BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Nurse Midwives in California

$194,730 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$93.62 per hour

▲ 42.2% above U.S. average1st of 39 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$194,730per year
Median$203,840per year
Hourly$93.62per hour
10th – 90th percentile$140,970 – $227,590per year

Nurse Midwives Pay Range in California

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$140,970
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$176,080
  • 50th Percentile — Median$203,840
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$216,560
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$227,590

Half of Nurse Midwives in California earn more than $203,840. The top 10% make $227,590 or more, while entry-level workers start around $140,970.

Nurse Midwives in California: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • California ranks 1st of 39 states for Nurse Midwives pay, at $194,730 per year (42.2% above the U.S. average of $136,980).
  • 870 people work as Nurse Midwives in California — 11.0% of all U.S. Nurse Midwives jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.93: Nurse Midwives jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $140,970; the top 10% earn over $227,590.
  • Hourly equivalent: $93.62 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • Among healthcare jobs in California, Psychiatrists pays the most ($315,380).

Nurse Midwives Job Market in California

Key factors affecting compensation

California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Nurse Midwives here earn $194,730 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $194,730 is roughly equivalent to $137,134 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Hawaii ($165,360), Massachusetts ($162,420), Arizona ($159,910) are the closest alternatives for Nurse Midwives weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Nurse Midwives salary in California?

The average Nurse Midwives salary in California is $194,730 per year (median $203,840), which is 42.2% above the national average of $136,980.

How does California rank for Nurse Midwives pay?

California ranks 1st out of 39 states. The highest-paying state is California ($194,730/yr).

How much do entry-level Nurse Midwives make in California?

The lowest-paid 10% of Nurse Midwives in California earn about $140,970 per year and the 25th percentile is $176,080.

How much do Nurse Midwives make per hour in California?

About $93.62 per hour, based on the $194,730 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Nurse Midwives work in California?

BLS counts 870 Nurse Midwives jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).

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