Career comparison
Nurse Midwife vs. Nurse Practitioner
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Nurse midwifes earn more at the median ($134,040 vs. $132,300), while nurse midwifes usually get to work faster (6–8 years including RN education of training). Nurse midwifes care for women through pregnancy, birth and every stage of reproductive health. Nurse practitioners diagnose, treat and prescribe as an advanced practice registered nurse.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Nurse Midwife | Nurse Practitioner | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $134,040 ($64.44/hr) | $132,300 ($63.61/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $93,620 – $188,320 | $101,340 – $174,420 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +11.5% (much faster than average) | +41.0% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 400 | 29,400 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 6–8 years including RN education | 6–8 years including RN education |
| Key credential | Certified Nurse-Midwife (AMCB) | FNP-BC or FNP-C |
| Work setting | CNMs work in hospitals, birth centers, clinics and sometimes patients’ homes.. | NPs work in primary care clinics, hospitals, specialty practices, urgent care, schools and telehealth.. |
What each job does
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
Nurse Practitioner
- Assess and examine patients
- Diagnose acute and chronic conditions
- Prescribe medications and treatments
- Order and interpret tests
- Manage chronic disease
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, working with people, high-pay, and high responsibility. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose nurse midwife if…
- I want to support women through birth
- I stay calm in emergencies
- I build trust easily
Choose nurse practitioner if…
- I’m a nurse who wants more autonomy
- I enjoy diagnosing and treating
- I like building patient relationships
Still torn? Take the Nurse Midwife fit quiz and the Nurse Practitioner fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, nurse midwife or nurse practitioner?
Nurse Midwifes earn more at the median: $134,040 versus $132,300 for nurse practitioners, 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 practitioners (6–8 years including RN education).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects nurse practitioners to grow +41.0% from 2025–35, compared with +11.5% for nurse midwifes.