Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in Alabama?

In Alabama, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $109,910 a year versus $81,700 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $28,210 (roughly 35% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported Alabama pay for the closest reported role.

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

The estimated gap in Alabama is about $28,210 a year, or roughly 35% 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 Alabama figures exact?

No — they're estimates, not separately reported wages. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Alabama pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.

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.

Alabama · AL

Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse salary in Alabama

In Alabama, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $109,910 a year versus $81,700 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $28,210 (roughly 35% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Alabama.

Certified Nurse Midwife — Alabama

Estimated

Median annual pay

$109,910

-18% vs national

Hourly

$52.84/hr

Median $109,910

$76,770Middle 50%: $95,540–$129,070$154,420

Typical range: $95,540–$129,070; What most nurses earn
High end: $154,420; Top earners
Entry level: $76,770; Newer nurses

Labor & Delivery Nurse — Alabama

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$81,700

-21% vs national

Hourly

$39.28/hr

Median $81,700

$61,640Middle 50%: $67,310–$88,380$104,840

Typical range: $67,310–$88,380; What most nurses earn
High end: $104,840; Top earners
Entry level: $61,640; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Alabama

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

Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in Alabama?: In Alabama, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $109,910 a year versus $81,700 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $28,210 (roughly 35% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported Alabama pay for the closest reported role.
How much is the certified nurse midwife vs labor & delivery nurse pay gap in Alabama?: The estimated gap in Alabama is about $28,210 a year, or roughly 35% 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 Alabama figures exact?: No — they're estimates, not separately reported wages. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Alabama pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.
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)

Alabama figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 0.82×).

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Alabama. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.