Nurse Midwives
SOC code 29-1161 · O*NET-SOC 29-1161.00 · Extensive preparation needed · Healthcare
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Nurse Midwives pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$134,040
a year
Hourly
$64.44
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$136,980
$65.86 per hour
Middle 50%
$116,510 – $157,400
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$93,620 – $188,320
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
7,920
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $93,620
- $45.01/hr
- 25th percentile
- $116,510
- $56.01/hr
- Median percentile
- $134,040
- $64.44/hr
- 75th percentile
- $157,400
- $75.67/hr
- 90th percentile
- $188,320
- $90.54/hr
What does a nurse midwive do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Develop and implement individualized plans for health care management.
- Explain procedures to patients, family members, staff members or others.
- Order and interpret diagnostic or laboratory tests.
How to become a nurse midwive
Most people in this role hold master's degree — 81% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Master's Degree81%
- Post-Master's Certificate16%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate3%
Common questions
How much does a nurse midwive earn?
The national median is $134,040 a year. The full range runs from $93,620 at the 10th percentile to $188,320 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a nurse midwive without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Speaking4.1/5
- Critical Thinking4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Learning4.0/5
- Monitoring4.0/5
- Writing3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry4.8/5
- Psychology4.3/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.2/5
- English Language4.2/5
- Biology4.1/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.8/5
- Therapy and Counseling3.7/5
- Education and Training3.7/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation.