Nurse Midwives
SOC 29-1161 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Nurse Midwives is $129,650, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $131,570, and an estimated 6,960 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +16.7% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -0.9% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 11.1% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Nurse Midwives has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $129,650 | $129,650 | 6,960 |
| 2022 | $120,880 | $125,856 | 7,950 |
| 2021 | $112,830 | $126,876 | 7,750 |
| 2020 | $111,130 | $130,835 | 7,120 |
Nominal change
+16.7%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-0.9%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+11.1%
Much faster than average
Employment 2024
8,600
Projected 2034
9,500
Annual Openings
500
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Nurse Midwives earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $129,650. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $189,770 | +46.4% | 890 |
| Hawaii | $175,930 | +35.7% | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $144,540 | +11.5% | 180 |
| Oregon | $141,340 | +9% | 110 |
| Washington | $138,200 | +6.6% | 80 |
| Rhode Island | $135,940 | +4.9% | 40 |
| Colorado | $135,160 | +4.2% | 280 |
| Utah | $134,550 | +3.8% | 130 |
| Iowa | $131,360 | +1.3% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $131,020 | +1.1% | 140 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$87,320
25th Pct
$110,000
Median
$129,650
75th Pct
$146,770
90th Pct
$177,530
Related Occupations in Healthcare Practitioners & Technical
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Healthcare Practitioners & Technical occupations →