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

In North Dakota, labor & delivery nurses earn more — an estimated $85,570 a year versus $72,630 for certified nurse midwifes, a gap of about $12,940 (roughly 18% more). One figure is a median reported for North Dakota 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 North Dakota?

The estimated gap in North Dakota is about $12,940 a year, or roughly 18% 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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.

North Dakota · ND

Certified Nurse Midwife vs Labor & Delivery Nurse salary in North Dakota

In North Dakota, labor & delivery nurses earn more — an estimated $85,570 a year versus $72,630 for certified nurse midwifes, a gap of about $12,940 (roughly 18% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for North Dakota.

Certified Nurse Midwife — North Dakota

Verified public wage data

Median annual pay

$72,630

-46% vs national

Hourly

$34.92/hr

Median $72,630

$71,200Middle 50%: $71,300–$132,790$163,860

Typical range: $71,300–$132,790; What most nurses earn
High end: $163,860; Top earners
Entry level: $71,200; Newer nurses

Labor & Delivery Nurse — North Dakota

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$85,570

-17% vs national

Hourly

$41.14/hr

Median $85,570

$69,450Middle 50%: $73,800–$98,660$109,690

Typical range: $73,800–$98,660; What most nurses earn
High end: $109,690; Top earners
Entry level: $69,450; Newer nurses

Why the gap in North Dakota

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

Do certified nurse midwifes or labor & delivery nurses earn more in North Dakota?: In North Dakota, labor & delivery nurses earn more — an estimated $85,570 a year versus $72,630 for certified nurse midwifes, a gap of about $12,940 (roughly 18% more). One figure is a median reported for North Dakota 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 North Dakota?: The estimated gap in North Dakota is about $12,940 a year, or roughly 18% 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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)

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

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

Estimated figures for North Dakota. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.