In the United States, the salary for a midwife is $67,977 per year, while in Canada this same professional wins about C$66,152 ($50,264) every year. Australia pays midwives an annual salary of AU$50,745 ($36,033), while the midwife salary in the UK stands at barely £26,064 ($33,933) each year.
A better pay for this job get professionals living in Norway and Switzerland with NOK901,858 ($107,921) respectively CHF122,356 ($125,657) per year. In most countries, the wages for this position vary widely depending on a number of factors. The following guide will compare and discuss factors like these and how they influence the salary of midwives.
Midwife Salary Influencers
Levels of experience, education, and geographical demand all play a role in influencing global midwife salaries. While western countries like the United States and Canada typically prize education, certification, and experience, Australia, Switzerland, and Norway tend to use applied skill levels as a primary influencing factor.
1. Industry
Midwives are available for hire in both the public and the private sector. Across the globe, nurse midwives receive higher salaries than midwives without nursing degrees and qualifications primarily because they are able to be employed in hospitals.
- Outpatient Care Centers – $123,150
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals – $108,840
- Offices of Physicians – $103,270
- Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals – $96,190
2. Geographical Area
Geographical factors also play a major role in projected salaries for midwives around the globe. In western countries, for instance, the stigma associated with midwifery and other forms of alternative health care has caused the profession to become second to more regulated birthing services that hospitals provide. Because of this, the salary of midwives plummeted. Due to the reemergence of home-based birthing and the expansion of midwife services that has gradually spread across the globe midwifery is currently experiencing a gradual increase in revenue.
| Midwife Salary | US | Canada | UK | Australia | Switzerland | Norway |
| Hourly Wage | $34.02 | C$26.99 ($20.51) | £14.46 ($18.83) | AU$33.49 ($23.78) | CHF59 ($60.59) | NOK434 ($51.94) |
| Annual Wage | $67,977 | C$66,152 ($50,264) | £26,064 ($33,933) | AU$50,745 ($36,033) | CHF122,356 ($125,657) | NOK901,858 ($107,921) |
Midwife Salary in the US
The hourly wage for midwives in the United States situates between $12.61 and $50.01 while the annual rate ranges from $28,978 to $113,267. Midwives in the US can earn more money based on several factors such as experience, education levels, and type of employment facility. These midwives typically receive an increased in income over time.
Midwife Salary in Canada
The salary for Canadian midwives ranges from C$48,936 to C$96,356 annually, with an average hourly rate of C$26.99. Meanwhile, the highest hourly rates paid to midwives are in the states of Manitoba and Nova Scotia.
Midwife Salary in the UK
Midwives in the United Kingdom earn between £20,327 and £36,968 per year, with an hourly rate from £10.92 to £18.51. United Kingdom midwives can earn bonuses with each academic degree they complete and, if employed through public hospitals, can earn yearly increases as they develop the necessary experience.
Midwife Salary in Australia
In Australia, a midwife hourly salary ranges from AU$25.74 to AU$45.61. While the annual pay registers between AU$39,249 and AU$87,246. Beginner midwives have a starting salary of AU$55,000, meanwhile, senior midwives can earn as much as AU$85.000 per year
Midwife Salary in Switzerland
Midwives working in Switzerland earn around CHF122,356 every year with an hourly rate of $59. These professionals are the highest paid midwives in the world and can earn as much as CHF2,631 in bonuses each year.
Midwife Salary in Norway
The salary for midwives in Norway is NOK901,858 per year, with an hourly rate of NOK434. Midwives in Norway also receive annual bonuses of up to NOK19,390 which can raise their annual salary to as much as NOK1,120,242 if they are at a senior level of experience.
3. Experience
Experience plays an important role in the development of salaries for midwives across the globe. In every major country, midwives are able to increase their salaries with more experience. Lay and Direct entry midwives are beginning midwives and may have state-required certifications. They may also have been trained through independent or small-group study and typically earn smaller salaries when compared to their counterparts.
Certified nurse midwives earn the highest rate of pay because of their credentials from a professional health care program. It generally takes no longer than four years for midwives to reach the top tier in their fields.
Entry-level midwives living in the US make about $52,000 per year, while those with more than 20 years on the job can win as much as $106,000 per year. In the UK midwives with less than 5 years experience get an annual salary of ₤24,000. While those with more than 20 years in the field make ₤34,000 every year. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, the entry-level salary for a midwife stands at CHF85,401 per year and the senior-level salary for the same position is at CHF151,562 annually.
Working Hours
Because midwifery focuses on the process of birthing new babies, the hours that midwives work are unpredictable and long. It is not uncommon for midwives to work in excess of 40 hours in a work week and anyone seeking to become a midwife is guaranteed to have to work extra hours.
Bonuses & Benefits Packages
Public sector midwives generally receive full benefits packages including medical, vision, dental insurance, and retirement plans. Private sector midwives’ benefits packages vary widely from practice to practice with some facilities offering a full range of benefits and some facilities offering no benefit packages. Private sector midwives do not usually gain access to the major benefits associated with public sector midwifery. However, they usually work much more flexible hours and receive paid time off.
A midwife working in the US makes between $15.05 and $12,365 per year in bonuses. While the same professional living in Canada can win as much as C$3,600 every year in bonuses. In the UK a midwife wins in bonuses up to £4,146 per year, and up to AU$7,245 every year in Australia.
Job Outlook
The midwifery field is one that is constantly expanding. As new innovations in the medical field continue to occur, midwives are able to find safer ways to deliver babies into the world. Even though it is a health-related field the basic midwife salary has fluctuated throughout the years as the career has risen and fallen in popularity in certain areas of the world.
However, there is no shortage of pregnant women in the world so those who wish to become midwives can always count on this fact of life to ensure their employment. But since salary levels range so widely between entry-level and certified professional-level midwives, it is worth it to invest in a nursing education when seeking to pursue midwifery.
Conclusion
Midwifery can be a very rewarding field that pays well in nearly every country. While the profession experienced a brief lack in popularity, it will still be a viable career as long as the human population continues to increase. The annual pay for this position ensures that it will continue to be beneficial to those who choose to work in the field. For a similar position, you can also look at the neonatal nurse salary.
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