This answer depends upon whether you are a midwife or a nurse midwife. (Yes there is a difference). In 2021, Switzerland paid the highest salary for midwives coming in at CHF122,356 or $125,657 USD. Norway comes in second place with a salary of NOK901,858 or $107,921 USD. The US comes in third place at $67,997 USD followed by Canada at $66,152 CAD or $50,264 USD. Fourth and fifth place go to Australia and the UK respectively.
What is the Difference Between a Midwife and a Nurse Midwife?
A midwife is a trained health practitioner that provides healthcare to pregnant women during their pregnancy, labor and after the birth of the baby.
A nurse midwife is a midwife with a certified nursing degree, allowing them to also work in hospitals, surgical hospitals, specialty hospitals and physician’s offices and provide holistic care to women at all stages of life. Since the nurse midwife is a certified nurse they have larger salaries than a standard midwife as they can offer medical services that a general Midwife cannot.
Midwives can deliver babies at home or in birthing centers and typically deal with low-risk pregnancies.
Are a Doula and Midwife the Same Thing?
No. Doulas and midwives are not the same. Midwives focus on the medical care of the patient but also offer emotional support during and after pregnancy and birth. Doulas often work with midwives or doctors, focussing on the emotional care of pregnant women and offer support during the process of pregnancy and birth. Some Doulas support women who are put on bed rest during their pregnancy to help prevent premature birth. Midwives often offer the same support as a Doula. Nurse Midwives, as described above, are even more different than a Doula as they provide medical services in hospitals and physician’s offices.