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

In Kentucky, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $115,270 a year versus $85,900 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $29,370 (roughly 34% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported Kentucky pay for the closest reported role.

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

The estimated gap in Kentucky is about $29,370 a year, or roughly 34% 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.

Kentucky · KY

Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse salary in Kentucky

In Kentucky, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $115,270 a year versus $85,900 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $29,370 (roughly 34% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Kentucky.

Certified Nurse Midwife — Kentucky

Estimated

Median annual pay

$115,270

-14% vs national

Hourly

$55.42/hr

Median $115,270

$80,510Middle 50%: $100,200–$135,360$161,960

Typical range: $100,200–$135,360; What most nurses earn
High end: $161,960; Top earners
Entry level: $80,510; Newer nurses

Labor & Delivery Nurse — Kentucky

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$85,900

-17% vs national

Hourly

$41.30/hr

Median $85,900

$68,020Middle 50%: $80,210–$103,030$118,460

Typical range: $80,210–$103,030; What most nurses earn
High end: $118,460; Top earners
Entry level: $68,020; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Kentucky

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

Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in Kentucky?: In Kentucky, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $115,270 a year versus $85,900 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $29,370 (roughly 34% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported Kentucky pay for the closest reported role.
How much is the certified nurse midwife vs labor & delivery nurse pay gap in Kentucky?: The estimated gap in Kentucky is about $29,370 a year, or roughly 34% 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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)

Kentucky figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 0.86×).

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

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