Career comparison
Nurse Midwife vs. Registered Nurse
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. $97,550), while registered nurses usually get to work faster (2–4 years of training). Nurse midwifes care for women through pregnancy, birth and every stage of reproductive health. Registered nurses assess patients, give treatments, coordinate care and educate families.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Nurse Midwife | Registered Nurse | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $134,040 ($64.44/hr) | $97,550 ($46.90/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $93,620 – $188,320 | $68,940 – $137,470 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +11.5% (much faster than average) | +5.6% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 400 | 180,800 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 6–8 years including RN education | 2–4 years |
| Key credential | Certified Nurse-Midwife (AMCB) | NCLEX-RN license |
| Work setting | CNMs work in hospitals, birth centers, clinics and sometimes patients’ homes.. | About half of RNs work in hospitals; others work in physician offices, home health, nursing homes, outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers, schools, government and the military. |
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
Registered Nurse
- Assess patients’ physical and emotional condition and record observations
- Administer medications, IV fluids and treatments as ordered
- Monitor patients, interpret vital signs and lab values and recognize deterioration
- Develop and update nursing care plans
- Coordinate care with physicians, therapists, case managers and families
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, working with people, high-pay, and shift work. 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 registered nurse if…
- I want a career where I make a real difference in people’s health
- I can stay calm and think clearly in emergencies
- I’m willing to complete two to four years of rigorous study
Still torn? Take the Nurse Midwife fit quiz and the Registered Nurse fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, nurse midwife or registered nurse?
Nurse Midwifes earn more at the median: $134,040 versus $97,550 for registered nurses, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Registered Nurses typically train faster (2–4 years) than nurse midwifes (6–8 years including RN education).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects nurse midwifes to grow +11.5% from 2025–35, compared with +5.6% for registered nurses.