Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in District of Columbia?

In District of Columbia, labor & delivery nurses earn more — an estimated $108,690 a year versus $101,450 for certified nurse midwifes, a gap of about $7,240 (roughly 7% more). One figure is a median reported for District of Columbia in official public wage data; the other is an estimate, because public data does not report that role separately.

How much is the certified nurse midwife vs labor & delivery nurse pay gap in District of Columbia?

The estimated gap in District of Columbia is about $7,240 a year, or roughly 7% more for labor & delivery nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these District of Columbia figures exact?

Partly — one side is a reported wage and the other is an estimate. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported District of Columbia 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.

District of Columbia · DC

Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse salary in District of Columbia

In District of Columbia, labor & delivery nurses earn more — an estimated $108,690 a year versus $101,450 for certified nurse midwifes, a gap of about $7,240 (roughly 7% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for District of Columbia.

Certified Nurse Midwife — District of Columbia

Verified public wage data

Median annual pay

$101,450

-24% vs national

Hourly

$48.77/hr

Median $101,450

$92,250Middle 50%: $96,650–$150,630$150,640

Typical range: $96,650–$150,630; What most nurses earn
High end: $150,640; Top earners
Entry level: $92,250; Newer nurses

Labor & Delivery Nurse — District of Columbia

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$108,690

+5% vs national

Hourly

$52.25/hr

Median $108,690

$84,150Middle 50%: $91,000–$135,470$160,240

Typical range: $91,000–$135,470; What most nurses earn
High end: $160,240; Top earners
Entry level: $84,150; Newer nurses

Why the gap in District of Columbia

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

Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in District of Columbia?: In District of Columbia, labor & delivery nurses earn more — an estimated $108,690 a year versus $101,450 for certified nurse midwifes, a gap of about $7,240 (roughly 7% more). One figure is a median reported for District of Columbia in official public wage data; the other is an estimate, because public data does not report that role separately.
How much is the certified nurse midwife vs labor & delivery nurse pay gap in District of Columbia?: The estimated gap in District of Columbia is about $7,240 a year, or roughly 7% more for labor & delivery nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these District of Columbia figures exact?: Partly — one side is a reported wage and the other is an estimate. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported District of Columbia 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— A verified figure from official U.S. public wage data.

BLS OEWS (May 2025, state)

District of Columbia figures are published directly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for District of Columbia (May 2025). They are not estimated or adjusted.

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

Estimated figures for District of Columbia. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.