How much is the registered nurse vs certified nurse midwife pay gap in California?

The estimated gap in California is about $50,360 a year, or roughly 37% 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 California figures exact?

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

California · CA

Registered Nurse vs Certified Nurse Midwife salary in California

In California, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $184,980 a year versus $134,620 for registered nurses, a gap of about $50,360 (roughly 37% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for California.

Registered Nurse — California

Estimated

Median annual pay

$134,620

+38% vs national

Hourly

$64.72/hr

Median $134,620

$95,140Middle 50%: $110,860–$155,040$189,710

Typical range: $110,860–$155,040; What most nurses earn
High end: $189,710; Top earners
Entry level: $95,140; Newer nurses

Certified Nurse Midwife — California

Estimated

Median annual pay

$184,980

+38% vs national

Hourly

$88.93/hr

Median $184,980

$129,200Middle 50%: $160,780–$217,210$259,880

Typical range: $160,780–$217,210; What most nurses earn
High end: $259,880; Top earners
Entry level: $129,200; Newer nurses

Why the gap in California

Certified Nurse Midwives earn well above staff registered nurses, reflecting a graduate degree, prescriptive authority, and a specialized scope in pregnancy, birth, and women's health. Both build on the RN license, but the midwife is an advanced-practice provider. The California figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for California's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Registered Nurse vs Certified Nurse Midwife comparison or personalize the calculator.

Registered Nurse vs Certified Nurse Midwife in California — FAQ

Do registered nurses or certified nurse midwifes earn more in California?: In California, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $184,980 a year versus $134,620 for registered nurses, a gap of about $50,360 (roughly 37% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for California's local pay level.
How much is the registered nurse vs certified nurse midwife pay gap in California?: The estimated gap in California is about $50,360 a year, or roughly 37% 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 California figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified California wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for California'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)

California figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 1.38×).

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

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