Nurse midwives
SOC Code: 29-1161Also known as:
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), Direct-Entry Midwife, Nurse Midwife, Postpartum Nurse
Median Annual Salary
$128,790
+11.1% growth (2024-2034)
500
Openings/Year
9K
Current Jobs
What Nurse midwives 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.
💰 Salary
$128,790
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+11.1%
Much faster than average
🎓 Education
Master's degree
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
500
Projected average per year
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
8,600
Projected Employment (2034)
9,500
Related Careers
Registered nurses
$93,600 •
+4.9% growth
Nurse practitioners
$129,210 •
+40.1% growth
Obstetricians and gynecologists
N/A •
+1.2% growth
Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
$64,030 •
+3.6% growth
Top Skills Required
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Social Perceptiveness
Reading Comprehension
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- 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.
- Initiate emergency interventions to stabilize patients.
- Document findings of physical examinations.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
Master's degree
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
Master's Degree
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Nurse midwives
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a nurse midwives:
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery
559 degrees awarded •
25 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Nurse midwives
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become nurse midwives.
| # | College | Location | Related Degrees | Repit Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | 25 | A |
| 2 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA | 15 | A |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 10 | A |
| 4 | New York University | New York, NY | 7 | A |
| 5 | Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY | 13 | B+ |
| 6 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | 5 | B+ |
| 7 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh, PA | 1 | B+ |
| 8 | Baylor University | Waco, TX | 18 | B |
| 9 | Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI | 3 | B |
| 10 | George Washington University | Washington, DC | 2 | B |
| 11 | Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 2 | B |
| 12 | Wayne State University | Detroit, MI | 2 | B |
| 13 | University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS | 1 | B |
| 14 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH | 41 | C+ |
| 15 | Bethel University | Saint Paul, MN | 19 | C+ |
| 16 | Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia, PA | 19 | C+ |
| 17 | SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University | Brooklyn, NY | 18 | C+ |
| 18 | Shenandoah University | Winchester, VA | 12 | C+ |
| 19 | Seattle University | Seattle, WA | 9 | C+ |
| 20 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | 1 | C+ |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nurse midwives make?
The median annual salary for nurse midwives is $128,790.
What education do nurse midwives need?
Most nurse midwives positions require a master's degree.
Common degree programs include Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery.
Is becoming nurse midwives a good career choice?
Nurse midwives is projected to see +11.1% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is much faster than average for all occupations. With approximately 500 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for nurse midwives?
Top colleges for aspiring nurse midwives include
Vanderbilt University, Emory University, University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Stony Brook University.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to nurse midwives?
Nurse midwives may also be known as: Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), Direct-Entry Midwife, Nurse Midwife, Postpartum Nurse, Postpartum RN (Postpartum Registered Nurse), Registered Nurse Midwife, Staff Certified Nurse Midwife, Staff Nurse Midwife.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.