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

In Illinois, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $120,840 a year versus $101,750 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $19,090 (roughly 19% more). One figure is a median reported for Illinois 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 Illinois?

The estimated gap in Illinois is about $19,090 a year, or roughly 19% 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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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.

Illinois · IL

Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse salary in Illinois

In Illinois, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $120,840 a year versus $101,750 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $19,090 (roughly 19% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Illinois.

Certified Nurse Midwife — Illinois

Verified public wage data

Median annual pay

$120,840

-10% vs national

Hourly

$58.10/hr

Median $120,840

$58,200Middle 50%: $97,130–$138,120$156,920

Typical range: $97,130–$138,120; What most nurses earn
High end: $156,920; Top earners
Entry level: $58,200; Newer nurses

Labor & Delivery Nurse — Illinois

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$101,750

Near national

Hourly

$48.92/hr

Median $101,750

$73,320Middle 50%: $84,820–$112,320$125,280

Typical range: $84,820–$112,320; What most nurses earn
High end: $125,280; Top earners
Entry level: $73,320; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Illinois

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

Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in Illinois?: In Illinois, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $120,840 a year versus $101,750 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $19,090 (roughly 19% more). One figure is a median reported for Illinois 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 Illinois?: The estimated gap in Illinois is about $19,090 a year, or roughly 19% 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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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)

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

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

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