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Certified Nurse Midwife Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Nurse Midwife make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Nurse Midwife in the United States is $112,470 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

However, a Certified Nurse Midwife's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $137,363
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $102,758 to $125,500
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $93,916

Key Factors That Influence Certified Nurse Midwife Salaries

A Certified Nurse Midwife's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Certified Nurse Midwife Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Nurse Midwife's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $109,281
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $109,571
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $113,442
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $118,888
  • Expert (over 8 years): $119,277
Levels Salary
Entry Level Certified Nurse Midwife$109,281
Intermediate Level Certified Nurse Midwife$109,571
Senior Level Certified Nurse Midwife$113,442
Specialist Level Certified Nurse Midwife$118,888
Expert Level Certified Nurse Midwife$119,277

Top Paying Cities for Certified Nurse Midwives

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $141,858
  • San Francisco: $140,305
  • Oakland: $137,348

What Skills Can Increase a Certified Nurse Midwife's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 7.04% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Diversity and Inclusion (Mentioned in 3.07% Job Postings): Developing and promoting acquaintance, empowerment, and integration of each unique individual to create a productive and safe working environment.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 1.62% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 7.04%
Diversity and Inclusion 3.07%
Continuous Improvement 1.62%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Certified Nurse Midwife's salary.

  • EHR: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Obstetrics: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
EHR $122,592
9%
Dedication $122,592
9%
Obstetrics $121,468
8%

Certified Nurse Midwife Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Certified Nurse Midwife salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $119,375. While startup companies pay approximate $101,658.

Certified Nurse Midwife Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $101,658
Growth Stage 51~500 $107,338
Established 501~5000 $115,444
Enterprise 5000+ $119,375

Certified Nurse Midwife Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Certified Nurse Midwife roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Certified Nurse Midwife positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Certified Nurse Midwife as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Certified Nurse Midwife

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$134,964$65.020%

How Education impacts a Certified Nurse Midwife's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Certified Nurse Midwife enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Certified Nurse Midwife with a Bachelor's Degree is between $120,096 and $126,591.

Certified Nurse Midwife Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Certified Nurse Midwife
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 5.6%
Associates 4.0%
Bachelors 9.1%
Masters 76.1%
Doctorate 3.8%

Certified Nurse Midwife Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Certified Nurse Midwife's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$102,758
Average $112,470/year
$125,500
$8,563
Average $9,373/month
$10,458
$1,976
Average $2,163/week
$2,413
$49
Average $54/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $125,500 $10,458 $2,413 $60
Average $112,470 $9,373 $2,163 $54
25th Percentile $102,758 $8,563 $1,976 $49

Certified Nurse Midwife Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Certified Nurse Midwife, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Certified Nurse Midwife Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Maternity Services Director $161,993 44%
Head of Intensive Care Unit $154,101 37%
Staff Nurse - RN I $73,593 -35%
Transplant Nurse Coordinator $110,112 -2%

Most common benefits for Certified Nurse Midwife

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Certified Nurse Midwife

Here are companies hiring for Certified Nurse Midwife and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Certified Nurse Midwife

1. Where can a Certified Nurse Midwife earn the most?

A Certified Nurse Midwife's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Certified Nurse Midwife earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Certified Nurse Midwife is $141,858.

2. What is the highest pay for Certified Nurse Midwife?

The highest pay for Certified Nurse Midwife is $137,363.

3. What is the lowest pay for Certified Nurse Midwife?

The lowest pay for Certified Nurse Midwife is $93,916.

4. What are the responsibilities of Certified Nurse Midwife?

Provides professional care for patients with obstetric and gynecologic needs. Assists patients in labor and delivery, as well as postpartum care. Ensures safety and health of mother and child and identifies need for additional care. Works in conjunction with a practicing physician. Requires a bachelor's degree. Requires Certified as Nurse Midwife. Requires Registered Nurse. Requires Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Certified Nurse Midwife?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Certified Nurse Midwife roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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