How much is the certified nurse midwife vs labor & delivery nurse pay gap in Arizona?

The estimated gap in Arizona is about $31,250 a year, or roughly 30% more for certified nurse midwifes. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these Arizona figures exact?

No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Arizona wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Arizona's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.

Why are some figures verified and others estimates?

National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Arizona · AZ

Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse salary in Arizona

In Arizona, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $136,720 a year versus $105,470 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $31,250 (roughly 30% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Arizona.

Certified Nurse Midwife — Arizona

Estimated

Median annual pay

$136,720

Near national

Hourly

$65.73/hr

Median $136,720

$95,490Middle 50%: $118,840–$160,550$192,090

Typical range: $118,840–$160,550; What most nurses earn
High end: $192,090; Top earners
Entry level: $95,490; Newer nurses

Labor & Delivery Nurse — Arizona

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$105,470

Near national

Hourly

$50.71/hr

Median $105,470

$74,540Middle 50%: $86,850–$121,470$148,630

Typical range: $86,850–$121,470; What most nurses earn
High end: $148,630; Top earners
Entry level: $74,540; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Arizona

Certified nurse midwives earn well above labor & delivery staff nurses. The CNM is an advanced-practice provider with a graduate degree who manages pregnancies and catches babies; the L&D nurse supports childbirth as a bedside RN. Many midwives start as L&D nurses, making this a common advancement path. The Arizona figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Arizona's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse comparison or personalize the calculator.

Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse in Arizona — FAQ

Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in Arizona?: In Arizona, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $136,720 a year versus $105,470 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $31,250 (roughly 30% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Arizona's local pay level.
How much is the certified nurse midwife vs labor & delivery nurse pay gap in Arizona?: The estimated gap in Arizona is about $31,250 a year, or roughly 30% more for certified nurse midwifes. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these Arizona figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Arizona wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Arizona's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
Why are some figures verified and others estimates?: National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Source & confidence— An estimate based on national nurse pay and local cost of living. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.

Modeled estimate (BLS national × state wage index)

Arizona figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 1.02×).

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Arizona. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.