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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Before negotiating salary, check what the market actually pays — city by city. The national median salary for Midwifes in 2026 is $139,667, with entry-level positions averaging $100,560 and senior roles reaching $198,327. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $254,400, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Midwife sits at the intersection of Healthcare and Healthcare. Most professionals enter with Master's in nursing, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is clinical. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$154,800 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Midwife in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $254,400 — $154,800 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($99,600). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Midwifes in 2026: $100,560 at entry (P10), $139,667 at midpoint, and $198,327 at the senior end (P90). Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The $97,767 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $59,300 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $237,600 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $100,400 (average of the bottom 3). That $137,200 delta is real money — $11,433/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Midwife in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $254,400 — $154,800 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($99,600). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Midwife is $100,560, while senior-level (P90) earners average $198,327. That $97,767 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Midwifes at $168,570 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $148,200) is $20,370.
At the 90th percentile, Midwifes pull in an average of $198,327. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $100,560 | $139,667 | $198,327 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £52,257 | £72,580 | £103,063 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$80,918 | CA$112,387 | CA$159,589 |
| Australia | 13 | A$93,550 | A$129,930 | A$184,500 |
| Sweden | 24 | 552,254 kr | 767,019 kr | 1,089,167 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $121,371 | $168,570 | $239,370 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $117,288 | $162,900 | $231,318 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $116,640 | $162,000 | $230,040 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $108,000 | $150,000 | $213,000 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $106,704 | $148,200 | $210,444 |
| Washington | 8 | $104,652 | $145,350 | $206,397 |
| New York | 5 | $98,496 | $136,800 | $194,256 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $98,496 | $136,800 | $194,256 |
| Florida | 22 | $97,750 | $135,764 | $192,784 |
| Colorado | 11 | $96,061 | $133,418 | $189,454 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $95,904 | $133,200 | $189,144 |
| Nevada | 5 | $95,731 | $132,960 | $188,803 |
| Arizona | 12 | $95,256 | $132,300 | $187,866 |
| Oregon | 5 | $95,040 | $132,000 | $187,440 |
| Idaho | 3 | $94,752 | $131,600 | $186,872 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $94,003 | $130,560 | $185,395 |
| Utah | 4 | $93,744 | $130,200 | $184,884 |
| Virginia | 7 | $92,201 | $128,057 | $181,841 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $91,008 | $126,400 | $179,488 |
| Alaska | 1 | $90,720 | $126,000 | $178,920 |
| Illinois | 5 | $89,683 | $124,560 | $176,875 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $87,456 | $121,467 | $172,483 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $86,400 | $120,000 | $170,400 |
| Montana | 1 | $86,400 | $120,000 | $170,400 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $86,112 | $119,600 | $169,832 |
| Texas | 40 | $85,687 | $119,010 | $168,994 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $85,536 | $118,800 | $168,696 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $85,104 | $118,200 | $167,844 |
| Georgia | 6 | $84,816 | $117,800 | $167,276 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $84,672 | $117,600 | $166,992 |
| Kansas | 4 | $84,240 | $117,000 | $166,140 |
| Michigan | 6 | $83,952 | $116,600 | $165,572 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $82,944 | $115,200 | $163,584 |
| Maryland | 1 | $82,944 | $115,200 | $163,584 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $82,080 | $114,000 | $161,880 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $82,080 | $114,000 | $161,880 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $79,920 | $111,000 | $157,620 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $79,488 | $110,400 | $156,768 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $78,408 | $108,900 | $154,638 |
| Missouri | 4 | $78,408 | $108,900 | $154,638 |
| Alabama | 5 | $78,106 | $108,480 | $154,042 |
| Indiana | 3 | $76,896 | $106,800 | $151,656 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $76,896 | $106,800 | $151,656 |
| Iowa | 2 | $76,032 | $105,600 | $149,952 |
| Ohio | 6 | $75,888 | $105,400 | $149,668 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $72,576 | $100,800 | $143,136 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Midwife median of $168,570 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($162,900) and Hawaii ($162,000). Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $100,800 and $105,600. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($254,400 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $120,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $254,400 | 212 | $120,000 | $141,688 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $237,600 | 198 | $120,000 | $134,104 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $220,800 | 184 | $120,000 | $126,200 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $217,200 | 181 | $120,000 | $124,506 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $213,600 | 178 | $120,000 | $122,812 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $212,400 | 177 | $120,000 | $122,248 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $212,400 | 177 | $120,000 | $122,248 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $207,600 | 173 | $120,000 | $119,989 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $207,600 | 173 | $120,000 | $119,989 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $202,800 | 169 | $120,000 | $117,731 |
The $97,767 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Midwife career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Healthcare sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Midwifes is $139,667 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $100,560, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $198,327.
The highest-paying city for Midwifes is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $254,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($254,400), Santa Clara ($237,600), Irvine ($220,800). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Midwife salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $99,600. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Midwifes (10th percentile) average $100,560 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $183,168. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Midwifes average $198,327 nationally — $97,767 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Midwifes can earn up to $361,248.
The top-paying states for Midwifes are California ($168,570 median), Massachusetts ($162,900 median), Hawaii ($162,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Midwife involves Master's in nursing. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically clinical.
With a national median of $139,667 and representation across 288 metro areas, Midwife offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $97,767 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.