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

The estimated gap in Washington is about $36,150 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 Washington figures exact?

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

Washington · WA

Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse salary in Washington

In Washington, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $158,170 a year versus $122,020 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $36,150 (roughly 30% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Washington.

Certified Nurse Midwife — Washington

Estimated

Median annual pay

$158,170

+18% vs national

Hourly

$76.04/hr

Median $158,170

$110,470Middle 50%: $137,480–$185,730$222,220

Typical range: $137,480–$185,730; What most nurses earn
High end: $222,220; Top earners
Entry level: $110,470; Newer nurses

Labor & Delivery Nurse — Washington

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$122,020

+18% vs national

Hourly

$58.66/hr

Median $122,020

$86,230Middle 50%: $100,480–$140,530$171,950

Typical range: $100,480–$140,530; What most nurses earn
High end: $171,950; Top earners
Entry level: $86,230; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Washington

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

Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in Washington?: In Washington, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $158,170 a year versus $122,020 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $36,150 (roughly 30% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Washington's local pay level.
How much is the certified nurse midwife vs labor & delivery nurse pay gap in Washington?: The estimated gap in Washington is about $36,150 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 Washington figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Washington wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Washington'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)

Washington figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 1.18×).

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

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