Midwives are a sub specialization of the registered nurse profession and earn a median yearly income of $62,450, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data. A midwife’s earnings may be affected by such factors as self employment, where they can set their own rate, and by whether they offer service direct to the patient’s home or provide a specialized birthing clinic environment.
What Working as a Midwife Entails
The most notable and obvious role of a midwife is to provide assistance in the actual birthing process; however, midwives also provide a range of other services, such as pre-birth health coaching on matters relating to nutrition, breast-feeding and other generalized advice relating to female reproductive health. In furtherance of that reproductive health support role, some nurse midwives also provide basic gynecology services to women in general even if they are not pregnant. Midwives may find themselves taking part in less conventional births, such as water birthing or those that do not use pain management drugs.
Educational Background Required to be a Midwife
To be a practicing nurse midwife in the United States of America, a nurse must obtain a specialized nursing degree at the masters level. Having a master’s degree allows the midwife to function as an advanced practice nurse, who has the authority to prescribe medication related to their field of expertise in all American states as well as the District of Columbia, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nurse midwives may also pursue less formal education for niche roles such as holistic healing, prenatal nutrition and education in the specifics relating to the religious and cultural backgrounds of the demographics they intend to serve. Nurse midwives may choose to participate in the American College of nurse midwives, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics makes no mention of a specific requirement to do so.
Entry-level and Best in Field Earnings as a Midwife
The lowest 10% of earners in the nursing and therefore midwife profession took in an annual salary of $43,410, which forms the basis of a reasonable expectation for entry-level midwife nurses. Given the higher educational background required to be a nurse midwife, they are likely to quickly earn more than the lowest possible amount for the general profession. The highest 10% of earners in the nursing field reported an annual wage of $92,240; this statistic is a good career goal for those seeking to become the best of the specialized field of midwifery.
Other Factors Affecting Salaries for Midwives
Bedside manner, a positive attitude, and adept social skills are critical to successfully working as a nurse midwife, more so than in all other aspects of nursing because nurse midwives are typically expected to assist the mother in a more in-depth manner than in interactions common with most general practice nurses. Nurse midwives with a knack for teaching may also have the advantage when plying their trade for the purpose of prenatal nutrition and birth process education. Nurse midwives comfortable with the operation of a vehicle and navigating long distances to reach clients directly in their homes stand to profit directly from their willingness to travel.