GUIDE
August 18, 2022
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Salary Guide

A Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) that provides healthcare to women throughout the entire course of their lives. This may include family planning, gynecological checkups, and prenatal care. 

Find out everything you need to know about nurse midwives, average salaries, salary by state, and ways to increase your earning potential. 

Part One What is the Average Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) Salary?

According to the BLS, certified nurse-midwives earn an average annual salary of $114,210 or $54.91 per hour. ZipRecruiter.com, on the other hand, reports that certified nurse-midwives earn an average of $118,643 per year or $57 per hour.

The majority of CNMs make between $96,000 and $126,500 with top earners making $193,500 annually.

>> Related: Top Certified Nurse Midwife Programs 

Part Two Certified Nurse-Midwife Salary by City and State

Highest Paying Cities for Nurse Midwives

 

City

Annual Salary

Hourly Wage

San Mateo, CA

$140,000

$67.31

Boston, MA

$139,006

$66.83

Daly City, CA

$137,500

$66.11

Berkeley, CA

$137,425

$66.07

Renton, WA

$137,073

$65.90

Santa Monica, CA

$137,056

$65.89

Lowell, MA

$135,515

$65.15

Green River, WY

$134,923

$64.87

Irvine, CA

$133,020

$63.95

Newark, NJ

$132,242

$63.58

Via: Ziprecruiter

Certified Nurse-Midwife Salary By State

 

State

Annual Salary

Hourly Wage

Hawaii

$134,217

$64.53

Nevada

$132,542

$63.72

Massachusetts

$132,401

$63.65

Rhode Island

$129,971

$62.49

Oregon

$127,631

$61.36

Alaska

$127,054

$61.08

North Dakota

$126,317

$60.73

Washington

$123,847

$59.54

New York

$120,644

$58.00

South Dakota

$119,734

$57.56

Maryland

$119,354

$57.38

Virginia

$116,123

$55.83

Delaware

$113,624

$54.63

New Hampshire

$113,580

$54.61

Nebraska

$113,378

$54.51

California

$112,986

$54.32

Colorado

$112,454

$54.06

Idaho

$112,371

$54.02

Vermont

$111,824

$53.76

South Carolina

$111,658

$53.68

Arkansas

$110,467

$53.11

New Jersey

$109,139

$52.47

Montana

$108,498

$52.16

Michigan

$107,981

$51.91

Connecticut

$107,851

$51.85

Arizona

$107,531

$51.70

Kentucky

$107,478

$51.67

Tennessee

$107,418

$51.64

Oklahoma

$107,103

$51.49

Maine

$106,204

$51.06

Wyoming

$105,860

$50.89

Illinois

$105,372

$50.66

Minnesota

$104,217

$50.10

Indiana

$103,346

$49.69

Missouri

$102,590

$49.32

West Virginia

$102,124

$49.10

Pennsylvania

$99,860

$48.01

Texas

$99,391

$47.78

Wisconsin

$99,139

$47.66

Ohio

$98,936

$47.57

Iowa

$98,764

$47.48

Utah

$97,525

$46.89

New Mexico

$94,791

$45.57

Kansas

$94,434

$45.40

Alabama

$94,091

$45.24

North Carolina

$93,788

$45.09

Mississippi

$93,130

$44.77

Florida

$91,442

$43.96

Georgia

$87,467

$42.05

Louisiana

$84,171

$40.47

Via: Ziprecruiter

Show Me Nurse Midwifery Programs

Part Three Certified Nurse-Midwife Salary Factors

Nurse-Midwife Salary by Years of Experience

Nurse-Midwives can earn a higher annual salary with increased years of experience.

  1. Less than 1 year of experience earn an average hourly wage of $92,890
  2. 1-4 years of experience earn an average annual wage of $98,562
  3. 5-9 years of experience earn an average annual wage of $105,476
  4. 10-19 years of experience earns an average annual wage of $107,791
  5. 20 years and higher years of experience earn an average annual wage of $112,849

Via: Payscale

Certified Nurse-Midwife Salary by Work Setting

Generally, nurse-midwives work in hospitals and earn the highest wages; however, they can work in a variety of other locations such as:

  • Birthing centers
  • Private practice
  • Academia
  • Home care
  • Public health clinic
  • Health department
  • Military hospital

According to the BLS, the median annual wages for nurse-wives, in areas they worked were as follows:

  • Hospitals; state, local, and private - $128,190
  • Outpatient care centers - $128,190
  • Offices of physicians - $121,280
  • Offices of other health practitioners -$104,790
  • Educational services; state, local, and private - $102,680

Part Four How to Increase Your Salary as a Nurse-Midwife

You can increase your nurse-midwife salary in a few different ways:

  1. Earn your Midwifery Certification: The American Midwifery Certification board certifies nurses that have passed an accredited nurse-midwifery program.
  2. Working nights or weekends, where you are paid a higher per-hour wage.
  3. Work per diem or become a locum tenens.
  4. Train to be a preceptor for new hires.
  5. Pick up over time on your unit or throughout the hospital, if needed.

Show Me Nurse Midwifery Programs

Part Five Has Covid-19 Affected the Salary of Nurse-Midwives?

Because nurses are considered APRNs, salaries remained largely unchanged. In general, nurse-midwives were not leaving their positions for many lucrative travel positions. 

For this reason, healthcare systems did not have to offer large sign-on bonuses or increased hourly wages to retain staff or acquire new staff members. 

Part Six Is Becoming a Nurse-Midwife Worth it?

The cost of becoming a nurse can be overwhelming; however, with scholarships, loans, and tuition reimbursement it is feasible for anyone that is interested in the field. 

Becoming a nurse-midwife costs more than becoming a registered nurse because it is an advanced practice degree. Nurses are required to attend graduate school and earn a master’s degree.  

How Much Does it Cost to Become a Nurse-Midwife?

First, there is not one set cost for nursing school, but you can expect to spend anywhere from thousands for a shorter degree program to as high as over $80,000 and even sometimes $100,000 for private or Ivy league nursing programs. This is only for your BSN.

There is a multitude of factors that affect the cost of a nursing program including, but not limited to,

  • Full-time or part-time status
  • Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
  • RN to BSN bridge program
  • Community college vs. state college vs. private college
  • Books
  • Nursing Uniforms
  • Lab Fees
  • Transportation to classes and clinical sites

After obtaining your BSN, you will need to attend an accredited master’s level degree program. You can expect to spend more on a midwifery program than your BSN. Programs typically cost $75,000 to $150,000 depending on the institution. 

Regardless of the cost, nursing is a rewarding career and it is worth taking the risk. While the typical college student will leave school with debt, there are ways for it to be paid back by the government, hospital, or military. It’s important to speak to a counselor or hospital HR department regarding options. 

Show Me Nurse Midwifery Programs

Part Seven Nurse-Midwife Salary vs Other Specialties

Nurse-midwives earn an average annual salary of $114,210 or $54.91 per hour. Here’s how that compares to some other advanced practice nursing specialties:

Salaries via ZipRecruiter

Part Eight Nurse Midwife FAQs

  • Are nurse-midwives in high demand?

    • According to the BLS, nurse midwives are expected to grow by 11% between 2020 and 2030. In 2020, there were 7,300 midwives and by 2030 it is expected to need an additional 800.
  • What do nurse-midwives do?

    • Certified nurse midwives provide holistic care for women from adolescents through menopausal age. Nurse-midwives provide family planning services, gynecological checkups, and pre- and post-natal care.  
  • Where do nurse-midwives get paid the most?

    • According to ZipRecruiter.com, nurse-midwives earn the highest annual salary - $134,217 or $64.53 per hour.
  • Is becoming a midwife worth it?

    • Becoming a midwife is absolutely worth it. Midwives are an integral part of a woman’s healthcare team from puberty to menopause. Midwives collaborate with other healthcare professionals during pregnancy and help women during pivotal life moments
  • How stressful is midwifery?

    • Being a midwife can be very stressful, especially when delivering a baby. It is a high-pressure situation and not only is the mother’s life in their hands but so is the baby.