Life As a Midwife
Occupation Description Provide prenatal care and childbirth assistance.
What Do Midwives Do On a Daily Basis?
- Provide comfort and relaxation measures for mothers in labor through interventions such as massage, breathing techniques, hydrotherapy, or music.
- Monitor maternal condition during labor by checking vital signs, monitoring uterine contractions, or performing physical examinations.
- Maintain documentation of all patients' contacts, reviewing and updating records as necessary.
- Provide, or refer patients to other providers for, education or counseling on topics such as genetic testing, newborn care, contraception, or breastfeeding.
- Assess the status of post-date pregnancies to determine treatments and interventions.
- Counsel women regarding the nutritional requirements of pregnancy.
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Midwife Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Midwives say are important on the job.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Types of Midwife
- Licensed Direct Entry Midwife
- Licensed and Certified Midwife
- Staff Midwife/Apprenticeship Director
- Midwife
- Lay Midwife
Midwife Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 40,000 jobs for Midwife in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,000 new jobs for Midwife by 2026. There will be an estimated 2,600 positions for Midwife per year.

The states with the most job growth for Midwife are Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Delaware, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Midwife Salary
The salary for Midwives ranges between about $28,500 and $111,740 a year.

Midwives who work in Maryland, New Jersey, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Midwives in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $41,660 |
Alaska | $69,370 |
Arizona | $47,250 |
Arkansas | $42,180 |
California | $74,900 |
Colorado | $59,050 |
Connecticut | $86,040 |
Delaware | $59,750 |
District of Columbia | $81,770 |
Florida | $55,200 |
Georgia | $64,940 |
Hawaii | $66,670 |
Idaho | $64,250 |
Illinois | $64,390 |
Indiana | $37,050 |
Iowa | $46,130 |
Kansas | $54,220 |
Kentucky | $55,430 |
Louisiana | $54,140 |
Maine | $59,550 |
Maryland | $89,580 |
Massachusetts | $67,500 |
Michigan | $52,990 |
Minnesota | $65,550 |
Mississippi | $37,790 |
Missouri | $66,010 |
Montana | $49,820 |
Nevada | $55,440 |
New Hampshire | $66,080 |
New Jersey | $94,870 |
New Mexico | $52,040 |
New York | $74,750 |
North Carolina | $52,530 |
North Dakota | $63,290 |
Ohio | $69,920 |
Oklahoma | $45,340 |
Oregon | $57,820 |
Pennsylvania | $81,750 |
Rhode Island | $69,790 |
South Carolina | $48,690 |
Tennessee | $59,530 |
Texas | $59,360 |
Utah | $50,690 |
Virginia | $55,410 |
Washington | $68,890 |
West Virginia | $61,190 |
Wisconsin | $52,040 |
Wyoming | $61,750 |
What Tools & Technology do Midwives Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Midwives:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Email software
- MEDITECH software
- Patient electronic medical record EMR software
How do I Become a Midwife?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Midwife?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Midwives Work

Below are examples of industries where Midwives work:

References:
Image Credit: Aphiwat chuangchoem via Creative Commons Zero (CC0)
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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