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

The estimated gap in Virginia is about $30,030 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 Virginia figures exact?

No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Virginia wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Virginia'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.

Virginia · VA

Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse salary in Virginia

In Virginia, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $131,360 a year versus $101,330 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $30,030 (roughly 30% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Virginia.

Certified Nurse Midwife — Virginia

Estimated

Median annual pay

$131,360

Near national

Hourly

$63.15/hr

Median $131,360

$91,750Middle 50%: $114,180–$154,250$184,550

Typical range: $114,180–$154,250; What most nurses earn
High end: $184,550; Top earners
Entry level: $91,750; Newer nurses

Labor & Delivery Nurse — Virginia

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$101,330

Near national

Hourly

$48.72/hr

Median $101,330

$71,610Middle 50%: $83,450–$116,710$142,800

Typical range: $83,450–$116,710; What most nurses earn
High end: $142,800; Top earners
Entry level: $71,610; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Virginia

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 Virginia figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Virginia'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 Virginia — FAQ

Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in Virginia?: In Virginia, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $131,360 a year versus $101,330 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $30,030 (roughly 30% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Virginia's local pay level.
How much is the certified nurse midwife vs labor & delivery nurse pay gap in Virginia?: The estimated gap in Virginia is about $30,030 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 Virginia figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Virginia wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Virginia'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)

Virginia figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 0.98×).

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

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