A Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who provides care for women throughout the reproductive process from preconception to delivery. As of May 2021, the average salary for a nurse midwife in the United States is $114,210 – an effective hourly rate of $54.91.
Nurse midwives are also among the highest-earning categories of nurses, considering registered nurses overall earn an average salary of just $82,750.
Discover your true salary range
Receive a free salary estimate in minutes. Then get matched with nursing jobs to pay it.
Highest-paying states for nurse midwives
In addition to specialty, license, and experience, location also plays a major factor in a nurse’s expected wages – driven by cost-of-living and the overall job market in each area.
For nurse midwives, West Virginia tops the list of highest-paying states with an average annual wage of $163,190. Utah comes in at second with an average CNM salary of $143,890, followed by California at $137,070.
Top 10 highest-paying states for nurse midwives
| Rank | State | Average CNM Salary | Local Estimates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $163,190 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/wv |
| 2 | Utah | $143,890 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/ut |
| 3 | California | $137,070 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/ca |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $129,360 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/ma |
| 5 | New York | $126,170 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/ny |
| 6 | Maine | $125,020 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/me |
| 7 | Oregon | $122,880 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/or |
| 8 | Colorado | $122,620 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/co |
| 9 | Minnesota | $119,970 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/mn |
| 10 | Indiana | $119,380 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/in |
Top 10 highest-paying cities for nurse midwives
| Rank | City | Average CNM Salary | Local Estimates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston, WV | $169,460 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/wv/charleston |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $162,800 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/ca/san-francisco |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $157,570 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/ca/san-jose |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $150,990 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/ca/sacramento |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | $126,170 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/ut/salt-lake-city |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $133,660 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/ca/los-angeles |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $131,580 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/wi/milwaukee |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $129,720 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/ma/boston |
| 9 | New York, NY | $128,970 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/ny/new-york |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $125,160 | Get local estimate | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/salaries/cnm/or/portland |
Nurse midwife salary vs other types of nurses
Nurse midwives are among the highest-paid healthcare professions, and the career is projected to grow in demand by 16.9% over the next few years. However, the role itself may not be a fit for everyone. Luckily, many other types of nurses can also earn a very good living in the United States. Below are the average nationwide salaries, according to the BLS, for 5 different nursing categories.
| Category | Average Salary | # Employed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Anesthetists | $202,470 | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/blog/nurse-anesthetists-salary/ | 43,950 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $118,040 | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/blog/nurse-practitioner-salary/ | 234,690 |
| Nurse Midwives | $114,210 | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/blog/nurse-midwife-salary/ | 7,750 |
| Registered Nurses | $82,750 | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/blog/the-highest-paying-states-for-nurses/ | 3,047,530 |
| Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurses | $51,850 | https://www.incrediblehealth.com/blog/lvn-vs-rn-salary/ | 641,240 |
