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

In Iowa, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $131,360 a year versus $83,350 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $48,010 (roughly 58% more). One figure is a median reported for Iowa in official public wage data; the other is an estimate, because public data does not report that role separately.

Are these Iowa 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 Iowa 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.

Iowa · IA

Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse salary in Iowa

In Iowa, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $131,360 a year versus $83,350 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $48,010 (roughly 58% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Iowa.

Certified Nurse Midwife — Iowa

Verified public wage data

Median annual pay

$131,360

Near national

Hourly

$63.15/hr

Median $131,360

$81,620Middle 50%: $84,450–$141,410$158,930

Typical range: $84,450–$141,410; What most nurses earn
High end: $158,930; Top earners
Entry level: $81,620; Newer nurses

Labor & Delivery Nurse — Iowa

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$83,350

-19% vs national

Hourly

$40.07/hr

Median $83,350

$67,670Middle 50%: $72,390–$91,100$106,530

Typical range: $72,390–$91,100; What most nurses earn
High end: $106,530; Top earners
Entry level: $67,670; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Iowa

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

Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in Iowa?: In Iowa, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $131,360 a year versus $83,350 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $48,010 (roughly 58% more). One figure is a median reported for Iowa 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 Iowa?: The estimated gap in Iowa is about $48,010 a year, or roughly 58% 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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)

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

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

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