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Nurse Midwives

Typical education: Master's degreeHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they 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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $134,040 Median per year · $64.44/hr Most earn $93,620–$188,320

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Consult with or refer patients to appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.
  • Instruct student nurse midwives, medical students, or residents on the birthing process.
  • Monitor fetal development by listening to fetal heartbeat, taking external uterine measurements, identifying fetal position, or estimating fetal size and weight.
  • Initiate emergency interventions to stabilize patients.
  • Consult with or refer patients to appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.
  • Document findings of physical examinations.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
12% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physicians40.9%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals22.4%
  • Offices of all other health practitioners9.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Master's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Nurse midwife is not an entry-level job. Most people first become a registered nurse, then earn a master's degree in nurse-midwifery, which usually takes about 7 to 9 years after high school.

  1. Bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN)

    4 years

    You learn core nursing care and take clinical rotations in hospitals and clinics, which prepares you for the nursing license exam.

  2. Registered Nurse

    1-2 years

    After passing the national licensing exam, you work with patients and build hands-on experience, including time in labor and delivery or women's health if you can get it.

  3. Master's degree in nurse-midwifery

    2-3 years

    You complete graduate coursework and supervised clinical training in prenatal, birth, and postpartum care, then take a national certification exam to become certified.

  4. Nurse Midwife

    Ongoing

    You diagnose and manage care for pregnancy, labor, and birth, and provide well-woman gynecological care, either on your own or as part of a healthcare team.

Where it can lead

  1. Nurse Educator

    3-5 years of experience first

    You move into teaching nursing or midwifery students, which usually requires more clinical experience and often a graduate degree or teaching credential.

  2. Director of Midwifery Services

    5-10 years of experience first

    You lead a midwifery or women's health team, managing staff, budgets, and care standards, and you usually need strong clinical experience plus leadership skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and anatomyThese classes build the science foundation you'll need for nursing school and later midwifery training.
  • Get certified in CPR and first aidMany schools and towns offer these courses, and they show you understand basic patient care.
  • Volunteer at a hospital or clinicHelping in a healthcare setting lets you see patient care up close and shows future schools you're committed.
  • Join health occupations or science clubsClubs like these, if your school has them, help you explore healthcare careers and meet mentors.
  • Work a starter job that builds people skillsJobs in customer service, childcare, or caregiving teach patience and communication, both key for midwives.

In college

  • Major in nursing (BSN)A nursing degree is the usual first step, and it gives you the license you need to work as a registered nurse.
  • Seek clinical or CNA experienceWorking as a nursing assistant or in a hospital support role gives you real patient-care experience before and during school.
  • Pursue labor and delivery or women's health exposureLook for clinical rotations, volunteer shifts, or job shadowing in obstetrics, which will help you decide whether midwifery is right for you.
  • Get involved in nursing student organizationsGroups for nursing students offer leadership experience, networking, and information about graduate programs.
  • Build a strong GPA and research experienceGood grades and professor relationships make it easier to get into competitive graduate nurse-midwifery programs.

Tips for getting started

  • Look into shadowing or volunteering at a birth center, hospital labor unit, or women's health clinic to see if this work feels right for you.
  • Plan on nursing school first. Aim for a nursing program that is accredited and has strong clinical placements, since you'll need a nursing license before you can enter a midwifery program.
  • Build strong grades in science classes, especially biology and chemistry, because nursing and midwifery programs look closely at them.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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