Registered Nurse
Median wage · national
$97,550
Range: $80K – $112K
Employed
3.4M
Openings/yr
189K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HEALTH
Nurse Midwives
With a national median of $134,040 and +11.1% projected job growth through 2034, Nurse Midwives offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Nurse Midwives
Diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team. May provide well-woman gynecological care. Must have specialized, graduate nursing education.
- Median Wage
- $134,040
- Employed Nationally
- 8K
- Openings / Year
- 500
- Entry Education
- Master's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
Direct-Entry Midwife
Nurse Midwife
Postpartum Nurse
How Much Do Nurse Midwives Make?
Nurse Midwives earn $134,040 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $116,510 and $157,400. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$134,040
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$117K–$157K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$116,510
Entry-level
$134,040
Median
$157,400
Experienced
What Do Nurse Midwives Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Nurse Midwives roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Provide prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, or newborn care to patients.
- Monitor fetal development by listening to fetal heartbeat, taking external uterine measurements, identifying fetal position, or estimating fetal size and weight.
- Document patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions, or other diagnostic information.
- Provide patients with direct family planning services, such as inserting intrauterine devices, dispensing oral contraceptives, and fitting cervical barriers, including cervical caps or diaphragms.
- Prescribe medications as permitted by state regulations.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Active Listening
Social Perceptiveness
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Where Do Nurse Midwives Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
High
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
What Is the Job Outlook for Nurse Midwives?
The BLS projects +11.1% employment change for Nurse Midwives through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 500 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +11.1%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Faster than average.
500
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
8K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Nurse Midwives professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $134,040 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 880 | $196,700 | +46.7% |
| 2 | Florida | 860 | $115,440 | -13.9% |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 530 | $107,740 | -19.6% |
| 4 | New York | 490 | $137,860 | +2.8% |
| 5 | Georgia | 380 | $125,830 | -6.1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Nurse Midwives positions require a master's degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Master's degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursing | 308,114 | $88,910 | 2,190 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Nurse Midwives
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 3 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 4 | North Florida College Madison, FL | 91 | $804 | $33,929 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 6 | University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL | 90 | $4,815 | $71,588 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Nurse Midwives, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Nurse Midwives pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Nurse Midwives Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Nurse Midwives a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $134,040 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Fast-growing field At +11.1% projected growth through 2034, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $157,400 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- High education requirement Most employers require a master's degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
Nurse Midwives Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Nurse Midwives professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Nurse Midwives is $134,040, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $116,510 and $157,400. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Nurse Midwives a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $134,040 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +11.1% through 2034 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to become a Nurse Midwives?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A master's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Nursing are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $134,040 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a master's degree worth it to become a Nurse Midwives?
Yes, for most programs. At $134,040 median, graduates at in-state public programs typically recoup their investment within 10 to 15 years of practice. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Nurse Midwives?
The BLS projects +11.1% employment change for Nurse Midwives through 2034, faster than average compared to all occupations. About 500 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 8K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Nurse Midwives professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Nurse Midwives roles: Critical Thinking, Speaking, Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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