Lactation Consultant Salary in the United States

How much does a Lactation Consultant make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lactation Consultant in the United States is $111,539 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

However, a Lactation Consultant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $125,621
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $99,797 to $118,910
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $89,107
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View as table View as graph 25% $99,797 10% $89,107 90% $125,621 75% $118,910 $111,539 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lactation Consultant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $118,910 $9,909 $2,287 $57
Average $111,539 $9,295 $2,145 $54
25th Percentile $99,797 $8,316 $1,919 $48
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Key Factors That Influence Lactation Consultant Salaries

A Lactation Consultant'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 Lactation Consultant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lactation Consultant'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): $107,683
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $108,034
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $112,089
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $115,169
  • Expert (over 8 years): $115,390
Levels Salary
Entry Level Lactation Consultant$107,683
Intermediate Level Lactation Consultant$108,034
Senior Level Lactation Consultant$112,089
Specialist Level Lactation Consultant$115,169
Expert Level Lactation Consultant$115,390
$107,683 0 yr
$108,034 < 2 yrs
$112,089 2-4 yrs
$115,169 5-8 yrs
$115,390 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Lactation Consultants

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: $140,684
  • San Francisco: $139,301
  • Oakland: $136,211

What Skills Can Increase a Lactation Consultant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Collaboration (Mentioned in 6.09% Job Postings): Works cooperatively and shares ideas with coworkers and managers to achieve common goals and objectives.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 3.24% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Nursing Process (Mentioned in 2% Job Postings): The nursing process is a modified scientific method. Nursing practise was first described as a four-stage nursing process by Ida Jean Orlando in 1958.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Collaboration 6.09%
Acute Care 3.24%
Nursing Process 2%
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 Lactation Consultant's salary.
  • Staff Development: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Effective Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Staff Development
$118,231
6%
Accountability
$114,885
3%
Effective Communication
$114,885
3%
Nursing Practice
$113,770
2%
Communicates Effectively
$113,770
2%
Written Communication
$113,770
2%
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How Education impacts a Lactation Consultant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lactation Consultants enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Lactation Consultant with a Associate's Degree is between $92,865 and $98,750).

Lactation Consultant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lactation Consultant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 12.4%
High School 12.4%
Associates 33.6%
Bachelors 42.5%
Masters 10.6%
Doctorate 0.9%
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Lactation Consultant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lactation Consultant'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 April 01, 2026

Lactation Consultant Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Lactation Consultant, 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.

Lactation Consultant Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Childbirth Educator $69,786 -37%
Diabetes Educator $82,022 -26%

Salary Trends for Lactation Consultant

Salaries for a Lactation Consultant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $209,336 in 2023 to around $203,607 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lactation Consultant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lactation Consultant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$209,336
2024
$211,584
2025
$203,607
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $209,336
2024 $211,584
2025 $203,607
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Lactation Consultant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Lactation Consultant

Here are companies hiring for Lactation Consultant and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Lactation Consultant

1. Where can a Lactation Consultant earn the most?

A Lactation Consultant'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 Lactation Consultant earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Lactation Consultant is $140,684.

2. What is the highest pay for Lactation Consultant?

The highest pay for Lactation Consultant is $125,621.

3. What is the lowest pay for Lactation Consultant?

The lowest pay for Lactation Consultant is $89,107.

4. What are the responsibilities of Lactation Consultant?

Provides lactation support and education to patients and families. May plan and lead breastfeeding classes for expecting mothers. Responsible for identifying and correcting lactation problems, and advising physicians and healthcare providers on lactation problems experienced by patients. Requires an associate degree in nursing or equivalent. Requires Registered Nurse (RN) License. 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.

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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