $77.99 | $85.21 | $68.93 | 360 | 0.04 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $104,860 | $130,600 | $144,510 | $162,220 | $177,240 | $143,360 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | $59.32 | $80.70 | $105.17 | $105.17 | $106.79 | $92.88 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $123,380 | $167,860 | $218,760 | $218,760 | $222,130 | $193,190 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $79.55 | $100.51 | $102.23 | $105.01 | $123.57 | $100.71 | 190 | 0.08 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $165,470 | $209,050 | $212,630 | $218,420 | $257,020 | $209,470 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $68.78 | $83.99 | $97.52 | $107.97 | $114.09 | $95.37 | 220 | 0.04 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $143,070 | $174,700 | $202,850 | $224,580 | $237,310 | $198,360 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $61.54 | $84.03 | $91.93 | $102.10 | $104.11 | $91.23 | 80 | 0.07 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $128,000 | $174,790 | $191,220 | $212,370 | $216,560 | $189,750 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $60.44 | $65.36 | $88.76 | $93.16 | $93.16 | $80.86 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $125,720 | $135,940 | $184,620 | $193,780 | $193,780 | $168,200 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $48.77 | $60.60 | $71.72 | $79.06 | $80.04 | $68.00 | 310 | 0.10 | 1.97 |
| Annual | $101,450 | $126,060 | $149,170 | $164,450 | $166,490 | $141,440 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $52.91 | $62.24 | $64.81 | $70.46 | $76.18 | $65.94 | 300 | 0.16 | 3.05 |
| Annual | $110,050 | $129,460 | $134,810 | $146,560 | $158,440 | $137,160 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $58.92 | $68.25 | $76.80 | $85.42 | $91.56 | $76.33 | 240 | 0.03 | 0.49 |
| Annual | $122,550 | $141,970 | $159,730 | $177,680 | $190,430 | $158,770 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $41.49 | $45.87 | $50.73 | $70.97 | $79.42 | $57.95 | 230 | 0.08 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $86,300 | $95,410 | $105,510 | $147,620 | $165,190 | $120,530 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $68.78 | $83.99 | $97.52 | $107.97 | $114.09 | $95.37 | 220 | 0.04 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $143,070 | $174,700 | $202,850 | $224,580 | $237,310 | $198,360 | ||||
Top industries employing nurse midwives
Offices of Physicians employ 41.3% of nurse midwives nationally (3,270 jobs) at a median $130,870 a year ($62.92 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (23.0%) and Outpatient Care Centers (19.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 3,270 | 41.3% | $130,870 | $62.92 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 1,820 | 23.0% | $140,990 | $67.78 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 1,560 | 19.7% | $157,440 | $75.69 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | 760 | 9.6% | $94,180 | $45.28 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 110 | 1.4% | $134,870 | $64.84 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (7,920). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $112,830 for nurse midwives in May 2021 and $134,040 in May 2025, with employment of 7,750 and 7,920.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $112,830 | $54.24 | 7,750 |
| May 2022 | $120,880 | $58.12 | 7,950 |
| May 2023 | $129,650 | $62.33 | 6,960 |
| May 2024 | $128,790 | $61.92 | 8,280 |
| May 2025 | $134,040 | $64.44 | 7,920 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
39 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $98.00 | $203,840 | $140,970 | $227,590 | 870 | 0.05 | 0.93 |
| 2 | Hawaii profile | $81.78 | $170,110 | $125,720 | $193,780 | ** | ** | ** |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $76.83 | $159,800 | $120,230 | $204,000 | 280 | 0.08 | 1.50 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $76.43 | $158,970 | $73,320 | $175,100 | 170 | 0.05 | 0.92 |
| 5 | New Jersey profile | $74.03 | $153,970 | $134,400 | $193,760 | 120 | 0.03 | 0.53 |
| 6 | Vermont profile | $72.61 | $151,030 | $126,090 | $169,170 | 60 | 0.21 | 4.15 |
| 7 | Oregon profile | $70.62 | $146,900 | $129,910 | $161,180 | 240 | 0.12 | 2.41 |
| 8 | New York profile | $69.48 | $144,510 | $104,860 | $177,240 | 360 | 0.04 | 0.73 |
| 9 | New Hampshire profile | $68.73 | $142,960 | $78,680 | $164,930 | 60 | 0.09 | 1.69 |
| 10 | Arizona profile | $67.77 | $140,960 | $101,160 | $258,680 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.49 |
| 11 | Maryland profile | $67.37 | $140,120 | $127,340 | $166,910 | 240 | 0.09 | 1.73 |
| 12 | Nebraska profile | $66.77 | $138,880 | $130,370 | $138,880 | ** | ** | ** |
| 13 | Colorado profile | $66.16 | $137,610 | $124,970 | $161,460 | 180 | 0.06 | 1.26 |
| 14 | Virginia profile | $65.25 | $135,710 | $108,110 | $164,450 | ** | ** | ** |
| 15 | Rhode Island profile | $64.99 | $135,180 | $117,100 | $168,300 | 80 | 0.16 | 3.11 |
| 16 | Minnesota profile | $64.81 | $134,810 | $110,050 | $158,440 | 410 | 0.14 | 2.70 |
| 17 | Alaska profile | $64.15 | $133,430 | $111,400 | $175,290 | 60 | 0.17 | 3.35 |
| 18 | Maine profile | $64.07 | $133,270 | $110,900 | $144,730 | 50 | 0.07 | 1.40 |
| 19 | Wisconsin profile | $63.97 | $133,070 | $87,990 | $156,490 | 200 | 0.07 | 1.32 |
| 20 | Iowa profile | $63.16 | $131,360 | $81,620 | $158,930 | 80 | 0.05 | 0.95 |
| 21 | Utah profile | $62.95 | $130,930 | $59,340 | $169,440 | 140 | 0.08 | 1.55 |
| 22 | Connecticut profile | $62.88 | $130,790 | $122,870 | $147,440 | 150 | 0.09 | 1.71 |
| 23 | Missouri profile | $62.61 | $130,220 | $89,860 | $154,560 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.54 |
| 24 | Ohio profile | $61.41 | $127,730 | $105,110 | $143,250 | 180 | 0.03 | 0.62 |
| 25 | Delaware profile | $61.30 | $127,510 | $102,680 | $153,610 | ** | ** | ** |
| 26 | Florida profile | $61.28 | $127,460 | $49,780 | $146,590 | 460 | 0.05 | 0.90 |
| 27 | North Carolina profile | $60.59 | $126,040 | $97,830 | $155,340 | 240 | 0.05 | 0.95 |
| 28 | Michigan profile | $60.16 | $125,140 | $104,370 | $142,430 | 430 | 0.10 | 1.90 |
| 29 | Texas profile | $59.32 | $123,380 | $90,260 | $153,100 | 290 | 0.02 | 0.40 |
| 30 | New Mexico profile | $59.30 | $123,350 | $61,430 | $150,340 | 50 | 0.06 | 1.08 |
| 31 | South Carolina profile | $58.84 | $122,390 | $90,880 | $151,590 | 100 | 0.04 | 0.83 |
| 32 | Illinois profile | $58.09 | $120,840 | $58,200 | $156,920 | 280 | 0.05 | 0.90 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania profile | $57.69 | $119,990 | $77,620 | $158,520 | 320 | 0.05 | 1.04 |
| 34 | Louisiana profile | $57.35 | $119,280 | $96,680 | $134,640 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.64 |
| 35 | Tennessee profile | $56.24 | $116,980 | $93,620 | $135,410 | 330 | 0.10 | 1.96 |
| 36 | Georgia profile | $50.73 | $105,510 | $86,290 | $164,300 | 300 | 0.06 | 1.21 |
| 37 | Indiana profile | $48.86 | $101,630 | $101,630 | $145,100 | 170 | 0.05 | 1.03 |
| 38 | District of Columbia profile | $48.77 | $101,450 | $92,250 | $150,640 | 70 | 0.10 | 2.02 |
| 39 | North Dakota profile | $34.92 | $72,630 | $71,200 | $163,860 | ** | ** | ** |
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1161 Nurse Midwives.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1161, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1161.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.