Career comparison
Nurse Anesthetist vs. Nurse Midwife
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Nurse anesthetists earn more at the median ($236,590 vs. $134,040), while nurse midwifes usually get to work faster (6–8 years including RN education of training). Nurse anesthetists give anesthesia and keep patients safe during surgery and procedures. Nurse midwifes care for women through pregnancy, birth and every stage of reproductive health.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Nurse Anesthetist | Nurse Midwife | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $236,590 ($113.75/hr) | $134,040 ($64.44/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $155,250 – $339,500 | $93,620 – $188,320 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +9.7% (much faster than average) | +11.5% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 2,400 | 400 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 7–8+ years including RN and ICU experience | 6–8 years including RN education |
| Key credential | CRNA (NBCRNA certification) | Certified Nurse-Midwife (AMCB) |
| Work setting | CRNAs work in operating rooms, labor and delivery, surgery centers and procedure suites.. | CNMs work in hospitals, birth centers, clinics and sometimes patients’ homes.. |
What each job does
Nurse Anesthetist
- Evaluate patients before anesthesia
- Plan anesthesia care
- Give general, regional and local anesthesia
- Manage airways and ventilation
- Monitor patients during procedures
Nurse Midwife
- Provide prenatal care
- Manage labor and deliver babies
- Care for mothers and newborns after birth
- Provide gynecologic exams
- Offer contraception and family planning
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, high responsibility, hands-on work, and in-demand. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose nurse anesthetist if…
- I’m an ICU nurse ready for more
- I stay calm in emergencies
- I love physiology and pharmacology
Choose nurse midwife if…
- I want to support women through birth
- I stay calm in emergencies
- I build trust easily
Still torn? Take the Nurse Anesthetist fit quiz and the Nurse Midwife fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, nurse anesthetist or nurse midwife?
Nurse Anesthetists earn more at the median: $236,590 versus $134,040 for nurse midwifes, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Nurse Midwifes typically train faster (6–8 years including RN education) than nurse anesthetists (7–8+ years including RN and ICU experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects nurse midwifes to grow +11.5% from 2025–35, compared with +9.7% for nurse anesthetists.