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

In New York, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $144,510 a year versus $116,010 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $28,500 (roughly 25% more). One figure is a median reported for New York 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 New York?

The estimated gap in New York is about $28,500 a year, or roughly 25% 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 New York 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 New York 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.

New York · NY

Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse salary in New York

In New York, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $144,510 a year versus $116,010 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $28,500 (roughly 25% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for New York.

Certified Nurse Midwife — New York

Verified public wage data

Median annual pay

$144,510

+8% vs national

Hourly

$69.48/hr

Median $144,510

$104,860Middle 50%: $130,600–$162,220$177,240

Typical range: $130,600–$162,220; What most nurses earn
High end: $177,240; Top earners
Entry level: $104,860; Newer nurses

Labor & Delivery Nurse — New York

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$116,010

+12% vs national

Hourly

$55.77/hr

Median $116,010

$84,550Middle 50%: $100,530–$137,440$166,520

Typical range: $100,530–$137,440; What most nurses earn
High end: $166,520; Top earners
Entry level: $84,550; Newer nurses

Why the gap in New York

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

Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in New York?: In New York, certified nurse midwifes earn more — an estimated $144,510 a year versus $116,010 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $28,500 (roughly 25% more). One figure is a median reported for New York 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 New York?: The estimated gap in New York is about $28,500 a year, or roughly 25% 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 New York 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 New York 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)

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

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

Estimated figures for New York. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.