Midwife

What does a midwife do?

• Provide check-ups, screening and advice throughout pregnancy.
• Support women during labour and deliver babies in normal births.
• Monitor the health of mother and baby and spot early signs of complications.
• Refer women to obstetricians or other specialists when problems occur.
• Care for mothers and newborns after birth, including support with feeding.
• Teach parents about pregnancy, birth, family planning and caring for a newborn.
• Keep detailed records and work closely with doctors, nurses and community health workers.

Where do they work?

Midwives work in hospital maternity units, birth centres, community clinics and women's homes, including for home births. In some countries they run their own practices, and in areas with few doctors they may be the main source of maternity care. Births happen at any time, so many midwives work shifts, nights and weekends or are on call. The work can be deeply rewarding but also emotionally hard, especially when a pregnancy or birth goes wrong.

What skills do you need?

• Knowledge of pregnancy, birth and newborn care
• Calm decision-making in emergencies
• Clinical observation and monitoring
• Empathy and respect for women's choices
• Clear communication with families
• Physical stamina for long shifts
• Teamwork with doctors and nurses
• Accurate record keeping

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• provide treatment strategies for challenges to human health
• provide preparation for childbirth
• provide education on family life
• provide health education
• inform policy makers on health-related challenges
• prescribe medication
• contribute to continuity of health care
• collect biological samples from patients
• follow clinical guidelines
• care for the new-born infant
• deal with emergency care situations
• advise on pregnancies at risk

Essential knowledge: neonatology · pharmacology · human anatomy · postpartum legal protection · epidemiology · health care legislation · female reproductive system pathology · microbiology-bacteriology

How do you become a midwife?

There are two main routes. In many countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, you can take a direct-entry midwifery degree, usually lasting three to four years. In others, you first qualify as a registered nurse and then complete midwifery training. In the United States, most midwives are certified nurse-midwives, who are registered nurses with a graduate degree in midwifery, although other types of midwife exist and rules differ by state. All routes include supervised practice, including helping with births. After training, you register with the national or state regulator. Nurses can often convert to midwifery through a shorter programme.

1. Direct-entry midwifery degree. A bachelor's degree in midwifery typically takes three to four years. Much of the course is supervised practice in hospitals and the community, where you care for women during pregnancy, birth and the weeks after. This route is common in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several European countries, and it does not require a nursing qualification first.
2. Nursing first, then midwifery. In many countries, including the United States and parts of Asia and Africa, midwives first qualify as registered nurses. They then complete a midwifery diploma, postgraduate certificate or master's degree. In countries that offer both routes, registered nurses can usually take a shortened midwifery programme, which takes less time than a full degree.

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Do you need a licence to work as a midwife?

Midwifery is a licensed profession in most countries. You usually need to complete an approved programme and register with a national or state regulator, which may be a nursing and midwifery council or a separate midwifery board. Some countries also require a licensing exam. The scope of practice differs widely: in some countries midwives lead care for most normal births, while in others doctors lead maternity care and midwives have a narrower role. Check the rules where you plan to work.

How much does a midwife earn?

Pay in the United States

• $134,040Median annual wage, May 2025
• $93,620–$188,320Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 7.9KPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 29-1161, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 2, "Professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes midwife and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Newly qualified midwife
2. Midwife
3. Senior or specialist midwife
4. Midwifery team leader or unit manager
5. Head of midwifery or midwifery lecturer

Job outlook

Midwives are needed wherever babies are born, and international health organisations see them as central to reducing deaths of mothers and newborns, especially in low-income countries. Many countries report shortages of midwives. At the same time, birth rates are falling in parts of Europe and East Asia, which can reduce demand in some areas. Staff shortages, long shifts and emotionally difficult cases can lead to burnout, so good support at work matters.

Questions about becoming a midwife

Do you need to be a nurse to become a midwife?

Not everywhere. In the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several European countries, you can study midwifery directly as a first degree. In other countries, including the United States, most midwives qualify as registered nurses first and then train in midwifery. If you are already a nurse, many countries offer a shorter midwifery programme that builds on your nursing training.

How long does it take to become a midwife?

A direct-entry midwifery degree usually takes three to four years. If you train as a nurse first, you then add midwifery training, which typically takes a further one to three years depending on the country and the level of the qualification. After training, you must register with the regulator, and in some countries pass an exam, before you can practise.

What is the difference between a midwife and an obstetrician?

A midwife specialises in normal pregnancy and birth and supports women before, during and after birth. An obstetrician is a medical doctor who has trained to manage complications of pregnancy and birth and can perform caesarean sections and other surgery. The two often work together, and midwives refer women to obstetricians when risks arise.

Can men become midwives?

Yes, in many countries. Most midwives are women, but men can train and register as midwives in countries such as the UK, Australia and the United States. Some women prefer a female midwife, and services usually try to respect that choice. Men who choose midwifery need the same clinical knowledge, sensitivity and communication skills as anyone else in the profession.

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Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 29-1161, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 2222.1

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become a midwife: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/midwife/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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