Have you ever imagined being in a position where you can not only help others and make a good salary, but also help bring life into the world? These are the benefits of being a midwife. Here is some valuable information on midwives, their wages, and career outlook.
What is a Midwife?
A midwife is a medical professional who specializes in the care of pregnant women, new mothers, and babies. Currently, there are about 15,000 midwives in the United States. Midwives assist a mother in childbirth and also help educate the mother and family on good healthcare. Certain types of midwives may be required to be registered nurses and must complete an advanced practice program that specializes in midwifery. However, some midwives bypass becoming an RN and just study midwifery. Certification may or may not be required, but it can affect the title the midwife uses. Each state has its own requirements regarding midwives.
What is the Midwife’s Salary?
Certified nurse midwives earn an average annual wage of $79,171. Years of experience, location, place of employment, and number of births the midwife helps with can all factor into how much a midwife can earn.
Wages for midwives vary from state to state. The states with the highest level of employment for nurse midwives are Indiana, New York, California, Florida and Georgia, but the highest paying states for midwives are California, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Massachusetts and Oregon, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Certified midwives working in California, the state with the highest wages, earn $120,450. Oklahoma, the state with the lowest reported earnings, pay their midwives a mean annual wage of $61,960.
Do Different Types of Midwives Make Different Salaries?
Different types of midwives generally earn different salaries. A direct-entry midwife is generally the lowest paying midwife, while the certified nurse-midwife typically earns the highest wage. The highest wages are earned by CNMs who work in urban areas and those who have teaching positions. Another factor that can affect earnings is the certifications obtained by the midwife.
